Marjorie Taylor Greene was accused of allegedly kicking the teen staffer in a clip published to Twitter. (Drew Angerer/Getty)
Far-right Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene is facing a formal complaint by an activist group after she allegedly kicked a teenager.
Voters of Tomorrow made the announcement on Monday (3 October) that it would be filing a complaint against the Georgia politician to the Office of Congressional Ethics after footage captured the congresswoman allegedly kicking one of their staff members.
Staff member Marianna Pecora posted the clip to Twitter on 15 September where she said: “My name is Marianna Pecora, I’m the deputy communications director [at Voters of Tomorrow] and [Marjorie Taylor Greene] just kicked me.”
My name is Marianna Pecora, I’m the Deputy Communications Director @VotersTomorrow and @RepMTG just kicked me. pic.twitter.com/xLHAO87C2Z
— Marianna Pecora (@MariannaPecora) September 15, 2022
Greene was also accused by the group of directing xenophobic remarks at their executive director which, if the complaint is recognised, would put her in violation of Rule XXIII of the Rules of the House Code of Conduct.
Clause one of the rule requires all members to “behave at all time in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House.”
She said in a tweet that if director Santiago Mayer “doesn’t like” what she described as “American freedoms” then he could “go back.”
In a statement, Voters of Tomorrow spokesperson Jack Lobel said the group had not been in contact with Greene’s office since the footage was released but was set on issuing the complaint.
“[Marjorie Taylor Greene] must be held accountable for her physical and verbal attacks on our staff,” Lobel wrote. “We hope this sends a strong message to the Congresswoman and other far-right politicians – we will fight back against their continued strikes against our generation.”
The group’s main aims are to boost voter turnout among young people and to help “not only win the battle against fascism but to create a system of government representative of the people.”
Lobel told Rolling Stone that the complaint “is about something larger, which is accountability for leaders in government, and that accountability coming from our generation.”
Not only did Pecora post footage of the alleged assault, but Greene herself posted a different angle, in which she appears to trip up Pecora while walking down the street.
These foolish cowards want the government to take away guns & the rights of parents to defend their children in schools.
You have to be an idiot to think gun control will create a utopian society where criminals disarm themselves and obey the law.
“Gun-free” zones kill people. pic.twitter.com/1T37HH8jEO
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) September 15, 2022
“These foolish cowards want the government to take away guns & the rights of parents to defend their children in schools,” she said. “You have to be an idiot to think gun control will create a utopian society where criminals disarm themselves and obey the law.”
In response, Pecora, seemingly bewildered that Greene posted the clip, said: “Did she literally just tweet out the video of her kicking me?
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect members of Congress to not kick an 18-year-old citizen.”
Nick Dyer, Greene’s communications director who was also in the recording, told various news organisations that he disputed how her actions were characterised, saying: “This is all ridiculous and you should refrain from repeating lies.”
Pecora told Washington Post that the incident was a blip in an otherwise productive day, saying: “We’ve been sitting in meetings all week with both Democrats and Republicans. Nobody has been anything but respectful.
“Everybody has been just so incredibly attentive, and taken us seriously and had, like, really productive conversations with us. Except for Marjorie Taylor Greene.”