Dan Goldman Pushes Censure Against Elise Stefanik For Calling Jan. 6 Prisoners 'Hostages'

"Congresswoman Stefanik both demeans the actual hostages currently held in captivity in Gaza and provides support for those who attacked the Capitol," Goldman said.

WASHINGTON ― Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) plans to introduce a censure resolution against the No. 3 Republican in the House over her support for rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) earlier this month referred to imprisoned rioters as “hostages,” as though they’d been unlawfully kidnapped. More than 1,200 people were arrested for violating federal law that day, with the charges typically based on video evidence.

“January 6th was the gravest attack on American democracy since the Civil War and Congresswoman Stefanik’s persistent and continued support for the perpetrators of an insurrection is contemptuous,” Goldman said Wednesday in a press release.

“In putting her personal ambitions over her integrity, Congresswoman Stefanik has been Donald Trump’s biggest congressional cheerleader, even though our mutual home state of New York overwhelmingly opposes him,” he continued.

Goldman told reporters that he did not plan to file the censure resolution as “privileged,” meaning he would not force the House to take a vote. But he said he would consider doing so if Republicans didn’t condemn Stefanik’s remarks.