The Alaska House of Representatives voted 35-1 to censure Rep. David Eastman of Wasilla for a remark he made during a Judiciary Committee meeting about the economic savings that could come from the deaths of abused children. His comment had been ironic in nature, as he was attempting to make a link to how people sometimes view abortion, as a cost-savings to society. He opposes abortion.
Eastman was the only person who voted against his censure, which was introduced by Anchorage Democrat Rep. Andrew Gray, who adopted a child from foster care.
Eastman said that the entire process of censure was against the House rules, because Rep. Gray had impugned his motives and his character, as well as that of his district and “by stating that my motive was to imply something.”
Eastman has been excluded from the Republican caucus this year. He was censured in 2017 over other comments he made that the House majority found offensive, relating to Native women and abortion access. An attempt was made last year to disqualify him from taking office, but a judge ruled that he had not committed sedition by being a member of the Oathkeepers, whose leaders and some followers have been convicted of various crimes related to Jan. 6, 2021 and the takeover of the U.S. Capitol by protestors.
