Wednesday February 5th, several lawmakers filed ethics complaints regarding Speaker Pelosi's conduct at this year's State of the Union Adress. After ripping an official copy of President Trump's speech, Pelosi could find herself facing criminal charges in violation of 18 U.S.C. §2071, which states that the willful mutilation of a government document is punishable by immediate removal from office and prevention from holding office agin, fines, and up to three years in prison. Florida representative Matt Gaetz (R) is leading the charge by speaking out on twitter about Pelosi's actions stating that "nobody is above the law".
What was the significance of Pelosi ripping the speech?
She states that she was destroying a "manifesto of mistruths" but inside that document were stories and achievements of the American people. By ripping the speech as part of a political publicity stunt she completely dismisses those people and acheivements.
Should lawmakers continue to pursue justice for Pelosi's actions?
Yes, she actively aimed to disrespect the president for press coverage and potentially violated a law in the process. Just as Gaetz stated, "nobody is above the law".
Are republicans searching for ways to hurt the democrats?
Of course, just as Democrats sought the destruction of Trump throughout his term and into his impeachment, Republicans are taking the opportunity to return the favor to Pelosi. Inflate to aggrivate is the partisian policy.
Replies
Good story choice and well done Emma!
I think that her ripping up the speech was dramatic and unprofessional. If she was that mad about the speech, she could've handled it way better. I don't think that she should go to jail for ripping up the speech. I don't really think that she should pay fines for ripping it. What I think would be most beneficial is her apoligizing to Trump for ripping up the speech. I think that Republicans want Pelosi out of office because she's been disrespectful and against Trump throughout his entire presidency.
I believe that Nancy Pelosi definately should not have ripped the speech. She did believe that the speech was full of lies, but there are many other ways that she could have got her point across more respectfully and effectively. Personally, I don't really think that she should be criminally charged for ripping a paper, but I do understand that it is a law, therefor she should be punished accordingly. But I guess I don't really agree with that law then. Three years in prison seems a little radical for ripping a paper.
The deal with ripping the paper is that it was a government document, and destroying government documents cannot slide. No matter what level and for what reasons she committed this crime, she still comitted a crime and whatever punishment is associated with it should be delivered even if it is on the lighter side of the spectrum. I don't think she should go to prison.
I do think lawmakers should continue to pursue justice for Pelosi's actions. The act was completely disrespectful and illegal. Just because she doesn't agree with almost anything in the speech doesn't give her the right to destroy it. She also misrepresented the entire House of Representitives by ripping a document that SHE disagreed with. I don't think that the Republicans are looking for a way to hurt the Democrats, just expecting there to be concequences, and rightly so. Even if they are, she brought this upon herself. It is not hard to resist the urge to be distructive. It seems like Pelosi was acting out, maybe because President Trump didn't shake her hand or really, actually because she thought it was full of lies, but either way, it was childish.
Yep, making a political statement doesn't free you from the laws you break in the process.
There was no significance of ripping up the speech. It was very childish and something a 7 year old would do. Not a 79 year old. I definently agree that it dismisses those peoples achievements. Yes, they should pursue justice because all she is is a corrupt politician. I don't think that republicans are searching for ways to hurt the democrats because the democrats are already hurting themselves.
Wow, what a stupid witch. Like, damn. Her ripping up that speech may have been one of, if not the dumbest, stunt she has pulled thus far. Now there was a BIG significance in her tearing up that speech, she basically took the words of the leader, that the people elected, and said they don't matter. And yeah, lawmakers should definitely continue going after her, if its a crime its a crime. If I'd get arrested she should too. True equality. And yeah, republicans are definitely looking for a way to hurt the democrats, its pretty obvious, but I don't blame them tbh.
A lot of people would say that the 2016 election didn't reflect the will of the people because Trump lost the popular vote. Those same people favor the demolition of the electoral college. I think the election reflected the will of the states more so than the people which is the entire purpose of the college. Electoral voting gives the smaller communities and states like iowa a say in the election rather than it being dominated by coastal cities.
The republicans are always on the search for ways to hurt the democrats and vice versa. I think that the lawmakers should defenetly persue this because the action was ignorant and against the law. Nancy Pelosi is not above the law and should not be an exception to this rule. The significance of Nancy ripping up the speech was huge and I think she should be fined and put in prison for three years.
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