Representative Paul Gosar (R-AZ) would be the first Congressman to be censured in more than a decade if Democrats successfully push to punish him over his anime video that depicted the Republican killing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
A group of 10 Democrats said in a Wednesday statement that they will push to censure Rep. Gosar for posting the controversial video that has sparked widespread condemnation.
The joint statement said: "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.
"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."
It added: "As the events of January 6th have shown, such vicious and vulgar messaging can and does foment actual violence.
"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."
Signatures to the statement include Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Rep. Jackie Speir (D-CA), Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN), Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), Rep. Sylva Garcia (D-TX), Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA).
If Democrats successfully censure Rep. Gosar over the video, he would be the first member of the House to face the punishment since Democrat Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) in 2010 over improper solicitation of funds.
In order to successfully censure a House member, a majority needs to pass it through a floor vote. The Democrats hold a 221-213 majority over Republicans in the House.
Considered a serious punishment short of expulsion, and formally registers the House's disapproval of a Representative's misconduct.
According to the House of Representatives website, more than two dozen members have been censured since 1832.
Rep. Gosar was condemned by Democratic figures after he shared the anti-immigrant video on his social media accounts that showed him and other Republican Representatives fighting against Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and President Joe Biden.
In one scene, Rep. Gosar kills a giant Rep. Ocasio-Cortez by slicing the back of her neck with two swords, a way the villains are fatally dispatched in the show Attack on Titan.
On Tuesday, Rep. Gosar said the video "symbolizes the battle for the soul of America." He also argued that Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, whom he called "a proud member of the open border caucus."
The anime videos were later removed from Rep. Gosar's Twitter and Instagram accounts.
Newsweek has contacted Rep. Gosar for comment.
