Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has claimed that the House Sergeant at Arms threatened him with a $500 fine if he didn’t remove a video he posted on X showing Democratic representatives waving Ukraine flags on the House floor. The incident occurred after the House passed a $60 billion foreign aid package that includes funding for Ukraine.
Instead of fining democrats for waving flags, the House Sergeant at Arms just called and said I will be fined $500 if I don’t delete this video post.
Mike Johnson really wants to memory hole this betrayal of America. https://t.co/5DPWoo4cLw
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) April 23, 2024
“Mike Johnson really wants to memory hole this betrayal of America,” Massie wrote online in response to the alleged threat. He argued that instead of fining him the House Sergeant at Arms should fine the Democrats for waving flags.
House Speaker Mike Johnson later clarified on X that there would be no fine will be imposed on Rep. Massie.
Upon viewing Rep. Massie’s tweet, our team reached out to the Sergeant at Arms. I do not agree with this assessment and there will be no fine imposed on Rep. Massie. https://t.co/isqVHdVjUQ
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) April 23, 2024
The video which has garnered over 5.5 million views as of Tuesday afternoon appears to violate House rules although such rules are often broken. Massie’s caption on the video reads “This is the U.S. House of Representatives under the direction of Speaker Mike Johnson. Democrats are celebrating his total capitulation with no victory for securing our border.”
During the flag-waving spectacle Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Lauren Boebert (R-CO) among others rushed to the dais. Roy claimed he told Democrats “If you don’t put those flags back in your pocket right now I’m gonna force every procedural vote…to make them miss their flights.” The representatives then summoned Speaker Johnson to address the Democrats. “It is in violation of decorum to wave flags on the floor,” Johnson eventually told the group more than a minute after they began waving the flags.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) appeared to blame Speaker Johnson for the Sergeant at Arms’ threat and uneven enforcement of the rules. “Dems waved foreign flags violating House decorum. No fine. No reaction,” he posted on X. “Massie recorded it & released it to the public. He’s threatened with a fine unless he deletes the video. Covering for Dems. Punishing Republicans. Not what I expected from the GOP majority.”
The proposed legislation that includes the Ukraine aid in question has moved to the Senate where it is expected to pass on Tuesday evening.
CENSORSHIP: It is interesting how many people think I just made this up. Yes, Speaker Johnson ordered the Sergeant of Arms to fine Rep Massie if he didn't remove the video of members waiving the Ukraine flag in the Capitol. https://t.co/UmkmEvHiFH pic.twitter.com/4YiaeMTvJK
— @amuse (@amuse) April 23, 2024
