Censures, indictments and a fire: The House returned after weeks and everything blew up

The House of Representatives had, by any reasonable standard, an absolutely insane week — marked by censure votes, indictments and a literal fire at the U.S. Capitol complex — as lawmakers returned from their seven-week absence.To cap it off, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), one of the chamber's biggest firebrands, announced Friday night she'll resign from Congress after her public split from President Trump.Why it matters: To members in both parties, the chaos was simply the crescendo to a years-long period of shame for the lower chamber."The fact that the Capitol was literally on fire yesterday, I think, is indicative of what's going on inside of it," Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) told Axios on Friday.Said Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.): "The fire in the subway was a fitting end to an absolute hair-on-fire week for the House of Representatives. Embarrassing. Absolutely embarrassing.""There's something weird in the air for sure," said Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), telling Axios that "the rhythms and sense of normalcy here are completely shot" after seven weeks of absence.Monday: New York City councilman Chi Ossé kicked things off by filing paperwork to launch a primary challenge against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).The House voted later that night to advance a measure introduced by Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) rebuking Rep. Chuy García (D-Ill.) for announcing his retirement after his state's filing deadline.García's move ensured his chief of staff will be the lone Democratic candidate to replace him, sparking cries of undemocratic behavior.Tuesday: After the White House and GOP leadership abandoned a months-long pressure campaign to stop the release of the Justice Department's Jeffrey Epstein files, the House voted 427-1 to force release of the documents. Nearly two dozen House Democrats voted with Republicans to pass Gluesenkamp Perez's resolution of disapproval against García.Republicans then moved to censure Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands) and oust her from committees after files from Epstein's estate revealed she texted with the disgraced financier during a congressional hearing.Democrats retaliated by moving to force a vote to censure Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) and remove him from a committee over allegations of domestic abuse, stolen valor and financial misconduct, all of which he denies. The Plaskett vote failed, and Democrats withdrew their Mills motion.Wednesday: Frustrated by the Mills censure being withdrawn, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) drafted a new one that would have removed him from both his committees. Mace also used several vulgar expletives on the House floor to describe Mills. The House Ethics Committee launched an investigation into many of the allegations against Mills. The House then voted on Mace's censure bill, which failed in an overwhelming bipartisan vote.Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) was indicted for allegedly stealing $5 million in FEMA overpayments to her company and using much of the money to fund her 2021 campaign. She said she is innocent.The Justice Department also announced that a former staffer for Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.)had been charged for allegedly staging her own assault. According to the criminal complaint, Natalie Green, 26, was found with the words "TRUMP WHORE" written on her stomach.Thursday: Trump appeared to suggest a group of congressional Democrats' comments urging military service members to disobey unlawful orders were "punishable by DEATH!," prompting widespread outrage from Democratic lawmakers. Rep. Jason Crow's (D-Colo.) office asked U.S. Capitol Police for an investigation into Trump over the comments, with many of the targeted lawmakers saying they faced a surge in threats.Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) announced plans to force a vote to expel Cherfilus-McCormick from Congress after previously threatening a censure vote against her.A subway car that runs between the Capitol and the Rayburn House Office Building caught fire, sending two Capitol Police officers to the hospital.Friday: The House passed a resolution to "denounce the horrors of socialism" just before New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, met with Trump at the White House.The vote on the House measure was delayed by a clash between Reps. Maria Salazar (R-Fla.) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), which ended with Salazar agreeing to formally withdraw remarks she made on the floor criticizing Waters for taking multiple trips to Cuba.The House Ethics Committee also announced they'd launched an investigation into Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) and his chief of staff.What they're saying: The week left some members desperate for structural reforms in the House, particularly when it comes to censure."We need a rule change on censures ... this is insane. We can't function like this," said Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.). "Everybody that I've talked to on the floor is completely and totally exasperated that we've come back from this time away and this is what we are wasting our time on."Reps. Don Beyer (D-Va.) and Don Bacon (R-Neb.) have proposed raising the censure threshold from a simple majority to 60%, as Axios first reported.Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also fumed that the socialism vote was a waste of time and energy: "It would be really important for us to be addressing the kitchen table needs of the American people."

