Jasmine Crockett Targeted for Censure Amid Ethics Storm

ByElena Carter

Representative Jasmine Crockett is navigating a political maelstrom as controversies mount over her inflammatory rhetoric, questionable foreign travel, and campaign finance discrepancies. The Texas Democrat, a member of the progressive “Squad,” sparked fresh criticism following remarks at a historic Black church suggesting America needs immigrants because “we done picking cotton,” adding to a growing list of statements that have placed her at the center of a potential censure resolution.

“You can’t pay us enough to find a plantation,” Crockett told the Grace Baptist Church congregation during its 125th anniversary celebration, drawing uncomfortable silence from attendees, according to Fox News. When met with the awkward reaction, she challenged the audience: “OK, so I’m lying? You’re not! You’re not!”

Photo Source: Gage Skidmore/Jasmine Crockett/WikipediaCommons

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Ethics Committee Examining Censure Resolution

The House Ethics Committee is currently reviewing a censure resolution introduced by Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) on March 26, which cites multiple controversial statements by Crockett. Among the most publicized was her reference to wheelchair-using Texas Governor Greg Abbott as “Governor Hot Wheels,” a comment she later claimed was misinterpreted despite a documented history of similar remarks about Abbott “rolling places.”

Crockett’s pattern of incendiary language has drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle. Attorney General Pam Bondi warned that the congresswoman needs to “immediately apologize and denounce [her rhetoric],” particularly after stating she wanted to see Elon Musk “taken down” amid a series of violent attacks targeting Tesla properties and personnel.

Financial Contradictions Emerge

Campaign finance records have revealed stark contradictions between Crockett’s public anti-corporate stance and her acceptance of significant corporate funding. Despite a 2020 tweet claiming she had accepted “zero dollars” from corporate PACs, financial disclosures reviewed by The New York Post show 22 different PAC contributions to her state representative campaign, with donors including AT&T and various industry associations.

Since entering Congress, public records show Crockett has accepted more than $370,000 in federal contributions from corporate PACs representing major pharmaceutical companies, financial firms, defense contractors, and consumer brands. This funding stands in contrast to her continued public criticism of “corporate greed” and praise for colleagues who oppose “corporate interests.”

“What’s controversial about [PACs] is people fundamentally see it as an issue of buying one’s support,” explained Professor Matthew Foster, a government lecturer at American University. “Democrats are more sensitive to this… Clearly [Crockett] thinks that issue is a big deal and a way to resonate with voters — so if what they put out there was false, it’s a great opportunity for the opposition to run on that.”

Foreign-Funded Luxury Travel Raises Questions

Congressional disclosures have also revealed a series of expensive international trips funded by foreign governments shortly after Crockett took office. In February 2023, just weeks after her swearing-in, the congresswoman embarked on a $17,500 trip to Doha, Qatar, paid for by the US-Qatar Business Council, which has ties to the Qatari government as reported by The Washington Examiner.

During this trip, Crockett stayed at the five-star Waldorf Astoria Lusail Doha and met with high-ranking Qatari officials. The council that funded her trip maintains connections to Qatar’s royal family through its Qatari managing director, Sheikha Mayes bint Hamad Al Thani, and has a partnership with the Gulf Times, a Qatari state-run news outlet.

Additional financial disclosures show Crockett also accepted cultural exchange trips paid for by the governments of India and the United Arab Emirates in 2023. “At a minimum, it looks horrible… Even if it’s just travel expenses covered and a place to stay overnight,” Foster noted, though he clarified such arrangements aren’t necessarily illegal.

Photo Source: Jasmine Crockett/WikipediaCommons

Crypto Industry Support

Crockett’s 2022 congressional campaign benefited from over $2 million in support from two super PACs linked to cryptocurrency industry leaders, including the now-disgraced Sam Bankman-Fried. This substantial backing from digital currency interests represents a dramatic shift from her early political career, when she relied primarily on small-dollar donations.

As the controversies accumulate, Crockett’s office has remained largely silent on specific allegations. When previously questioned about financial disclosures, her chief of staff maintained that “the congresswoman files her financial disclosures and all required documents in accordance with federal law.”

The first-term representative continues to serve as one of the Democratic Party’s most outspoken progressive voices, maintaining a high profile through confrontational exchanges that have made her both a target of criticism and a rising figure within progressive circles. How the mounting controversies will affect her political future remains to be seen as the Ethics Committee deliberates on the censure resolution.

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Elena Carter

Elena is a seasoned political analyst who dissects elections, policies, and power plays with precision. Her expertise lies in breaking down legislation, campaign strategies, and the impact of political shifts on global markets.

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