Liberal comedian and television personality Rosie O'Donnell went on a Twitter rampage on Tuesday night shortly before the Senate passed a sweeping $1.5 trillion tax reform bill, calling the vote a "crime in progress."
O'Donnell, an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, began her diatribe during Rachel Maddow's evening show, asking the MSNBC host whether American citizens should show up on Capitol Hill to protest the passage of the Republican-backed tax bill.
"Ok so @Maddow - for real - should we all just getting our cars - on the train - right now - and show up in dc - right now - we mobilize - someone has to call it #SAYGO come on - #nowORnever show up - like a musical - masses of humans - show up now #SHOWUP [sic]," O'Donnell tweeted.
ok so @maddow - for real - should we all just getting our cars - on the train - right now - and show up in dc - right now - we mobilize - someone has to call it #SAYGO come on - #nowORnever show up - like a musical - masses of humans - show up now #SHOWUP
— ROSIE (@Rosie) December 20, 2017
O'Donnell also insulted Republican Sen. Susan Collins (Maine), a key swing vote on the tax package who recently said she will support it. Collins on Tuesday castigated media coverage of her support for the legislation as "extremely discouraging" and "unbelievably sexist."
"SEE SUSAN STOOD AND SAID - NO - I WONT KILL AMERICANS - AND NOW SHE SAYS 'YES - YES I WILL KILL AMERICANS' FUCK U SUSAN COLLINS - U MAKE ME SICK - UR NO WOMAN [sic]," O'Donnell wrote.
rachel meadow asks - "was susan collins engaged ... did u feel a heartbeat - was she human" SHE THINKS ITS SEXIST ? NO U SEE SUSAN STOOD AND SAID - NO - I WONT KILL AMERICANS - AND NOW SHE SAYS "YES - YES I WILL KILL AMERICANS" FUCK U SUSAN COLLINS - U MAKE ME SICK - UR NO WOMAN
— ROSIE (@Rosie) December 20, 2017
In a third tweet, the comedian continued to call on people to "rise up" and not sit back while Republicans "rob our nation."
"WE CANNOT SIT AT HOME WHILE THEY ROB OUR NATION - YOUR NEIGHBORS HEALTH CARE - FOR THE FUCKING MERCERS AND KOCH BROTHERS - FUCK THEM - RISE UP [sic]," she tweeted.
WE CANNOT SIT AT HOME WHILE THEY ROB OUR NATION - YOUR NEIGHBORS HEALTH CARE - FOR THE FUCKING MERCERS AND KOCH BROTHERS - FUCK THEM - RISE UP
— ROSIE (@Rosie) December 20, 2017
In the next few tweets, O'Donnell ditched the caps lock for a more somber tone, urging people to "clean house" and "call 911" to report the "crime in progress" as the Senate voted on the GOP tax reform bill.
decency and honor
we need to clean house
i can't even
— ROSIE (@Rosie) December 20, 2017
call 911 - crime in progress
US SENATEthis is too much
— ROSIE (@Rosie) December 20, 2017
O'Donnell concluded her tweetstorm with a message directed at Collins and fellow Republican Sen. Jeff Flake (Ariz.), offering the two lawmakers money to "vote no" on the tax bill.
"So how about this. i promise to give 2 million dollars to senator susan collins and 2 million to senator jeff flake if they vote NO. NO I WILL NOT KILL AMERICANS FOR THE SUOER RICH. DM me susan. DM me jeff. no shit. 2 million. cash. each [sic]," O'Donnell tweeted.
so how about this
i promise to give
2 million dollars to senator susan collins
and 2 million to senator jeff flakeif they vote NO
NO I WILL NOT KILL AMERICANS
FOR THE SUOER RICHDM me susan
DM me jeffno shit
2 million
cash
each— ROSIE (@Rosie) December 20, 2017
Daily Beast reporter Lachlan Markay flagged O'Donnell's last tweet, writing that it is "literally a criminal offense."
He included a screenshot image of a portion of laws related to bribery.
"Whoever directly or indirectly, corruptly gives, offers or promises anything of value to any public official … or offers or promises any public official ... to give anything of value to any other person or entity, with intent to influence any official act," the portion of the law states.
Markay said that O'Donnell's tweet "is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $12 million."
https://twitter.com/lachlan/status/943472863692185603
The Senate passed the tax reform bill, called the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, late Tuesday night. The House will revote on the legislation on Wednesday after passing it the prior day due to a provisional error in procedural rules. The bill is still expected to pass.