Louie Gohmert: “I recall being told when that was going on and after it happened that Republicans should not respond, and that we were…”

“I recall being told when that was going on and after it happened that Republicans should not respond, and that we were assured that people who violated the rules back then would be punished. Well, adopting rules now, specific penalties, don't really punish people that violated those very rules last year. So I am surprised that there is any complaint at all since basically it means people who violated the rule with such abandon would complain about inserting a specific penalty now, meaning they got a free one. They didn't even get probation. They got nothing. They got pardoned, basically. Perhaps it is not too late for those that feel like putting a penalty in place now is unfair. I don't think it is too late. It is not unusual to have punishment assessed in a felony case 6 months or more after an event. Perhaps if they think it is unfair, then we ought to have ethics hearings on what happened back then. I haven't heard of the OCE, by the way, taking any action on such widespread abuse that didn't require investigation. All you needed was footage that was being streamed out from the very violators of the rules. So it should have been an easy thing to pursue, if OCE were really that interested in making sure our rules were not violated. I yield to my friend. Mr. LaMALFA. It wouldn't be inappropriate since OCE is a hot topic this week. The accountability goes both directions.…”