A Virginia county GOP committee rebuked US Republican Rep. Denver Riggleman for officiating a same-sex wedding, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.
The Cumberland County Republican Committee on Monday unanimously passed a motion of no confidence in Riggleman, who was elected in 2018 and represents Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, because of his role in the wedding, the Post reports. The motion also said the congressman has not been “tough” enough on the border and immigration issues.
Riggleman, though, has sided with his party in House votes on LGBTQ-related legislation. He opposed the Equality Act — legislation that would have banned discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity — which was ultimately passed by the chamber. He also voted against a resolution opposing President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender service members in the military.
Riggleman’s communications director, Joe Chelak, told CNN in a statement that the wedding Riggleman officiated was for two of the congressman’s friends who had also volunteered for his campaign. Those friends asked him to officiate, and the lawmaker was “happy” to do so, Chelak said.
Riggleman is “proud of these two young people who found their life partner,” Chelak added.
Still, Chelak said in the statement that “Congressman Riggleman has full confidence in the district committee and applauds their decision to continue to make the Republican Party an inclusive party of liberty and freedom for everyone.”
CNN has reached out to the committee for comment.
According to The Roanoke Times, the committee also attempted but ultimately failed to censure Riggleman on Saturday for similar reasons.
Riggleman previously told the Post that he believed government should not be involved in marriage “at all, but if it is, everybody has to be treated equally before the law.”
