For far too long Mo Brooks has been an embarrassment for Alabama. He has made a career of reprehensible behavior. After Wednesday’s violent riots in Washington, however, he must finally face consequences for the havoc he encourages.
Donald Trump has rightfully received much of the blame for the mob that descended on the Capitol. He has for years cultivated a devoted following among the white supremacists and far-right groups that attacked Washington. But he did not do this alone.
Many on the right have been with him every step of the way, stirring up hate and violence. Brooks was among the worst. He spearheaded the effort in Congress to overturn the election.
He has for years been brazen in spreading lies and misinformation that have emboldened the sorts of far-right groups that descended on Washington yesterday. He has traded in racist conspiracies about the COVID-19 pandemic, denied the outcome of the election and spread lies about “voter fraud” that inspired the mob on Wednesday.
Before the riots on Wednesday, Brooks told a Trump rally on the National Mall that “today is the day American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass.” Hours later many of those same people stormed the US Capitol. It is impossible to see that as anything other than inciting riots.
Even after the mob was removed from the National Mall, Brooks has continued to spread the same lies and misinformation. Just today, he tweeted baseless conspiracies of “fascist ANTIFA” (ever the brains on this one) being the ones behind the violence with no evidence. He will never acknowledge the damage he has done.
If Mo Brooks had any decency, he would resign. Unfortunately, a lack of human decency has been the sole constant throughout Mo Brooks’ career.
Some House members, such as Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, have called for the censure of representatives who “inspired insurrection”. A censure is more of a moral punishment, an acknowledgment of wrongdoing, where the speaker reads out the misconduct of a representative.
A censure does not go far enough. It does not fix the issue that Mo Brooks is allowed to hold public office. Mo Brooks should be expelled.
Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri has announced that she has introduced a resolution for the expulsion of Republicans that “have incited this domestic terror”. Mo Brooks should be the first to go. This is no time to stop short or seek reconciliation. Some actions are too far gone.
We cannot afford to continue to wait for extremists like him to miraculously become good people. Mo Brooks must go now, and he must be only the first.
