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Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, a eight-member congressman, was removed from his new position on a committee following criticism he recently made during an interview in New York. York Times on white supremacy.
The members of the House of Representatives Steering Committee met Monday night to determine whether King should be denied an assignment to a new congressional committee. King had previously sat on three committees and recently chaired the subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee on Constitution and Civil Justice.
"White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization, how did this language become offensive?" Asked King in an interview with The New York Times.
Comments drew the condemnation of Democrats and Republicans.
Alex Wong / Getty Images In a statement, GOP leader Kevin McCarthy called the remarks of King of the Lincoln Party Dignity and the United States of America.
"His comments call into question the fact that he will treat all Americans on an equal footing, regardless of race or ethnicity … Let us hope and sincerely pray that this action will inspire a greater reflection and, ultimately, a change on his part, "the statement said.
In his own statement, King insists that the decision was "political" and that the New York Times' story quotes were "completely misinterpreted". King said that these comments had been made during a discussion on "the changing use of language in political discourse".
But these remarks were enough to elicit the reproaches of many of King's fellow Republicans, including the only Republican African-American senator, Tim Scott, who wrote an editorial in the Washington Post on Friday.
"I will admit that I am not sure who is offending the term" Western civilization ", but whoever needs" white nationalist "or" white supremacist "defined, described and defended "It's not a pretty common knowledge," Scott wrote.
Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, called Monday for King's resignation.
"What he said is reprehensible and should lead to his resignation from Congress," Romney told reporters.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also issued a startling reprimand on Monday when he said, "If [King] does not understand why" white supremacy "is offensive, he should find a other type of work. "
Democrats scheduled a vote in the House Tuesday on a resolution presented by Democrat Democratic House whip Jim Clyburn, who disapproved of his remarks. Two other Democrats – representatives Bobby Rush and Tim Ryan – also presented censorship resolutions, a more forceful reprimand.
Ryan could force a vote on his censorship resolution later this week.
King, in a statement on the decision of the steering committee, seemed determined to stay in Congress and not to resign as a result of the violent reaction of the party leaders.
"In the end, I told him," You have to do what you have to do and I'll do what I have to do, "he told Republican House Leader Kevin McCarthy." I will continue to show the truth and to work with all the vigor I have to represent the 4th Iowans District for at least the next two years. "
King is still touted as a hawk of immigration and has been a loyal ally of President Donald Trump. King pleaded for the construction of a wall on the southern border of the United States before Trump would stand as a candidate and make a campaign promise. But King has barely gotten reelected in 2018 and, already, a state senator has announced his intention to run against King in 2020.
Mariam Khan of ABC News contributed to this report.
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