Rep. Joyce Beatty says Rep. Hal Rogers touched, swore at her after asking him to wear a mask on subway

U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) called out Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY) on Twitter Tuesday afternoon over a confrontation at the Capitol subway system over mask rules.

“Today, while heading to the House floor for votes, I respectfully asked my colleague @RepHalRogers to put on a mask while boarding the train,” Beatty tweeted on her official government account. “He then poked my back, demanding I get on the train.”

“When I asked him not to touch me, he responded, ‘kiss my a–,’” she continued.

Beatty said the confrontation was “indicative of the larger issue we have with GOP Members flaunting health and safety mandates” for congresspeople and their staff. She then called for Rogers to apologize, tweeting, “when you are ready to grow up and apologize for your behavior, you know where to find me.”

Many Democratic lawmakers gave sympathies Beatty, the Congressional Black Caucus chairwoman. They also used the confrontation as an example of mistreatment of lawmakers of color at the Capitol by GOP members.

“Just last night, I was yelled at and personally attacked by Republicans while trying to do my job managing the House floor as Speaker Pro Tempore,” Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) tweeted. “Republican targeting of Black and brown women must end.”

“Unfortunately [sic] this is everyday for Black folk and people of color across America,” Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) tweeted.

The Congressional Black Caucus held an impromptu press conference later in the day to condemn Rogers’ actions, especially focusing on Rogers apparently touching Beatty without consent.

“Being the little Black girl from the east side of Detroit, I would not take that standing or sitting,” Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) said at the conference. “And I’m not going to take it standing or sitting for one of our own to be disrespected.”

Rogers has so far not responded to multiple requests for comment by Washington D.C. reporters.

Follow Austin on Twitter @AuLinfante