Rep. Joyce Beatty Says Rep. Hal Rogers Told Her To ‘Kiss His A–‘ After Mask Request

Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) wrote on Twitter Tuesday that Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Kentucky) poked her in the back and told her to “kiss my a–” as he refused to wear a mask on the U.S. Capitol’s subway system at her request.

“This is the kind of disrespect we have been fighting for years, and indicative of the larger issue we have with GOP Members flaunting health and safety mandates designed to keep us and our staff safe,” Beatty wrote in the second tweet in the thread. “@RepHalRogers, when you are ready to grow up and apologize for your behavior, you know where to find me.”

🧵 Today, while heading to the House floor for votes, I respectfully asked my colleague @RepHalRogers to put on a mask while boarding the train. He then poked my back, demanding I get on the train. When I asked him not to touch me, he responded, “kiss my ass.” (1/3)

— Rep. Joyce Beatty (@RepBeatty) February 8, 2022

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While masks are not required in the Capitol, Rogers’ decision to go unmasked further upset Democrats who feel Republicans lack concern over protecting others from the virus.

Rogers, who is the second-most senior member in the House, told CNN that his actions were “unacceptable” and that he had apologized to Beatty.

“This afternoon, I met with Congresswoman Beatty to personally apologize. My words were not acceptable and I expressed my regret to her, first and foremost,” Rogers said in a statement Tuesday night.

Roger’s apology came after members of the Congressional Black Caucus criticized him for what they saw as verbal “assault.” After the apology, Beatty said that she accepted it and had moved on, but she also added that she felt like race played into how the interaction was perceived.

“Maybe the question is, had a black man poked a white woman and then told her to kiss his blank blank, you tell me what you think would have happened,” she told CNN’s John Berman on Wednesday morning.