House blocks resolution to condemn Arizona rep for tweet

WASHINGTON – The Republican-led House has blocked a resolution condemning an Arizona Republican congressman who sought to arrest immigrants in the U.S. illegally at the State of the Union address.

The vote was 231-187 to kill the resolution.

In a tweet, conservative Rep. Paul Gosar called for the Capitol Police and Justice Department to check the identification of people attending President Donald Trump’s speech and arrest “any illegal aliens.”

Gosar’s request was ignored. Several Democrats’ guests were immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children.

Democratic Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico says Gosar abused his power and attempted to interfere with U.S. Capitol Police’s efforts to provide a secure environment.

Grisham, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, sought to condemn Gosar for remarks that “intimidated” guests and “discredited” the House.