Marjorie Taylor Greene has spread misinformation and conspiracy theories
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Republicans are facing calls to expel a new congresswoman who backed wild conspiracy theories about a vast paedophile ring proping up the Democrats and claims that several high-profile school shootings were a hoax.
Democrats are preparing a resolution to expel Marjorie Taylor Greene, a QAnon-supporter, who has been embroiled in near-daily scandals over her controversial comments since taking office earlier this month.
But Republicans face a dilemma that strikes at the heart of a fight over the future direction of the party. The GOP’s position on Ms Greene is being seen as the first real test of whether the party wants — or is able — to move past Trump-style politics after the former president spent years advancing conspiracy theories of his own.
Ms Greene has spread misinformation and conspiracy theories about the school shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in 2018, which she alleged was a “false flag” operation, and at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, which claimed the lives of 20 children.
A video taken in 2019 emerged this week of the congresswoman outside the US Capitol confronting 20-year-old Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg, whom she has called “Little Hitler”, appearing to berate him over his position on gun laws.
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“Assigning her to the education committee, when she has mocked the killing of little children” at those schools, “what could they be thinking, or is thinking too generous a word for what they might be doing,” Nancy Pelosi, Democratic House Speaker, said of Republican leaders. “It’s absolutely appalling.”
Ms Pelosi was forced to intervene on Friday after Rep. Cori Bush on Friday asked to move her office away from Ms Greene “for her own safety” after a “maskless Marjorie Taylor Greene and her staff berated me in a hallway.”
Ms Greene has also speculated whether Jewish bankers used laser beams to ignite the California wildfires that engulfed huge swathes of the state last summer.
The 46-year-old Donald Trump ally’s controversial extremist views have long been known, but have been thrust back into the spotlight after she was sworn in.
While some Republicans have condemned Ms Greene’s posts, most have remained quiet.
Pressure is growing on the party’s leaders to address extremism after a pro-Trump mob staged a deadly insurrection at the US Capitol.
She has previously expressed support for QAnon, which centres on the debunked belief that top Democrats are involved in child sex trafficking. Facebook videos surfaced last year showing she has expressed racist, anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim views.
The 46-year-old Donald Trump ally’s controversial extremist views have long been known
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In one post, from January 2019, Ms Greene liked a comment that said "a bullet to the head would be quicker" to remove Ms Pelosi.
Ronna McDaniel, Republican National Committee Chairwoman, called the posts “disgusting,” adding that they have “no place in our party” and “should be looked into.”
Rep. Jimmy Gomez, Democratic from California, has said he is preparing a resolution to expel Ms Greene from Congress because of her past social media activity.
It is unlikely that Ms Gomez’s efforts to force Ms Greene from Congress — where it would need a three-quarters majority — will be successful.
Kevin McCarthy, House Republican leader who called the posts “deeply disturbing”, could however strip her of her committee assignments, limiting her ability to shape policy.
In response to pressure from influential lobby groups including the Republican Jewish Coalition, Mr McCarthy yesterday said he will sit down for a “conversation” with Ms Greene next week.
Ms Greene, meanwhile, tweeted that she had spoken to Mr Trump earlier in the day and had his support. “I won’t back down. I’ll never apologize. And I’ll always keep fighting for the people."
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