Only Republican to vote for the police reform bill ‘accidentally pressed the wrong … button’

GOP Rep. Lance GoodenLance GoodenSole GOP votes on House Police Reform Bill says he ‘accidentally pressed the wrong vote button’ House Endorses George Floyd Justice in Police Act Republicans House request briefing on threats keeping National Guard at DC PLUS (Texas), the only Republican representative to vote for the “George Floyd Justice in Policing Act,” reportedly said in a now-deleted Twitter post that he accidentally hit the wrong button.

“I accidentally pressed the wrong voting button and realized it too late,” Gooden wrote in the tweet, according to the Washington Post. “I have changed the official record to reflect my opposition to the partisan George Floyd Policing law.”

The measure would ban strangling, seek to end religious and racial profiling, and ban certain beating warrants, among other police policy changes.

“I have arguably the most conservative / America first vote record in Congress!” Gooden said in another tweet.

“Of course, I would not support the radical left anti-police law,” he added. “I changed the official record to reflect my opposition!”

I have arguably the most conservative / America First voting record in Congress!

Of course, I would not support the radical left anti-police law.

I changed the official record to reflect my opposition! pic.twitter.com/s7uCdlxvgO

– Lance Gooden (@Lancegooden) March 4, 2021

The bill passed the House on Wednesday night with a vote of 220-112.

The Post notes that accidental votes are not uncommon in legislatures at both state and federal levels, although the consequences have been more impactful.

North Carolina State Democratic Representative Becky Carney, for example, accidentally helped legalize fracking in her state after vetoing the bill she had lobbied against, according to the newspaper. Because changing her vote would change the outcome, Carney was not allowed to overturn her vote under chamber rules, he added.