The censured United States Representative Zooey Zephyr of Montana on Tuesday (May 2) lost her legal attempt to rejoin debate on the House floor after the transgender lawmaker was silenced and barred last month for speaking critically to her Republican colleagues over legislation which sought&nbsp;to restrict gender-affirming healthcare in the state.&nbsp;

The last-minute legal attempt by Zephyr, a Democrat, to rejoin Republican-controlled Montana House of Representatives comes as the legislative session could end as soon as Tuesday night. Zephyr was barred from the House floor, anteroom or gallery for the remainder of the legislative session after she decried the signing of the bill.&nbsp;

During the debate, Zephyr said that it was unconscionable to deprive Montanans of “the care that we need.” She also told Republicans they would have “blood on your hands,” which prompted them to cut off her microphone.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-montana-transgender-democrat-leader-barred-from-house-floor-for-586585">US: Montana transgender Democrat leader barred from House floor for 'blood on your hands' comment</a>

After Zephyr's statement, House Majority Leader Sue Vinton stood up and said, “I will note that this is entirely inappropriate, disrespectful and uncalled for. We can debate matters civilly and with respect for each other.”

However, it was not until days later that she was denied floor privileges for encouraging a noisy but peaceful demonstration that disrupted a House session, reported Reuters. Montana Freedom Caucus, last month, deliberately misgendered Zephyr using male pronouns in a letter saying the lawmaker should be censured.&nbsp;

Zephyr had asked a court, on Monday, to allow for her return to the House floor, the ruling for which was announced hours before the legislature planned to wrap up its biennial session. “Plaintiffs’ requested relief would require this Court to interfere with legislative authority in a manner that exceeds this Court’s authority,” said District Court Judge Mike Menahan.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/montana-republicans-bar-transgender-lawmaker-from-house-floor-586737">Montana Republicans bar transgender lawmaker from House floor</a>

“Even if the Court ultimately finds the House of Representatives, Speaker Regier, and Sergeant at Arms Murfitt acted unlawfully under the facts of this case, it does not have the authority to issue a broad permanent injunction to effectively remove all legislative authority…in relation to a single member,” Menahan wrote in his ruling.&nbsp;

After the ruling, Zephyr told The Associated Press that Menahan’s decision was “entirely wrong,” adding that “it’s a really sad day for the country when the majority party can silence representation from the minority party whenever they take issue.” 
 
Meanwhile, The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana, which has previously&nbsp;argued that the speaker of the House&nbsp;and Sergeant at Arms&nbsp;have silenced Zephyr’s constituents, is considering its options including appeal, as per Reuters.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-montana-becomes-latest-state-to-ban-gender-affirming-medical-care-for-transgender-kids-587288">US: Montana becomes latest state to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender kids</a>

After Zephyr’s ouster, the House passed a bill which would punish health professionals who provide care banned by the measure and could have their medical license suspended for at least a year. It also prohibits public property and employees from being involved in gender-affirming treatment.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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The censured United States Representative Zooey Zephyr of Montana on Tuesday (May 2) lost her legal attempt to rejoin debate on the House floor after the transgender lawmaker was silenced and barred last month for speaking critically to her Republican colleagues over legislation which sought to restrict gender-affirming healthcare in the state.

