Should the House Condemn QAnon and Reject the Conspiracy Theories it Promotes? (H. Res. 1154)

What is H. Res. 1154?

(Updated February 3, 2022)

This resolution would condemn QAnon and reject the conspiracy theories it promotes. It would also condemn all other groups and ideologies, from the far left to the far right, that contribute to the spread of unfounded conspiracy theories and that encourage Americans to destroy public and private property and attack law enforcement officers. It would encourage federal law enforcement, homeland security, and intelligence agencies, to continue to strengthen their focus on criminal activity by extremists motivated by fringe conspiracy theories. Additionally, it would urge all Americans to seek information from authoritative sources and to engage in political debate from a common factual foundation.

The resolution would also note that conspiracy theories throughout history which falsely blame street cabals or marginalized groups for society’s ills have fueled prejudice, genocide, and acts of terrorism. It explains that QAnon is a movement promoting a collection of unfounded conspiracy theories, which initially alleged that prominent Americans are engaged in a secret plot to control the world and exploit children, expanded to embrace virtually every conspiracy theory of the last several decades, from questioning the truth about the September 11th terrorist attacks, to believing in alien landings, to denying the safety of vaccines.

Additionally, the resolution notes that QAnon adherents have been implicated with crimes that they claim were inspired by their QAnon beliefs, including:

• A man arrested in 2018 for plotting to bomb the Illinois Capitol rotunda to raise awareness of the “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory;

• A man arrested in 2018 for using an armored car to block traffic on the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge;

• A man arrested in 2019 for vandalizing a Catholic church;

• A woman arrested in 2019 for plotting an armed raid to kidnap her child, who had been taken from her custody;

• A man charged with the murder of an organized crime boss in New York in 2019; and

• A woman arrested with a car full of knives after posting a video accusing Joe Biden of participating in child sex trafficking and threatening to kill him.

As a simple resolution, this legislation is non-binding and wouldn’t have the force of law if adopted.

Argument in favor

The conspiracies promoted by the QAnon movement are undermining public trust in America’s institutions, are beginning to grow more prominent in political discourse, and in some cases have inspired violent plots by followers. The House should go on record as condemning QAnon and the conspiracy theories it promotes.

Argument opposed

While it may be well-intended, the House passing a non-binding resolution to condemn QAnon probably won’t have a meaningful impact in tamping down the movement’s conspiracy theories. It could also have the opposite of its intended effect by raising awareness of QAnon and driving more followers to it.

Impact

The QAnon movement; and the House of Representatives.

Cost of H. Res. 1154

As a non-binding resolution, this bill would have no cost.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) introduced this resolution to condemn the QAnon movement and reject the conspiracy theories it promotes:

“Conspiracy theories that falsely blame secret cabals and marginalized groups for the problems of society have long fueled prejudice, violence and terrorism. It’s time for us to come together across party lines to say that QAnon has no place in our nation’s political discourse.”

Original Republican cosponsor Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA) added:

“QAnon and the conspiracy theories it promotes are a danger and a threat that has no place in our country’s politics. I condemn this movement and urge all Americans to join me in taking this step to exclude them and other extreme conspiracy theories from the national discourse.”

This legislation has the support of five bipartisan cosponsors, including Riggleman, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-OH), Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA), and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) Press Release

Summary by Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: iStock.com / Rich Townsend)