Congresswoman at Border With Trump Skipped In-Person House Vote Citing Pandemic

Representative Lisa McClain (R-MI) cited the pandemic as a reason she voted by proxy, a system she previously railed against while visiting the southern border with Donald Trump.

Rep. McClain voted by proxy last Tuesday and Wednesday in a letter seen by Newsweek where she said she was "unable to physically attend proceedings in the House Chamber due to the ongoing public health emergency."

Newsweek saw House clerk documents that showed Rep. McClain opted to cast an a vote remotely by proxy when she was in southern Texas as former President Donald Trump railed against the Democrats' handling of the ongoing border crisis.

The Michigan Republican also appeared on an interview with Fox Business host Stuart Varney confirming she was headed to the border on the days of the votes.

But, Rep. McClain previously hit out at voting by proxy in a tweet back in May, in which she shared an article about House Democrats casting votes remotely when they attended an event with President Joe Biden in Dearborn, Michigan.

"Proxy voting must end, and lawmakers should return and do their jobs. We are here to represent the people, voting by proxy takes away that representation."

According to The Detroit News, a spokeswoman for McClain said the congresswoman's views on proxy voting had not changed.

But, she added: "It's time Democrats and Republicans play by the same rules, and right now those rules allow for proxy voting."

The spokeswoman continued to tell The Detroit News: "Nancy Pelosi and President Biden refuse to address the crisis at our southwest border, and the only way to bring awareness to the crisis is for our leaders to visit and share what is happening.

"There's a big difference in proxy voting so you can stay home, and proxy voting to do official business."

The House of Representatives adopted a resolution in 2020 that allowed lawmakers to no longer be present in the chamber in order to cast their vote, in order to avoid travel to Washington D.C. during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Republicans and Democrats have voted by proxy, despite several GOP lawmakers calling the practice unconstitutional.

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) in June hit out against proxy voting with a stinging statement after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced it would continue until August 17, 2021.

He said: "Proxy voting is destroying Congress, and Pelosi knows it. She also knows there is no 'scientific' reason to maintain this madness.

"If Members of Congress want someone else to vote for them, then they should become private citizens."

Newsweek has contacted Rep. Lisa McClain for comment.