An ethics complaint has been filed against Derrick Van Orden by one of his constituents, requesting that the Office of Congressional Ethics investigate him for accosting and being “physically aggressive” toward teenage Senate pages in the Capitol rotunda.
This wasn’t the first time he’s bullied kids. He blew up at a teenage library worker in his district over an LGBTQ book display.
Van Orden’s temper tantrums also extend beyond children. He “shouted obscenities” at a Biden Administration official during a briefing and was on Capitol grounds during the January 6th insurrection.
It’s no wonder Van Orden is becoming increasingly vulnerable as Wisconsinites hold him accountable.
An ethics complaint has been filed against Wisconsin Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden. He is accused of berating and being physically aggressive towards Senate pages.
“There is no doubt that the allegations about Van Orden’s behavior toward young Senate pages reflect discreditably on the House,” the complaint says. “The public expects Members to conduct themselves with civility and decency — especially when they are acting in their official capacity and inside the halls of Congress.”
The incident in question occurred on July 26, 2023. A group of Senate pages, who are high school aged, were lying on the floor of the Capitol building’s rotunda and taking photos of the dome above. Van Orden allegedly started screaming at them and using curse words, accusing them of “defiling” the space.
Witnesses described his demeanor as physically aggressive.
A spokesperson for Van Orden did not respond to a request to comment for this story. In a previous statement, Van Orden did not dispute the accusations.
The complaint will now be reviewed by the House Committee on Ethics who will decide whether to investigate the incident. It could result in an array of disciplinary actions including censure or expulsion.
This is not the only time Van Orden lost his temper.
In 2021, Van Orden allegedly yelled at a 17 year old public library employee about a gay pride display that he found offensive. In October 2023, Van Orden reportedly shouted obscenities at Biden officials during a classified briefing about Israel.
Van Orden also attended the Stop the Steal Rally that preceded the Jan. 6, 2021 attack by supporters of former President Donald Trump on the U.S. Capitol.
