Abuse of power & retaliation

U.S. House censured Rep. Paul Gosar and removed him from two committees over a manipulated video he posted depicting himself killing Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and attacking President Biden, 2021

Confidence: Confirmed · 5 sourcesArizona · Oct 12, 2026

Subject of this story

Paul Gosar, U.S. Representative, AZ-9

Also named

Oversight

U.S. House of Representatives

Affected

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, U.S. Representative, NY-14

Joe Biden, 46th President of the United States (2021–2025)

What happened

On Nov 17, 2021 the U.S. House voted 223 to 207 (with 1 voting present), largely along party lines (2 Republicans voted yes), to adopt H. Res. 789, censuring Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) and removing him from the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Oversight and Reform. The resolution's findings say he posted a manipulated video on Nov 7, 2021 depicting himself killing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and attacking President Biden, and that the video was posted on his official Instagram account. Gosar responded in a Nov 9, 2021 statement that the video was a "short anime video produced by his office," that "I do not espouse violence or harm towards any Member of Congress or Mr. Biden," and that "It is a symbolic cartoon. It is not real life." Censure and the committee removals were the penalty the House imposed at the time. Gosar remained in the House, and the House Clerk's current member profile lists him on the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Sources (5)

U.S. House Clerk, Roll Call 379 (Nov 17, 2021), On Agreeing to the Resolution H. Res. 789, Censuring Representative Paul GosarVote result: Passed. Republican 2 yea, 207 nay, 1 present; Democratic 221 yea.

GovInfo, H. Res. 789 (117th Congress), engrossed in House, Nov 17, 2021Resolved: Representative Paul Gosar of Arizona be censured; and be removed from the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Oversight and Reform.

U.S. House History, Art & Archives, Expulsion, Censure, Reprimand listPaul Gosar, per the censure resolution, for having posted a manipulated video depicting himself killing Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and attacking President Biden; Nov 17, 2021; H. Res. 789; 223-207, 1 present.

U.S. House Clerk, Member profile: Paul A. Gosar (current committee assignments)Committee and Subcommittee Assignments: Committee on Natural Resources; Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Rep. Paul Gosar's office, statement on the anime video (Nov 9, 2021)"I do not espouse violence or harm towards any Member of Congress or Mr. Biden... It is a symbolic cartoon. It is not real life."

Response

Paul Gosar

Statement given

Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.

What happened next (0)

No outcome recorded yet.

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