Washington, D.C. — (RI) — Republican leaders in the U.S. House have unanimously voted to remove Iowa Congressman Steve King from House committees — a decision King immediately denounced.
King had been a member of the Agriculture and Small Business Committees as well as the powerful House Judiciary Committee. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy said stripping King of his committee assignments shows King’s remarks about white supremacy “will not be tolerated” in the GOP. King, in a written statement, said removing him from committees was “a political decision that ignores the truth.” King says the remark he made to The New York Times has been mischaracterized. McCarthy told reporters it was “not the first time” King has made such comments. Congressman King concluded his written statement by saying he “will continue to point out the truth” and vigorously represent Iowa’s fourth congressional district “for at least the next two years.” That’s a strong hint he will run for reeleciton in 2020.
Republican State Senator Randy Feenstra of Hull announced last week he’ll run for King’s seat in congress in 2020. Feenstra says it’s sad that voters and conservative values in the district “have lost their seat at the table” because of what he called King’s “caustic behavior.”
At least three DEMOCRATS in the U.S. House have drafted resolutions to have the House censure or reprimand King. The REPUBLICAN leader in the U.S. Senate also weighed in yesterday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said if King doesn’t understand why white supremacy is offensive, “he should find another line of work.”
