House tables resolution to censure Maxine Waters

Democrats narrowly defeated a resolution brought by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy Tuesday to censure Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters, after she encouraged protesters in Minnesota to "stay on the street" and "get more confrontational" if they don't see a guilty verdict returned in the Derek Chauvin trial regarding the death of George Floyd. 

The House voted to table the resolution 216 to 210 along party lines. This is victory for House Democratic leadership, as they could afford just two Democratic defections on this vote. There were zero defections on either side, with all Democrats present voting to table and all Republicans voting to move forward. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer were spotted by the doors of the chamber talking to members as they entered, indicating how important Democratic leadership considered the vote.  "Chairwoman Waters' actions are beneath the dignity of this institution. They raised the potential for violence, directed lawlessness, and may have interfered with a co-equal branch of government," McCarthy said in a tweet after he introduced the resolution on the House floor. "I just introduced this censure resolution to hold her accountable."