Ted Lieu mocks GOP’s ‘property’ by bringing back smoky rooms

A prominent House Democrat taunted some of his GOP peers about “owning” as they increasingly smoked in their offices in the US Capitol.

Troy Nehls, a Republican representative for Texas’ 22nd congressional district, appeared on Fox News on Friday to discuss the smoking trend with host Tucker Carlson after some journalists commented that indoor smoking in the Capitol under GOP leadership is becoming increasingly common became more frequent.

In response to some of Nehls’ comments and the graphics used by the network, Rep. Ted Lieu, a California Democrat, took to Twitter to mock the House GOP for their priorities. Lieu also claimed that recent Republican moves would help Democrats retake the House of Representatives in 2024.

“Democrats are #PeopleOverPolitics focusing on lower costs, better paying jobs and safer communities for the American people,” Lieu wrote Friday. “What are House Republicans focused on? Make sure they can smoke cigars on Capitol Hill. The Democrats will retake the House of Representatives. Guaranteed.”

Commenting on the segment again on Saturday, Lieu drew attention to Fox News’ bottom-third graphic proclamation that Republicans had brought back “smoky rooms on Capitol Hill” and accused conservatives of “ownership.”

“Check out that Fox News Chyron at the bottom of the screenshot,” the Democratic lawmaker wrote. “Kind of hilarious that House Republicans and conservative entertainment outlets like Fox News don’t know what proprietary this is.”

During his interview with Nehls on Friday, Carlson called smoking tobacco “the most American of pleasures,” adding that it “founded the country.” When pressed, the GOP MP claimed it was “all about freedom,” and singled out other politicians who have also smoked cigars in their offices over the decades.

“People have enjoyed cigars – nations, leaders, world leaders – from Winston Churchill to the Presidents of the United States, from Andrew Jackson to Theodore Roosevelt, Nixon, JFK – they enjoyed smoking their cigars,” Nehls said. “We even know that Bill Clinton enjoyed a good cigar now and then.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led the 2007 initiative to ban smoking in most parts of the Capitol, which Nehls says means members “are not allowed to smoke cigars on the House floor or during committee hearings.” However, it was always allowed in the offices of the members.

“A lot of us in the cigar caucus — about 30 of us — enjoy a good cigar in our office, and we do,” Nehls said, adding that he hadn’t received any complaints about it.

news week reached out to Nehls’ office for comment.