Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) told the New York Post he plans to try to block Democratic nominee and New York Democratic Socialists of America member Darializa Avila Chevalier from being seated in the House if she wins—citing her past statement that she used the American flag as a napkin, according to the Post’s report.
What Burchett says he’ll try
Burchett told the Post he intends to make an “unusual” parliamentary move when the new Congress convenes, using a simple majority to prevent some newly elected members from being seated before they take the oath of office.
“You take an oath to uphold the Constitution, and you’re pretty much disavowing it right there. I just think we’ve lost our compass,” the Post quoted him as saying. He also said, “If we vote to seat them, is one Democrat going to say no? I’m not going to vote to seat those people.”
His stated reason
The Post reported that Burchett’s push is tied to Chevalier’s prior comment about using the American flag as a napkin, which he called an affront to his family’s military service. The Post noted he referenced that his father served as a Marine in World War II and that his father’s brother served on a Navy destroyer.
In a separate social media post, Burchett wrote that a 48‑star flag that once draped his uncle’s casket now hangs in his office, underscoring his views on honoring the flag.
What’s unclear from the reporting
The Post characterized the tactic as unusual and did not detail how House leaders would handle such a motion, what specific rules would apply, or Chevalier’s response to the reported plan. The original context of Chevalier’s flag remark was not provided in the source material.
