As all 435 members of the house of representatives are sworn in after the results of the 2020 election cycle, 59 freshman members have been sworn in. The group consists of 15 democrats and 44 republicans, helping to make up the most diverse Congress in American history. Georgia has been a focal point of the 2020 election cycle, from presidential votes to house seats won by John Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, to the newest exclamation point on Georgia, Marjorie Taylor Greene. 

Congresswoman Greene represents Georgia’s 14th District, composed of the cities of Rome and Dalton. Greene described herself in a Facebook post as “a conservative wife, mother of three, and businesswoman in the construction industry who stands with President Trump and against the left-wing socialists who want to wreck our country.” This backing of Trump through the campaign trail has continued into her congressional office, as she has become the face of Trump-supporting Republicans still in office through conflicts with democratic officials and high ranking republicans alike. Her willingness to publicly fight the establishment has brought up past controversies as well as her support of QAnon, a far-right conspiracy theory organization. 

Many of Greene’s most controversial comments stem from theories pushed by the QAnon group, specifically regarding school shootings and the 2018 California wildfires. After the Parkland School shooting, Greene has been seen on a video released by NBC News making comments about survivor David Hogg, calling him a “dog” and “completely trained.” These comments have also been applied to other tragedies, such as the Sandy Hook shooting. 

In a now-deleted Facebook post, Greene turned her attention to the CampFire, the 2018 fires that destroyed much of California, mentioning  various companies and the California governor. Her diction not only generates lack of trust in the government, but also implies anti-Semitic undertones due to her blame placed on Roger Kimmel and Rothschild Inc, a Jewish company historically at the center of other anti-Semitic theories. Greene’s irresponsible language and actions has led other lawmakers to be distrustful of Greene and her stances. 

Mitch McConnell has recently broken the party’s ranking members’ silence on Greene, releasing his statement days before House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy meets with Greene to discuss her comments and actions before and during her time in Congress. McConnell stated, “Somebody who’s suggested that perhaps no airplane hit the Pentagon on 9/11, that horrifying school shootings were pre-staged, and that the Clintons crashed JFK Jr.’s airplane is not living in reality. This has nothing to do with the challenges facing American families or the robust debates on substance that can strengthen our party.” 

As the meeting between Greene and McCarthy is quickly approaching, it raises questions not on the substance or validity of Greene’s opinion, but whether or not members of Congress can be punished for statements made before they entered the lawmaking body. Most everyone can agree that Greene’s comments are unacceptable, but should she be removed from House committees? Should she be expelled from Congress? The actions taken by House members about Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene will set precedent for years to come. 

Update: Marjorie Taylor Greene has been removed from the House Education Committee and the House Labor Committee following a full House vote.