This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8v369gdjdo

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Democrat Al Green censured over Trump speech disruption Democrat Al Green censured over Trump speech disruption
(about 1 hour later)
Watch: Democrat Al Green sings in protest as he is censured over Trump speech disruptionWatch: Democrat Al Green sings in protest as he is censured over Trump speech disruption
The US Congress has voted to censure Texas Democrat Al Green, who was ejected from the House chamber on Tuesday after disrupting President Donald Trump's address to the nation.The US Congress has voted to censure Texas Democrat Al Green, who was ejected from the House chamber on Tuesday after disrupting President Donald Trump's address to the nation.
Ten Democrats sided with Republicans to punish Green for heckling and waving his cane at Trump during the president's joint session of Congress.Ten Democrats sided with Republicans to punish Green for heckling and waving his cane at Trump during the president's joint session of Congress.
The resolution, which said Green's behaviour was "a breach of proper conduct", passed by 224 to 198 votes.The resolution, which said Green's behaviour was "a breach of proper conduct", passed by 224 to 198 votes.
After the vote was held, the long-serving Democrat was ordered to stand in the well of the House chamber while the resolution was read aloud.After the vote was held, the long-serving Democrat was ordered to stand in the well of the House chamber while the resolution was read aloud.
The culmination of the vote resulted in a shouting match between Republicans and Democrats in the chamber.The culmination of the vote resulted in a shouting match between Republicans and Democrats in the chamber.
Green and fellow Democrats began singing "We Shall Overcome", which appeared to frustrate some Republicans on the floor.Green and fellow Democrats began singing "We Shall Overcome", which appeared to frustrate some Republicans on the floor.
Republican Dan Meuser at one point told Democrat Ayanna Pressley, "Al was wrong," leading Pressley to respond: "your members do the same thing," according to The Hill.Republican Dan Meuser at one point told Democrat Ayanna Pressley, "Al was wrong," leading Pressley to respond: "your members do the same thing," according to The Hill.
Pressley was likely referring to the headline-generating disruptions by Republicans Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert during Joe Biden's 2022 State of the Union speech.Pressley was likely referring to the headline-generating disruptions by Republicans Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert during Joe Biden's 2022 State of the Union speech.
After the vote, House Speaker Mike Johnson said "this is a really sad day for our institution", but also said it was "critically important" to "maintain the dignity of this place".After the vote, House Speaker Mike Johnson said "this is a really sad day for our institution", but also said it was "critically important" to "maintain the dignity of this place".
"That was the first time that any member of congress had to be removed in the middle of a presidential address," Johnson, a Republican, said."That was the first time that any member of congress had to be removed in the middle of a presidential address," Johnson, a Republican, said.
The top Democrat in the House, Hakeem Jeffries, had a different view, saying the censure resolution was "not worth the piece of paper that it was written on".The top Democrat in the House, Hakeem Jeffries, had a different view, saying the censure resolution was "not worth the piece of paper that it was written on".
"Republicans are playing political and partisan games with their censure resolutions, because they are on the run" from issues like the economy, he said at a news conference on Thursday. "Republicans are playing political and partisan games with their censure resolutions, because they are on the run" from issues like the economy, he said at a news conference.
He did not comment on Green's behaviour specifically and earlier in the week had encouraged lawmakers to have a "dignified" presence in the chamber.He did not comment on Green's behaviour specifically and earlier in the week had encouraged lawmakers to have a "dignified" presence in the chamber.
Before the vote, Green suggested in a social media post that his censure was expected and imminent. Hours after his censure, Green wrote on X: "I accept the consequences of my actions, but I refuse to stay silent in the face of injustice."
"During the 10:00 hour ET, Congressman Al Green will be censured this morning for standing up to President Trump," the 77-year-old wrote on X. He also announced that he "absolutely" planned to file articles of impeachment against Donald Trump, during a TMZ interview.
Green's fellow Democrats had attempted to block the vote, with some arguing his decision to stand, wave his cane and heckle Trump was a legitimate act of protest. He said the decision was based on the president's "incivility", noting that Trump mocked Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren and called her "Pocahontas" during his address.
"We cannot allow him to just continue to step on us like that," Green said.
With Republicans in control of the House and Senate, the impeachment effort is almost certain to fail.
Green's fellow Democrats had attempted to block the censure vote, with some arguing his decision to stand, wave his cane and heckle Trump was a legitimate act of protest.
The measure was introduced by congressman Dan Newhouse, a Republican from Washington, who said the decision to call for Green to be censured was not an easy one.The measure was introduced by congressman Dan Newhouse, a Republican from Washington, who said the decision to call for Green to be censured was not an easy one.
"We cannot ignore the wilful disruption intended to stop a proceeding," Newhouse said on Wednesday. "Without decorum, without respect, what do we got? What do we have, truly?""We cannot ignore the wilful disruption intended to stop a proceeding," Newhouse said on Wednesday. "Without decorum, without respect, what do we got? What do we have, truly?"
On Tuesday, just minutes into Trump's address, Green stood up and shouted: "Mr President, you don't have a mandate!"On Tuesday, just minutes into Trump's address, Green stood up and shouted: "Mr President, you don't have a mandate!"
House Speaker Mike Johnson told Green to take his seat and "maintain decorum", but Green refused. Johnson then ordered his removal from the chamber.House Speaker Mike Johnson told Green to take his seat and "maintain decorum", but Green refused. Johnson then ordered his removal from the chamber.
Green is a fierce critic of President Trump, and called for the impeachment of the president during his first term in office.Green is a fierce critic of President Trump, and called for the impeachment of the president during his first term in office.
The 10 Democrats who voted to censure Green were members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, and included Rep Jim Himes from Connecticut. The 10 Democrats who voted to censure Green were members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, and included Rep Jim Himes from Connecticut, who said he supported the measure because he had also voted to censure a Republican for heckling Barack Obama in 2009.
Himes told The Hill he supported the measure because he also voted to censure a Republican who heckled Barack Obama in 2009.
"At the end of the day, I think we need to stand up for the things that we believe regardless of which party benefits or loses," Himes said."At the end of the day, I think we need to stand up for the things that we believe regardless of which party benefits or loses," Himes said.
A censure is a formal statement of disapproval that requires a majority vote in the House to pass. It does not remove a member from Congress.A censure is a formal statement of disapproval that requires a majority vote in the House to pass. It does not remove a member from Congress.
Censures are relatively rare occurrences, though in recent years they have become more common.Censures are relatively rare occurrences, though in recent years they have become more common.
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat, was censured in 2023 for comments she made over the Israel-Gaza war.Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat, was censured in 2023 for comments she made over the Israel-Gaza war.
Also in 2023, now former Congressman Jamaal Bowman, was censured for falsely pulling a fire alarm while Congress was in session.Also in 2023, now former Congressman Jamaal Bowman, was censured for falsely pulling a fire alarm while Congress was in session.
Twenty-eight members of the House have been censured in total.Twenty-eight members of the House have been censured in total.
Watch: Congressman Al Green ejected from chamber after disrupting Trump speechWatch: Congressman Al Green ejected from chamber after disrupting Trump speech