The censured United States Representative Zooey Zephyr of Montana on Tuesday (May 2) lost her legal attempt to rejoin debate on the House floor after the transgender lawmaker was silenced and barred last month for speaking critically to her Republican colleagues over legislation which sought to restrict gender-affirming healthcare in the state. The last-minute legal attempt by Zephyr, a Democrat, to rejoin Republican-controlled Montana House of Representatives comes as the legislative session could end as soon as Tuesday night. Zephyr was barred from the House floor, anteroom or gallery for the remainder of the legislative session after she decried the signing of the bill. During the debate, Zephyr said that it was unconscionable to deprive Montanans of “the care that we need.” She also told Republicans they would have “blood on your hands,” which prompted them to cut off her microphone. ALSO READ | US: Montana transgender Democrat leader barred from House floor for 'blood on your hands' comment After Zephyr's statement, House Majority Leader Sue Vinton stood up and said, “I will note that this is entirely inappropriate, disrespectful and uncalled for. We can debate matters civilly and with respect for each other.” However, it was not until days later that she was denied floor privileges for encouraging a noisy but peaceful demonstration that disrupted a House session, reported Reuters. Montana Freedom Caucus, last month, deliberately misgendered Zephyr using male pronouns in a letter saying the lawmaker should be censured. Zephyr had asked a court, on Monday, to allow for her return to the House floor, the ruling for which was announced hours before the legislature planned to wrap up its biennial session. “Plaintiffs’ requested relief would require this Court to interfere with legislative authority in a manner that exceeds this Court’s authority,” said District Court Judge Mike Menahan. ALSO WATCH | Montana Republicans bar transgender lawmaker from House floor “Even if the Court ultimately finds the House of Representatives, Speaker Regier, and Sergeant at Arms Murfitt acted unlawfully under the facts of this case, it does not have the authority to issue a broad permanent injunction to effectively remove all legislative authority…in relation to a single member,” Menahan wrote in his ruling. After the ruling, Zephyr told The Associated Press that Menahan’s decision was “entirely wrong,” adding that “it’s a really sad day for the country when the majority party can silence representation from the minority party whenever they take issue.” Meanwhile, The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana, which has previously argued that the speaker of the House and Sergeant at Arms have silenced Zephyr’s constituents, is considering its options including appeal, as per Reuters. ALSO READ | US: Montana becomes latest state to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender kids After Zephyr’s ouster, the House passed a bill which would punish health professionals who provide care banned by the measure and could have their medical license suspended for at least a year. It also prohibits public property and employees from being involved in gender-affirming treatment. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US: Montana's transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr loses legal bid to rejoin House floor

In the first such public remarks by a senior official of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) grouping, Julianne Smith, the United States Permanent Representative to NATO has said that the alliance is "open to more engagement" with India. In a press briefing with journalists, Smith confirmed that "informal exchanges" have taken place between some NATO and Indian officials on the sidelines of the annual Raisina Dialogue in Delhi.

"There have been some exchanges on the margins of the Raisina Dialogue, which is a start and has opened up the conversation a little bit," Smith said. She explained, "Message that has already been sent back to India is that the NATO alliance certainly is open to more engagement with India, should that country take an interest in pursuing that."

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NATO currently has 40 different partners around the world. The NATO foreign ministerial meeting will take place in Brussels from April 4-5, and it has invited Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Japan to attend it. The four countries of the Indo Pacific region have formal partnerships with the mega alliance.&nbsp;

Asked about an invitation to India to attend these meetings and become a member of the grouping, Julianne Smith said, "In terms of the future with India, again, I think NATO's door is open in terms of engagement. Should India be interested, but we would not want to, at this stage, invite them to a NATO ministerial, until we knew more about their interest in engaging the Alliance more broadly."

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Smith also acknowledged that India plays a crucial role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Watch | Will Ben Stokes be CSK's impact player?&nbsp;

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The remarks come at a time when major geopolitical changes have been seen in Europe and Indo-Pacific region amid the Russia Ukraine conflict and Chinese aggressive actions from Asean to India. Moscow has blamed the current Ukraine conflict on expansion of NATO, something that has been dismissed by the member countries of the alliance. 
 
 
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In the first such public remarks by a senior official of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) grouping, Julianne Smith, the United States Permanent Representative to NATO has said that the alliance is "open to more engagement" with India.

