Indiana U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin gets in tense exchange over lawmaker's anti-Trump comments
Indiana Republican U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin was part of a tense exchange with U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., on Wednesday over his critical comments on former President Donald Trump.
During debate on bills on the House floor, McGovern listed off a series of Trump’s current legal issues, including the hush money trial in New York where Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records. McGovern said Wednesday lawmakers are “being prevented” from acknowledging the various allegations against the former president.
“In this Republican-controlled House, it’s OK to talk about the trial but you have to call it a sham,” McGovern said.
Houchin, who is on the House rules committee, interrupted McGovern twice, and both times asked for his comments to be removed from the record.
“Mr. Speaker I demand his words be taken down,” Houchin said.
According to Axios, McGovern’s interaction with Houchin followed another back-and-forth with a Republican representative from Alabama over whether members of Congress could insult presidential nominees. U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, who oversaw the debate Wednesday, ruled that McGovern violated House rules, Axios reported.
Multiple news outlets reported Wednesday that the exchange resulted in an hour-long delay in the House.
A spokesperson for Houchin's office in a statement pointed to Carl's decision that McGovern's comments violated House rules for referring to candidates in "personally offensive" terms.
"Congresswoman Houchin called for Mr. McGovern's words to be taken down because House rules forbid Members of Congress from engaging in 'personalities' - which includes specifically accusing or insulting political opponents by name," the spokesperson said.
McGovern: And a jury has already found him liable for rape in a civil court.
Houchin: Take down his words. I demand that his words be taken down. pic.twitter.com/jRFNImfcyP— Acyn (@Acyn) May 22, 2024
Houchin, who represents the 9th Congressional District in southern Indiana, was first elected to Congress in 2022 and is running for another term this year. The Salem congresswoman received Trump’s endorsement two years ago and again in 2024.
Before serving in Congress, Houchin was a member of the state Senate for eight years.
Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at brittany.carloni@indystar.com or 317-779-4468. Follow her on Twitter/X @CarloniBrittany.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin gets in debate over lawmaker's Trump comments
