House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries defended his description of Democratic redistricting efforts as "maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time" on Monday, after Republicans seized on the comment following the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting. [1]
Jeffries made the remark at a press conference after Virginians approved a new redistricting map that could give Democrats a 10-1 advantage. He said the phrase referred to the party's fight over redistricting and stood by it. [1]
"As it relates to the comment related to 'maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time,' in connection with the redistricting battle that Republicans launched, I stand by it," Jeffries said. He also said, "Political violence in any form, directed at anyone, whether that's left, right or center, is unacceptable. Period, full stop." [1]
The phrase echoes an anonymous source close to President Donald Trump in a New York Times story last summer about the White House's mid-decade redistricting strategy. Republicans said Jeffries' wording crossed a line after the Saturday shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, with Rep. Andrew Clyde saying Jeffries called for "maximum warfare" against Trump and his administration and calling Democratic rhetoric "demonic and dangerous." [1]
Rep. Randy Fine also pressed Democrats to condemn Jeffries and said their silence was unacceptable, urging them to hold him accountable. Jeffries answered criticism with, "You can continue to criticize me for it. I don't give a damn about the criticism ... get lost." [1]
The Virginia map approval and the fallout from the shooting set up the next round of redistricting and political rhetoric battles as lawmakers head into further debate over state maps. [1]