Comments

World news

Grizzly bear kills one and injures 11 in attack on schoolchildren in Canada

Evening Standard

<a href="https://www.skysports.com/cricket/live-blog/12040/13473198/the-ashes-live-australia-vs-england-first-test-text-updates-and-latest-score-from-2025-26-series-opener-in-perth" target="_blank">The Ashes live: England struggle in second innings with seven wickets down</a>

about 6 hours ago

Benidorm tourist left scrubbing for days after huge mistake in bid to impress as Hulk

Mirror

Vanity Fair reportedly ‘looking at all the facts’ on Olivia Nuzzi following claims made in fiery article by her former fiancé

about 8 hours ago

Anyone expecting a showdown when Trump met Mamdani got a pretty big surprise

Skynews

Comments

Similar News

Democrats help stop censure of GOP Rep. Cory Mills, saving his committee seats

Scoop: Exasperated House members want to make it harder to censure each other

World news

Grizzly bear kills one and injures 11 in attack on schoolchildren in Canada

How Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine has been entirely dictated by Putin

Radiohead’s alt-rock sounds as fresh as ever, even after 40 years

England humiliated by Australia in two-day Ashes defeat

Elderly man dies in attack at Post Office cash machine as murder probe launched

Christmas turkey shortage fears as UK farms hit by 'super strain' bird flu

Agony of Cheryl Cole's former aide who died in horror 120mph storm

House of horrors where 'sex suicide pact Brit went to die' - 'frantic texts, beatings and video’

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky says ‘most difficult moment in history’ as Trump sets peace deal deadline

Ukraine loses land, no Nato and Russia back in the G8: What is in Trump’s 28-point plan to end the war?

I can’t afford to ski, but a Swiss-style chalet in Yorkshire was perfect

Seven helpful things to say to someone who is grieving

We were hit with a £148k inheritance tax bill when mum died at 97 – it’s disgusting

A big week for UK

Trump’s Ukraine deal is the only option – thanks to Europe

Monty Panesar: I tried to rattle Steve Smith – it worked

How to care for evergreen winter shrubs, according to an RHS expert

Judge who wore Elvis wig in court has left the building

Families of Yemeni aid workers detained by Houthi rebels despair for their fate

Frustrations grow in Russia over cellphone internet outages that disrupt daily life

Africa's first G20 summit opens with an ambitious agenda and tries to move on from Trump's boycott

'Cruelest death in history' where man's flesh was torn off and EATEN by prisoners

'I survived the Jim Jones mass suicide and I know why so many made appalling decision'

Teacher avoids £1m payout as she was 'unaware sexual abuse harmed students'

Crew evacuated safely after explosion ignites fire on ship at Los Angeles port

I lied about my £23k salary to fit in with my friends – was I wrong to do so?

‘The worst thing is to win big’ – Why Starmer can’t control his ‘feral’ MPs

At 90, I still cycle twice a week and lift weights – and you can too

I want to ditch Britain for Europe – new EU border rules are the last straw after Brexit

Bryan Cranston is magnificent in All My Sons

Five easy ways to change the way you think – and live happier in the process

The astonishing claim about why Chinese Embassy ‘spy base’ is being approved

How much you’re really saving with a supermarket loyalty card

I’ve been on dozens of solo holidays – here are seven of the best

Hitler, video games and Jaws: How extremists are selling racist T-shirts directly to you

Devastation left by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica like a 'world war', says Olympic medallist

<a href="https://www.skysports.com/cricket/live-blog/12040/13473198/the-ashes-live-australia-vs-england-first-test-text-updates-and-latest-score-from-2025-26-series-opener-in-perth" target="_blank">The Ashes live: England struggle in second innings with seven wickets down</a>

Benidorm tourist left scrubbing for days after huge mistake in bid to impress as Hulk

Ukraine allies to hold talks at G20 on White House peace plan

What Is Trump’s 28-Point Plan to End Russia’s War in Ukraine?

Russian Exiles See Europe Visa Rule as Blow Against Them, Not Putin

Winnipeg Jets fall to Hurricanes 4-3 in Ehlers’ return to Winnipeg

Sinking McBarge in Fraser River blocking B.C. company’s chance to expand

Raptors advance to NBA Cup’s quarterfinals

Scarborough residents baffled by basketball net crackdown

Raptors advance to knockout round of NBA Cup

Fox News station runs ads for handguns featuring Donald Trump’s likeness

Read Marjorie Taylor Greene’s full four-page statement resigning from Congress: ‘I refuse to be a battered wife’

Vanity Fair reportedly ‘looking at all the facts’ on Olivia Nuzzi following claims made in fiery article by her former fiancé

Anyone expecting a showdown when Trump met Mamdani got a pretty big surprise

The Christian converts the US is deporting back to Iran

Tracking build-up of US military planes and warships near Venezuela

India's blind women cricketers chase history at first T20 World Cup

Our babies were taken after 'biased' parenting test - now we're fighting to get them back

Wolves knock off London Knights on a Sudbury Friday night

Toronto officer charged with sexual assault, threats after alleged decade-long misconduct

MTG announces she’s resigning from Congress after nasty public breakup with Trump

Senator demands answers on Northwest fuel pipeline shutdown that could affect Thanksgiving travel

Megachurch with more than 1.4 million YouTube followers fires pastor accused of child abuse

Supreme Court blocks ruling on Texas congressional map deemed likely racially based