‘The country's more important than my reputation': Rep. Mannion explains tirade on House floor
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — Congressman John Mannion admits he didn't want his vulgar comments toward a fellow New York congressman 'broadcast to the world,' but he thinks it might turn out to be a 'good thing.'
Rep. Mannion sat down with NewsChannel 9 on Friday, after returning back in Syracuse from Washington, DC, where on Thursday, he unleashed a tirade on Republican Congressman Mike Lawler.
Audio of the heated exchange was caught on the official camera feed broadcast from the House floor.
'F**king stop it, Lawler,' Mannion shouted. 'F**king get over there and get some f***ing balls!'
In his interview with NewsChannel 9, Mannion said Lawler then asked something to the effect of 'who do you think you are?'
'You know who I am,' Mannion is heard responding twice. 'I'm a New Yorker just like you.'
On Friday, Mannion characterized his outburst at frustration over Republican's lack of challenges to President Donald Trump.
Mannion said, 'He's not standing up to the president. He is seeding his authority along with the other Republicans to the president, as is the Speaker of the House.'
Mannion lists a series of concerns about actions by President Trump, like deploying the military to stop protests in the United States, refusal to follow court orders, the firing of inspectors general, the gutting of federal employees and more.
Immediately after, Lawler called Mannion's comments 'unhinged' and 'unprofessional' in an also-vulgar post on social media.
Responding to Lawler's response, Mannion said, 'I think that I spoke for the vast majority of the members of NY-22 and I wish it had not come to that. I have watched, over and over again, the lack of action by my Republican colleges. I am harshly criticized for not being active enough in pushing back against these authoritarian acts.'
Mannion said, 'I spent 30 years in a classroom and I never used profanity in those 30 years. This is a time for action. And you know what? If it got attention turned towards me to call out these illegal, authoritarian and dangerous acts, if it hurts my reputation a little bit, the country's more important than my reputation.'
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