House Republicans walked straight into another self-inflicted mess this week, and you could feel the frustration spilling out as their effort to censure Del. Stacey Plaskett collapsed right on the floor. What should have been a straightforward vote for a conference that constantly talks about accountability turned into a circus after several members suddenly peeled off, others hid behind present votes, and a few simply vanished when it mattered. That kind of maneuver always raises eyebrows, and the accusations started flying almost immediately.
Members were quick to point the finger at leadership, saying the whole thing smelled like a deal cut to protect Cory Mills from facing a tit for tat censure from Democrats. His name has been swirling around allegations ranging from stolen valor to financial issues to personal misconduct, all of which he denies. Democrats made it clear they were ready to strike back if Republicans went through with the Plaskett vote, and apparently that was enough to spook a chunk of the conference.
Anna Paulina Luna blasted leadership for protecting someone she says should not even be running for reelection. Nancy Mace chimed in too, saying she has the general tied to the disputed Bronze Star recommendation flat out denying he ever signed it. Her message was pretty blunt, and she summed the mood up in one line that could have been written in neon: this is Washington. Kat Cammack kept the fire going, calling the whole thing swampy and saying Republicans dropped the ball to shield one of their own.
The irony is that Plaskett was facing censure over something far more concrete, her documented messages with Jeffrey Epstein during the Michael Cohen hearing in 2019. Ralph Norman pulled the pin on the vote after learning Epstein had coached her on what to ask and even congratulated her afterward with a good work message. His resolution would have removed her from the Intelligence Committee and kicked off an ethics probe. Instead, he got nowhere, and he did not hold back afterward, saying the establishment protects itself while the public gets ignored.
Tim Burchett echoed that frustration and said the whole thing collapsed because Republicans cut a deal. He spelled it out plainly, four Republicans did not vote, three voted present, three voted no, and that was enough to sink the measure. He called it disgusting, and honestly, given the pattern, you can understand why he is fed up.
Meanwhile Mills continues to deal with the shadow of an investigation tied to accusations from earlier this year, even though the accuser walked back major parts of her story and the prepared warrant never got signed. None of that changes the political reality. Democrats know he is a pressure point, and enough Republicans are nervous about that fact to derail their own agenda.
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