Congresswoman stirs controversy after wearing Halloween costume during impeachment vote

A congresswoman's decision to wear her Halloween costume to work has generated some strong feelings from both sides of the political spectrum.

Rep. Katie Porter, a Democrat from California, showed up to the House of Representatives on Thursday dressed as Batgirl. Thursday was Halloween — a day when around 25 percent of Americans dress up in costumes —but it was also the day of a House vote on formal ground rules regarding the impeachment inquiry into President Trump.

Some took issue with that second point, including several conservative political groups that criticized Porter's decision on Twitter.

"As House Democrats prepare to officially blow up their Majority with impeachment, @RepKatiePorter is prancing around dressed as Batman," the National Republican Congressional Committee tweeted, along with several photos of Porter as Batgirl.

"Democrat Rep. Katie Porter is making a mockery of the House of Representatives," Steve Guest, the rapid response director for the Republican National Committee, tweeted.

Others, however, stepped in to defend Porter, stating that Republicans were being overly sensitive and noting that many people wear Halloween costumes to work — regardless of their job.

"Of course Republicans, who love their criminal president, got triggered by a Democrat dressing up as someone who beats criminals to a pulp," filmmaker and activist Adam Best tweeted.

"I personally love the fact that Rep. Katie Porter wore a Batwoman costume to votes and I think that Congressmen and Congresswomen should learn to take themselves less seriously," one user, Isabelle Morales, wrote.

Porter stood her ground on the costume, taking to Twitter Thursday afternoon to defend the decision.

"Taking my work in Congress seriously doesn't mean I take *myself* too seriously. To my kids Luke, Paul, and Betsy, I'm still just Mom — seeing the Bat Signal on Halloween & putting on a goofy costume come with the territory," her tweet read.

The congresswoman seemed to be having fun with the costume throughout the day's events. At one point, she even yelled "It's Batgirl!" to Washington Post reporter Mike DeBonis as she was entering the House chamber.