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House Dems seek to censure Trump over profane remarks

By Danielle Haynes
Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Cedric Richmond, D-La., speaks at a press conference on introducing a resolution to censure President Donald Trump for reportedly using derogatory language to describe African countries last week, at the Capitol ion Thursday. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
1 of 3 | Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Cedric Richmond, D-La., speaks at a press conference on introducing a resolution to censure President Donald Trump for reportedly using derogatory language to describe African countries last week, at the Capitol ion Thursday. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Jan. 18 (UPI) -- A group of House Democrats introduced a resolution to censure President Donald Trump on Thursday over disparaging remarks he made last week about immigration from certain countries.

The resolution to formally show disapproval for strong language the president used was a joint effort by the Congressional Black Caucus and Democratic members of the House Committee on the Judiciary. They condemned comments Trump made during a Jan. 11 Oval Office meeting about a possible bipartisan immigration deal as being racist.

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Some lawmakers at the meeting proposed restoring protections for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and African nations.

"Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" Trump purportedly said in response.

The president said the United States should have more immigrants from countries like Norway.

Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., a member of the CBC, said the group behind the resolution wanted to let the people of Africa, El Salvador and Haiti "know that America does not feel that way about them or where they live."

"We not only respect their countries but we support their countries and we recognize the contribution their counties make to the world," he added.

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Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., the Democratic leader on the Judiciary Committee, on Wednesday called on his colleagues to support the resolution "condemning the president's hateful, discriminatory and racist statements."

"I know that the White House has disputed whether the president used the specific vulgar term I referenced earlier, but they have not disavowed the racist sentiment behind it," Nadler said. "At a minimum, I hope we will reaffirm this nation's historic commitment to diversity, and its long history as a beacon of hope and refuge for those who need its protection."

Richmond said it was "painfully ironic" that Trump doesn't want immigrants from Africa, a place where people were taken from their homes, shackled and brought over in a ship to build "this great country."

We "condemn and express our opposition and disgust with the choice of words that the president uttered but more importantly the policy he espoused by uttering those words," he said.

Richmond said the resolution calls on Trump to retract his words and issue an apology.

"We are all adults, we have all made mistakes," he said. "The real test of leadership is to acknowledge when you make a mistake."

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