If Representative Derrick Van Orden (J6 - Wisconsin) was hoping that he could bluff his way through the consequences of his drunk raging at some teenaged Senate pages until it all blew over, he is sorely mistaken.
After getting called out by Senators Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell on the Senate floor, Schumer turned around and held a press conference that night, calling Van Orden "a horrible outlier" and saying his behavior was "utterly despicable":
Derrick Van Orden: "Horrible outlier." pic.twitter.com/OAkAB3vQst
— The Wisconsin Idea (@thanewisc) July 28, 2023
Then on Sunday, NBC News reported that Van Orden was not only screaming and cussing at the kids, he was acting physically aggressive to them:
A freshman Republican lawmaker received bipartisan condemnation after he allegedly yelled at a group of high- school-age Senate pages for “defiling” the Capitol on Wednesday. New details shared with NBC News paint an even more disturbing picture of what took place that night.
Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., told the teenagers to “get the f--- out” of the rotunda, according to one source who witnessed the interaction and spoke on condition of anonymity. The source described Van Orden's demeanor as “physically aggressive” toward the pages.
The lawmaker was “screaming inches from the pages’ faces” and “shooed” at them with his hands several times, said the source, who described previously unreported details of Van Orden’s behavior.
It further was reported that the encounter had left the children "visibly shaken."
Van Orden's behavior was so far beyond acceptable that even his fellow Republicans began to turn on him:
Senator Thom Tillis called Van Orden out and demanded that he apologize:
This is inexcusable and embarrassing behavior for a member of Congress or any adult for that matter. The Congressman should do the right thing and apologize. https://t.co/0bfhUBuXkT
— Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) July 29, 2023
And Representative Chip Roy, who has had problems of his own, couldn't resist throwing shade at Van Orden:
TGIF after a rough week, Senate Pages? I got a great photo, how about you? @SenateCloakroom pic.twitter.com/xaPVVVrFDa
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) July 28, 2023
Then, on Monday, Van Orden suddenly cancelled a meeting he was to have with the Town of Campbell, just hours before it was supposed to happen. Van Orden's spokesperson denied it had anything to do with the fallout he's been getting, but I thing they would be hard pressed to find anyone who actually believed that.
Given that Van Orden was not only drunk raging at the pages but was also being physically aggressive and terrorizing the kids, it's gone beyond the point where an apology will suffice. Van Orden needs to resign or be drummed out of Congress. Unfortunately, Speaker Qevin McQarthy is a spineless weasel and should never be relied upon to do the right thing under any circumstances.
