A congresswoman reversed course to condemn Charlie Kirk just hours after voting to honor him.
Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) was one of 95 Democrats who voted in favor of honoring Kirk’s “life and legacy” on Friday in a House resolution. The vote came just over a week after Kirk was assassinated, allegedly by a young male who was dating a transgender person.
In total, the resolution received support from both Democrats and Republicans, passing with a 310-58 vote. While 58 Democrats voted against and another 22 did not vote at all, Sherrill’s about-face afterward was all the more confusing considering that she had voted in support of the resolution.
In a statement posted to her X account, Sherrill explained her position. She wrote that while she supports free speech, she still considers Kirk to hold “vile” views.
“I take my oath to the Constitution seriously. I believe in free speech. And that the First Amendment wouldn’t be necessary if it were only meant to cover language we agreed with,” Sherrill stated. “It is meant to protect people like Charlie Kirk who present vile dissenting views. But it is also meant to protect teachers, doctors, and TV comedians who may express views the president doesn’t like.”
The New Jersey Democrat further claimed that Kirk advocated for restricting the rights of women and Black people.
“Charlie Kirk was advocating for a Christian nationalist government and to roll back the rights of women and Black people. This flies in the face of every value I hold dear and that I fight for,” Sherrill continued. “But the Constitution protects free speech, even for those I vehemently oppose.”
Sherrill then criticized former President Donald Trump, stating he “defines hypocrisy at every turn” and is “instigating a witch hunt worthy of Joseph McCarthy to shut down the free speech rights of anyone who disagrees with Kirk’s racist, anti-American views.”
The 53-year-old representative concluded by denouncing political violence and calling for unity.
“I consider Kirk’s murder to be horrific. It is up to all of us to stand against political violence. In these times, I will continue to condemn political violence, racism, attacks on women, and the hypocrisy coming from Trump and his acolytes,” she said.
In response to Sherrill’s comments, Republican Jack Ciattarelli—whom she will face in an upcoming election—wrote on X, “Mikie Sherrill’s hypocrisy knows no bounds.” He also described her remarks about Kirk as “inexcusable and disqualifying.”
Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) directly responded to Sherrill’s statements in the comments section as well, stating, “You can’t just say crap like that especially when it’s not true.”
—
**Related:** Sinclair backs out of airing Charlie Kirk on its ABC stations—here’s what it did instead.
**Related:** Why Charlie Kirk’s murder is ‘about me’ and anyone else they dehumanize as a ‘Nazi.’
*Photographer: Victor J.*
https://www.theblaze.com/news/dem-congresswoman-charlie-kirk-views