GOP Congressman defends confronting Senate pages lying on Capitol Rotunda floor, criticizes Schumer.
Republican Congressman Slams Senate Pages During Capitol Tour
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) caused a stir during a late-night tour of the U.S. Capitol this week. While giving a tour to a large group of visitors in the early morning hours, Van Orden encountered a group of high school-aged Senate pages taking pictures of the Capitol Rotunda. His response was far from diplomatic.
“Wake the f*** up you little s***s,” Van Orden exclaimed. “What the f*** are you all doing? Get the f*** out of here. You are defiling the space you [pieces of s***].”
“Who the f*** are you?” Van Orden demanded, to which one individual replied that they were Senate pages. “I don’t give a f*** who you are, get out. You jacka**es, get out.”
Unsurprisingly, Van Orden’s remarks drew condemnation from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
Van Orden Stands Firm
Despite the backlash, Van Orden refused to apologize for his outburst. In fact, he doubled down on his stance in subsequent media interviews, explaining why the pages’ actions had infuriated him.
“The Capitol Rotunda served as a field hospital where countless Union soldiers died fighting to free men in the Civil War,” Van Orden stated. “I have long said our nation’s Capitol is a symbol of the sacrifice our servicemen and women have made for this country and should never be treated like a frat house common room. Threatening a congressman with bad press to excuse poor behavior is a reminder of everything that’s wrong with Washington. Luckily, bad press has never bothered me and if it’s the price I pay to stand up for what’s right, then so be it.”
Van Orden’s refusal to apologize only fueled the fire, with Schumer expressing shock at his lack of remorse. However, Van Orden’s spokesperson fired back, suggesting that Schumer should think twice before criticizing others.
“Chuck Schumer is a lifelong political hack who never resists an opportunity to insert himself in front of a camera. When will Schumer hold his own party to the same standard?” said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Jack Pandol.
This is not the first time Van Orden has courted controversy. In 2021, he made headlines for complaining about a display of books about homosexuality in a library during Pride Month. He accused the books of being propaganda and checked out every book from the display to prevent others from seeing them.
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