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Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty from Ohio–who is the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus–was told by Republican Congressman Hal Rogers of Kentucky to 'Kiss my a**' after she asked him to wear his mask as they were on their way to the Capitol for votes.
Beatty tweeted about Rogers' response to her request as they boarded a subway train that transports lawmakers to the Capitol.
“Today, while heading to the House floor for votes, I respectfully asked my colleague @RepHalRogers to put on a mask while boarding the train," wrote Beatty.
"He then poked my back, demanding I get on the train. When I asked him not to touch me, he responded, ‘kiss my a**.”
Today, while heading to the House floor for votes, I respectfully asked my colleague @RepHalRogers to put on a mask while boarding the train. He then poked my back, demanding I get on the train. When I asked him not to touch me, he responded, \u201ckiss my ass.\u201d (1/3)— Joyce Beatty (@Joyce Beatty) 1644350292
She added:
“This is the kind of disrespect we have been fighting for years, and indicative of the larger issue we have with GOP Members flaunting health and safety mandates designed to keep us and our staff safe."
This is the kind of disrespect we have been fighting for years, and indicative of the larger issue we have with GOP Members flaunting health and safety mandates designed to keep us and our staff safe. (2/3)— Joyce Beatty (@Joyce Beatty) 1644350292
People were mortified over the incident.
Appalled by Rep Hal Rogers\u2019 conduct. In any other job, what he did to Rep. Joyce Beatty would be considered harassment & maybe even lead to dismissal. Rep. Beatty, so sorry you had to endure your colleague\u2019s insensitivity, disrespect and inappropriate language.— kind words matter (@kind words matter) 1644352284
Saaaaame\nI would not have responded with her grace.\nAnd that's why I could never hold public office, I would have gotten all stupid.— bex0760 \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf7 \ud83d\ude37 \ud83d\udc89 (@bex0760 \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf7 \ud83d\ude37 \ud83d\udc89) 1644354589
Beatty then demanded a public apology from Rogers.
.@RepHalRogers, when you are ready to grow up and apologize for your behavior, you know where to find me. (3/3)— Joyce Beatty (@Joyce Beatty) 1644350293
Twitter suggested Beatty go even further and proceed with legal action.
Call the police. Get him arrested. A nurse manager did this to me. I called the police. She was arrested. Don\u2019t let this go. Hold him to account. It\u2019s criminal behavior.— Julie B(rooklyn) Multi Racial Queen \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf2\ud83d\ude37 (@Julie B(rooklyn) Multi Racial Queen \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf2\ud83d\ude37) 1644354137
So, he touched you without your permission then owned it by harrassing you with vulgarities. You should press harrassment charges and make him accountable.— Hallie Sue S\ud83c\udf3b\ud83d\udc96\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udf3b (@Hallie Sue S\ud83c\udf3b\ud83d\udc96\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udf3b) 1644352597
On Tuesday, Rogers did in fact apologize to Beatty after Democratic House leadership reached out to Minority Leader McCarthy.
“This afternoon, I met with Congresswoman Beatty to personally apologize. My words were not acceptable and I expressed my regret to her, first and foremost."
This afternoon, I met with @RepBeatty to personally apologize. My words were not acceptable and I expressed my regret to her, first and foremost.— Hal Rogers (@Hal Rogers) 1644363053
Social media users were largely unconvinced.
You're sorry you messed with the wrong person & she went public. Otherwise, this tweet would not exist.— AgentGinny (@AgentGinny) 1644363352
No, you went with your gut. And your gut told you, a white Southern man, that you were within your rights to speak to and lay hands on a leader within the House of Representatives of the United States of America, because she is a Black woman. 1/— Portia Vaxxed and Boosted McGonagal (@Portia Vaxxed and Boosted McGonagal) 1644366858
And if not all, most Black women in America took note. Because this is the kind of disrespect we deal with on a daily basis in our jobs and communities. You showed who you are at your core. 2/2— Portia Vaxxed and Boosted McGonagal (@Portia Vaxxed and Boosted McGonagal) 1644366927
Somebody must\u2019ve warned you that coming for auntie Beatty is never acceptable.\nDon\u2019t do it again and wear your maskpic.twitter.com/iM90fAzTOD— AmbitiousBlackWoman\ud83d\udc9b\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@AmbitiousBlackWoman\ud83d\udc9b\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1644367000
Thanks for keeping it real, Hal!pic.twitter.com/2pFDNhefQ8— Brown Eyed Susan (@Brown Eyed Susan) 1644359835
Congressional lawmakers are required to wear masks in the House chamber, but the mandate has been ignored by a number of Republicans–including two far-right Georgia Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Andrew Clyde–who opted to pay hefty fines instead of abiding by the health measure.
According to The Hill, Taylor Greene and Clyde have been fined a combined estimate of $150,000 for defying the requirement meant to protect everyone inside the House chamber during the pandemic.
Last month, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark–the fourth-ranking House Democrat from Massachusetts–pushed for lawmakers failing to comply with House rules to cast votes from "isolation boxes" in the House gallery to limit the potential spread of COVID-19.
In a letter to House Sergeant-at-Arms William Walker, Clark wrote:
"This callous disregard for House rules endangers the health of members of Congress and the professional staff whose physical presence is required to ensure continuity of government."
On Wednesday morning, Beatty discussed the incident with CNN's John Berman on "New Day" and said Rogers' initial apology on the House floor was insufficient because "he mumbled some words."
This prompted her to demand the public apology from him on Twitter.
Seriously, many Democrats in Congress have been threatened & assaulted by Republicans in Congress. And yet I never hear of anyone taking legal action against them. Seriously, they must be held accountable or it will only embolden them to do even worse later.— Jodie\ud83c\udf0a (@Jodie\ud83c\udf0a) 1644353471
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus gathered on the House steps and also demanded Rogers publicly apologize to Beatty for the "verbal assault."
Thank you CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS !!! https://twitter.com/macfarlanenews/status/1491169455137001474\u00a0\u2026— \u2694\ufe0f\ud83d\udc60Ysssss \ud83d\udc9946\ud83d\udc99\ud83d\udc60\u2694\ufe0f (@\u2694\ufe0f\ud83d\udc60Ysssss \ud83d\udc9946\ud83d\udc99\ud83d\udc60\u2694\ufe0f) 1644357592
Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, the first vice-chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus said:
"It's despicable that someone could physically and verbally assault another member of this chamber."
"We are here in solidarity to call on that member to formally apologize to our Chair, and to understand the seriousness of his actions, and the lack of decorum that he exhibited today."
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries from New York agreed and expressed his vexation.
"He needs to apologize, man up, apologize immediately, before this escalates to a place he doesn't want this to go."
Jeffries added:
"Who does Hal Rogers think he is? How dare he put his hands on anyone, man, woman or child? How dare he assault Joyce Beatty? How dare he jab her aggressively in the back?"
"How dare he verbally attack her? How dare he say 'kiss my a**'? Who do you think you are?"
Beatty said she accepted Rogers' apology and was "moving on."