EXCLUSIVE — The Democrats who were seen waving Ukrainian flags on the House floor after passing a billion-dollar foreign aid package could face an ethics investigation after a request made by the conservative Heritage Foundation demanded accountability for the lawmakers.
In a letter sent to the House Ethics Committee on Wednesday, the Heritage Oversight Project requested an investigation into 28 House Democrats who waved Ukrainian flags inside the House chamber, which the group argued violates congressional decorum rules. The request presses the committee to look into the allegations and “hold the wrongdoers accountable,” according to the letter, which was first obtained by the Washington Examiner.
“The only flags that belong on the floor of the U.S. House are American flags,” Mike Howell, executive director of the Heritage Oversight Project, told the Washington Examiner. “It shouldn’t take an ethics complaint from the Oversight Project to instigate consequences for this flagrant violation of the rules.”
The letter cites at least two alleged violations the Democrats committed, accusing the party members of defying House rules that mandate members “shall behave at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House.” Under that rule, lawmakers are prohibited from making “statements that impugn the reputation of the House,” which the group said was violated by the waving of Ukrainian flags on the floor.
“The conduct of waving the flag impugns the reputation of the House because foreign flags dilute the primacy and importance of deep American traditions, American lives sacrificed, and the land that the American flag represents,” the letter states. “Not only do these flagrant displays of foreign capitulation disrespect our American heritage and the American way of life, but it also directly insults the American people.”
The group also accused the Democrats of violating a second House rule that states members “may not engage in disorderly or disruptive conduct in the Chamber,” especially with the “use of an exhibit to impede, disrupt, or disturb the proceedings of the House.” The letter cites a moment when Democrats’ conduct prompted a rebuke by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who warned the display was a violation of House decorum.
The letter came in direct response to Democrats waving Ukrainian flags on the House floor in celebration of the passage of $60.84 billion aid legislation last month. The incident prompted immediate backlash from House Republicans, with some lawmakers looking to ban the behavior altogether by drafting legislation that would prohibit the display of foreign flags at any time on the floor.
“Watching American representatives pass out & wave Ukrainian flags in the United States House of Representatives chamber infuriated me,” Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL), who introduced the ban, said in a post on X. “If there is one room in our country that should only have the American flag present, it is this room.”
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The letter specifically names Reps. Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ), and Diana DeGette (D-CO) as the ones who “helped pass out the flags.” The Washington Examiner contacted those offices for a response to the investigation request.
Democrats, for their part, stood by their celebration. In fact, several were seen speaking to pro-Ukrainian protesters shortly after the April vote to approve foreign aid, with Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) even thanking many in the crowd for their support.