Oregon House Takes Unprecedented Move to Expel Member

Posted by Pam Leavitt on June 11, 2021

The Oregon Legislature is in the final weeks of the 2021 Legislative Session. As the Ways and Means Committee works through all of the budget bills, the Oregon House took an unprecedented move to expel a member. On Thursday, Oregon House of Representatives expelled Representative Mike Nearman from the Legislature with a bipartisan vote of 59-1 to pass House Resolution 3, which had been forwarded to the floor with a bipartisan unanimous vote from a special committee earlier in the day. The former Representative opened State Capitol doors to armed rioters who clashed with law enforcement while breaking into the building.

Speaker Kotek stated, “The Oregon House of Representatives has taken the unprecedented step of expelling one of its members. Elected leaders must be held to the highest possible standard. The facts are clear that Mr. Nearman unapologetically coordinated and planned a breach of the Oregon State Capitol. His actions were blatant and deliberate, and he has shown no remorse for jeopardizing the safety of every person in the Capitol that day. Given the extraordinary circumstances, this was the only reasonable path forward. Safety — for the public, building employees, legislators and their staff — continues to be my top priority in managing this extraordinary session.”

Posted in Advocacy on the Move, Oregon Advocacy.