The U.S. House of Representatives recently took a symbolic stance against the widespread QAnon conspiracy theory, but more than a dozen lawmakers voted against it, including Congressman Warren Davidson of Ohio’s 8th district.
Davidson was one of 17 Republican lawmakers to vote against the resolution denouncing QAnon, a set of widespread internet conspiracy theories that claim the world is run by a group of Satan-worshipping pedophiles, including top members of the Democratic party, who are plotting against Trump.
In a statement to WCPO 9, Davidson made it clear his vote is not an endorsement of QAnon, but said the resolution amounts to "Congress policing speech.”
Davidson’s opponent, Vanessa Enoch, disagrees. She said she thinks his recent vote was a misstep and believes that America “as a nation will implode from within if we don’t stop the hatred and the anger.”
“To not denounce QAnon conspiracy theories is the equivalent of telling the Proud Boys to stand back and stand by,” she said, referencing remarks President Donald Trump made during last week’s presidential debate.
Davidson added that the measure was “beneath the dignity of the House of Representatives. We have more important matters to attend to,” adding Congress should instead focus on “getting the economy fully open and ensuring our elections are secure.”
Enoch still thinks the resolution was worth supporting.
“The QAnon conspiracy theories have led to serious threats of violence and it dehumanizes people, it can lead to threats and it also destroys the faith and the trust in our democracy, quite frankly,” she said.
She believes the country is at a critical crossroads, where “the heart of our nation is being challenged.
“We are really going to understand whether we can live up to our values as Americans,” Enoch said.
Read Davidson’s full statement below:
“Today’s resolution condemning QAnon and various other conspiracy theories was beneath the dignity of the House of Representatives. We have more important matters to attend to. The resolution itself amounts to Congress policing speech instead of taking care of the issues that are of utmost importance to Americans, namely getting the economy fully open and ensuring our elections are secure.”
