House Democrats to introduce resolution calling for Gosar censure

House Democrats announced on Wednesday that they will introduce a resolution to censure Rep. Paul Gosar after he posted an altered, animated video that depicted the Arizona Republican and other GOP lawmakers violently attacking President Biden and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

The Democrats, who plan to introduce the censure resolution in the House on Friday, said Gosar’s now-deleted video is “a clear cut case for censure” because of the violence it espoused.

“For a Member of Congress to post a manipulated video on his social media accounts depicting himself killing Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and attacking President Biden is a clear cut case for censure,” the members wrote in a statement.

“For that Member to post such a video on his official Instagram account and use his official congressional resources in the House of Representatives to further violence against elected officials goes beyond the pale,” they added.

The video, which as of Tuesday evening no longer appeared on Gosar’s official Twitter account, was taken from the Japanese anime series “Attack on Titan” and edited to include the faces of Gosar and other GOP lawmakers wielding weapons.

In one part of the video, Gosar’s character strikes another figure in the back of its neck with a sword. That character was modified to have Ocasio-Cortez’s face.

Gosar’s character is also seen approaching Biden while holding two swords.

The Democratic lawmakers pointed to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and the gravity of violence against women throughout the world when making the case for Gosar to be censured.

“As the events of January 6th have shown, such vicious and vulgar messaging can and does foment actual violence,” they wrote.

“Violence against women in politics is a global phenomenon meant to silence women and discourage them from seeking positions of authority and participating in public life, with women of color disproportionately impacted. Minority Leader [Kevin] McCarthy’s silence is tacit approval and just as dangerous,” they added.

Gosar defended the video in a lengthy statement on Tuesday, contending that the roughly 90-second animation was meant to be a “symbolic portrayal of a fight over immigration policy.” He also said he does not support violence or harm toward congressional lawmakers or Biden.

The Hill reached out to Gosar for comment.