Rep. Beatty says Rep. Rogers poked her, used vulgarity after she asked him to wear a mask

On Tuesday, Democratic Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty tweeted about an exchange she had with Rep. Hal Rogers, a Republican from Kentucky, after she asked him to mask up before getting on the subway. According to Beatty, Rogers refused to put on a mask, poked her, and told her to “kiss my a**.”

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

Beatty continued the thread, writing, “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 tagged Rogers in a third and final tweet and said, “When you are ready to grow up and apologize for your behavior, you know where to find me.”

Beatty, who chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, received support from other members of the caucus as the group held a press conference on the Capitol steps On Tuesday, demanding Rogers apologize for what they said was a physical and verbal “assault.”

Democratic Florida Rep. Val Demings, who is running for Senate, chimed in on the issue, “I will not give Hal Rogers a pass. Look, we’re all dealing with the same thing, but his racist, inappropriate behavior against Joyce Beatty is totally unacceptable. And we will not tolerate it.” 

Rogers, who is currently the second-most senior lawmaker in the House, said in a statement that he has since 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,” he said.

Republicans have consistently pushed back against masking requirements at the Capitol since they were mandated last year as congressional leadership changed.