Jonathan Turley Scorches Democrats In Brutal Dissection Of Al Green Censure Process

George Washington University professor Jonathan Turley laid into House Democrats on Thursday after the lower chamber voted to censure Rep. Al Green (D-TX) for disrupting President Donald Trump’s address two days prior.

Turley spared no feelings as he declared the party had truly hit “rock bottom” when members doubled down on Green’s antics, adding, “The vote reduced the Democrats from federal legislators to the level of graffiti artists.”

“Green was censured, but only 9 Democrats joined in the motion. The Democrats then refused to clear the well and disrupted Speaker Johnson’s efforts to complete the censure process. The sound you heard was the Democratic party hitting rock bottom in this disgraceful display,” Turley began.

The disruption he alluded to involved a number of Democrats singing “We Shall Overcome” as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) attempted to close out the censure process.

Faced with the first member to be expelled during a joint session address, the Democrats followed a censure over his disruption by disrupting the business of the House. Johnson showed admirable restraint and put the house into recess…

— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) March 6, 2025

“Faced with the first member to be expelled during a joint session address, the Democrats followed a censure over his disruption by disrupting the business of the House,” Turley continued, adding, “Johnson showed admirable restraint and put the house into recess.”

“With this vote and the subsequent protest in the well, the party has cut itself adrift from any principle of decorum or civility,” Turley said, and then quickly corrected his numbers regarding the vote. “It turns out that only 8 Democrats voted for the motion. Two voted present. Green said he would do it again and the rest of the party supported him.”

…As the Democrats sang "we shall overcome," some may ask how a party can overcome this final surrender to pure rage. The vote reduced the Democrats from federal legislators to the level of graffiti artists. It is all not performative rage.

— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) March 6, 2025

“As the Democrats sang ‘we shall overcome,’ some may ask how a party can overcome this final surrender to pure rage. The vote reduced the Democrats from federal legislators to the level of graffiti artists. It is all not [sic] performative rage,” he concluded.

Turley had previewed the censure vote earlier in the day, noting that it was a clear opportunity for Democrats to put some distance between the whole of the party and Rep. Green’s antics — which were condemned by pundits on both sides of the aisle — during Tuesday’s joint session address.

“The House will soon vote on the censure of Rep. Al Green for disrupting the Trump address to the joint session of Congress. Every member should vote for the censure. This will be a defining moment for Democrats: a choice between rage and reason; lunacy and civility,” Turley said, noting that he had long been critical of members of both parties when they participated in such disruptions.

The House will soon vote on the censure of Rep. Al Green for disrupting the Trump address to the joint session of Congress. Every member should vote for the censure. This will be a defining moment for Democrats: a choice between rage and reason; lunacy and civility…

— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) March 6, 2025