A Massachusetts congressman played a key behind-the-scenes role as the U.S. House voted Tuesday to condemn President Trump for telling four congresswomen of color to "go back" to the "places from which they came."
Worcester's Jim McGovern chairs the House Rules Committee and said he advised fellow Democrats against directly calling the president a racist.
But Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the Trump remarks racist, which drew protests from Republicans, and her comments were ruled out of order.
McGovern said he supported the following vote, which kept the Speaker's comments on the record.
"Nancy Pelosi, to her credit, said what ought to have been said," McGovern said. "Look, I'm the chair of the rules committee, and I understand the importance of maintaining decorum in the House, and I understand the importance of precedents and rules, but this president is behaving in a way that goes beyond the pale."
