Texas Republican Rep. Lance Gooden (R, TX-5) has doubled down on his attack against Rep. Judy Chu (D, CA-27) amid the denouncement of his “racist” remarks that questioned the loyalty of Chu to the U.S. by leaders of a House select committee on China.
On Sunday, Gooden tweeted that that it is not “xenophobic to question where [Chu’s] loyalty lies.”
Gooden noted that Chu previously voted against a committee to investigate China. He also cited an article from The Daily Caller that reported Chu was named the “Honorary Chairwoman” of an organization that allegedly has ties to a Chinese Communist Party intelligence front group.
Democrat @RepJudyChu:
Voted AGAINST committee to investigate China.
Named ‘Honorary Chairwoman’ of CCP front group.
It’s not ‘xenophobic’ to question where her loyalty lies.https://t.co/Pu8bQKzFJQ
— Lance Gooden (@Lancegooden) February 27, 2023
On Feb. 22, Gooden, who is a third-term Texas Republican representative, called out Chu in an appearance on Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime,” stating that she should be denied access to classified materials and investigated.
“I question her either loyalty or competence,” Gooden previously said. “If she doesn’t realize what’s going on, then she’s totally out of touch with one of her core constituencies.”
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D, IL-8), the ranking Democrat on the “Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party” panel, called Gooden’s remarks “offensive.”
One of my colleagues, unfortunately, attacked Judy Chu, the first Chinese American congresswoman in the United States Congress, saying that somehow she’s not loyal to the United States. I find that offensive as an Asian American myself.
Wisconsin Rep. Mike Gallagher (R, WI-8), the Republican chair of the panel, also noted that Gooden was out of line.
“We should not question anybody’s loyalty to the United States,” Gallagher stated. “That is out of bounds. It’s beyond the pale.”
Chu — the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress — and her democratic allies have since demanded an apology from Gooden.
On Feb. 23, Chu described Gooden’s remarks as “racist” in a statement.
Rep. Gooden’s comments on Fox News questioning my loyalty to the USA is absolutely outrageous. It is based on false information spread by an extreme, right-wing website. Furthermore, it is racist. I very much doubt that he would be spreading these lies were I not of Chinese American descent.
Gooden wanted Chu to be investigated for previously defending Dominic Ng, the CEO of East West Bank in California, from accusations that he is working with the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing.
The dispute comes as lawmakers take steps to limit the power of Beijing in global affairs, especially amid concerns that Beijing might aid Moscow during the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
