Republican lawmaker removed from committee for asking if colleague is a pedophile.
Rhode Island House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi removed Republican Representative Robert Quattrocchi from the House Committee on State Government & Elections after he asked a Democratic colleague, who is one of two openly LGBTQ members in the House, if she was a pedophile during a committee hearing. Quattrocchi doubled down on his remarks and accused Shekarchi of bowing under pressure from a "mob." Shekarchi called Quattrocchi's remarks "reprehensible" and said he needs to publicly apologize. Committee assignments are at the discretion of the House Speaker.