Earlier this month, far-right lawmaker Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14) introduced a privileged resolution to initiate the impeachment of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Continuing a disturbing trend tracked by America’s Voice during the 118th Congress, Greene’s impeachment articles invoked white nationalist conspiratorial rhetoric associated with multiple deadly terrorist attacks in recent years. Greene’s articles, like the years-long political stunt that preceded it, contain no evidence of high crimes or misdemeanors committed by the Secretary. While Rep. Greene sought an up or down vote, all Democrats and eight Republicans voted to send the articles to committee, effectively stopping the motion for now.
However, Rep. David Valadao (CA-22) was among House Republicans to vote for Rep. Greene’s sham resolution. Despite attempts to portray himself as a middle-of-the-road player, Rep. Valadao is supporting this sham impeachment effort based on policy disagreements with the Biden administration and not on the basis of “high crimes and misdemeanors” or any misconduct in office. Rep. Valadao supported the white nationalist conspiracy theory-tinged resolution even after domestic terrorists invoked “replacement” and “invasion” rhetoric in their attacks on El Paso, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Poway.
Rep. Valadao’s vote for Greene’s resolution also came as former President Donald Trump escalated anti-democratic attacks and incendiary language, including invoking Nazi rhetoric that framed his critics as “vermin.” Many headlines reporting Trump’s dangerous language were unequivocal: “It’s Official: With “Vermin,” Trump Is Now Using Straight-up Nazi Talk,” the New Republic reported. “Donald Trump’s use of the word ‘vermin’ draws more comparisons to Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini,” USA Today said. “Trump and Stephen Miller are testing the public’s willingness to accept an agenda built on white nationalist sadism,” Greg Sargent wrote at the Washington Post.
Rep. Valadao has been silent when his colleagues in the House have used violent and conspiratorial rhetoric, a trend he’s continued following Trump’s incendiary language and explosive and chilling plans to deport millions of immigrants with deep roots in this nation. It should be a flashing red alert for what’s at stake for our nation. Our economy, the rule of law and our democracy are at stake when politicians threaten to redefine citizenship and put certain groups of people in detention camps or bar them from being able to apply for legal immigration visas. Now in voting for Rep. Greene’s resolution, Rep. Valadao only continues to fail to stand up for his constituents, nation, and common decency.