In the first such public remarks by a senior official of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) grouping, Julianne Smith, the United States Permanent Representative to NATO has said that the alliance is "open to more engagement" with India. In a press briefing with journalists, Smith confirmed that "informal exchanges" have taken place between some NATO and Indian officials on the sidelines of the annual Raisina Dialogue in Delhi. "There have been some exchanges on the margins of the Raisina Dialogue, which is a start and has opened up the conversation a little bit," Smith said. She explained, "Message that has already been sent back to India is that the NATO alliance certainly is open to more engagement with India, should that country take an interest in pursuing that." Also Read | OpenAI’s ChatGPT blocked in Italy over alleged privacy violations NATO currently has 40 different partners around the world. The NATO foreign ministerial meeting will take place in Brussels from April 4-5, and it has invited Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Japan to attend it. The four countries of the Indo Pacific region have formal partnerships with the mega alliance. Asked about an invitation to India to attend these meetings and become a member of the grouping, Julianne Smith said, "In terms of the future with India, again, I think NATO's door is open in terms of engagement. Should India be interested, but we would not want to, at this stage, invite them to a NATO ministerial, until we knew more about their interest in engaging the Alliance more broadly." Also Read | Top 10 corrupt countries in the world Smith also acknowledged that India plays a crucial role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Watch | Will Ben Stokes be CSK's impact player? × The remarks come at a time when major geopolitical changes have been seen in Europe and Indo-Pacific region amid the Russia Ukraine conflict and Chinese aggressive actions from Asean to India. Moscow has blamed the current Ukraine conflict on expansion of NATO, something that has been dismissed by the member countries of the alliance. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NATO open to more engagement with India, says US representative Julianne Smith

US Representative George Santos, whose life story and resume turned out to be much of a lie, may lose his place in Congress if he is found guilty of breaking campaign finance laws, said House Oversight Committee Chairman and fellow Republican James Comer on Sunday.&nbsp;

While speaking at CNN's "State of the Union" programme, Comer said, “He's a bad guy."&nbsp;

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/george-santos-in-hot-soup-for-saying-911-attacks-claimed-my-mothers-life-547999">George Santos in hot soup for saying 9/11 attacks ‘claimed my mother’s life’</a>

"It's not up to me or any other member of Congress to determine whether he can be kicked out for lying. Now, if he broke campaign finance laws, then he will be removed from Congress,” he added.&nbsp;

Santos has been refusing to submit his resignation repeatedly even though he has been pressurised by his own party to step down. He had stated on Thursday that he would resign from his New York City-area seat only when he will face a defeat in the next election.

Republican officials in huge numbers, a lot of them belonging to the district of Santos which includes parts of Queens and Long Island, have called for the newly elected congressman's resignation.&nbsp;

WATCH| US: George Santos rejects calls to resign, refuses to step down

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Santos' six fellow Republican representatives have also joined the officials from New York to pressurise him to submit his resignation.&nbsp;

House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that the fate of Santos will be left to the voters and the Ethics Committee.

(With inputs from agencies)

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US Representative George Santos, whose life story and resume turned out to be much of a lie, may lose his place in Congress if he is found guilty of breaking campaign finance laws, said House Oversight Committee Chairman and fellow Republican James Comer on Sunday.

US Representative George Santos, whose life story and resume turned out to be much of a lie, may lose his place in Congress if he is found guilty of breaking campaign finance laws, said House Oversight Committee Chairman and fellow Republican James Comer on Sunday. While speaking at CNN's "State of the Union" programme, Comer said, “He's a bad guy." ALSO READ| George Santos in hot soup for saying 9/11 attacks ‘claimed my mother’s life’ "It's not up to me or any other member of Congress to determine whether he can be kicked out for lying. Now, if he broke campaign finance laws, then he will be removed from Congress,” he added. Santos has been refusing to submit his resignation repeatedly even though he has been pressurised by his own party to step down. He had stated on Thursday that he would resign from his New York City-area seat only when he will face a defeat in the next election. Republican officials in huge numbers, a lot of them belonging to the district of Santos which includes parts of Queens and Long Island, have called for the newly elected congressman's resignation. WATCH| US: George Santos rejects calls to resign, refuses to step down Santos' six fellow Republican representatives have also joined the officials from New York to pressurise him to submit his resignation. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that the fate of Santos will be left to the voters and the Ethics Committee. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Santos to lose his place in Congress if found breaking campaign-finance laws, says committee chairman

Embattled US representative George Santos has clearly defied the call of top Republicans to step down from his position as he said that he has no plans whatsoever to resign.

US: George Santos rejects calls to resign, refuses to step down