Major Controversies Surrounding Thomas Massie: A Detailed Timeline

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Thomas Massie.

Thomas Massie is an American politician and engineer currently serving as the U.S. Representative for Kentucky's 4th congressional district since 2012. As a member of the Republican Party, he represents a district encompassing much of northeastern Kentucky, notably including the Cincinnati area and Louisville's eastern suburbs.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

May 2013: Voted Against Stolen Valor Act of 2013

In May 2013, Thomas Massie voted against the Stolen Valor Act of 2013, which passed 390–3, breaking from the majority of his party.

December 2013: Only Congressman to Vote Against Undetectable Firearms Act

In December 2013, Thomas Massie was the only congressman to vote against the Undetectable Firearms Act.

2013: Released statement on Roe v. Wade

In 2013, Massie released a statement calling Roe v. Wade "one of the greatest judicial travesties of our time" and affirming his belief that life begins at conception.

2013: Massie Implies Cold Weather Undercuts Climate Change Argument

In 2013, Thomas Massie implied that cold weather undercut the argument for climate change, tweeting that a Science Committee Hearing on Global Warming was canceled due to snow.

March 2014: Voted Against Bill Naming Israel Strategic Partner

In March 2014, Thomas Massie voted against a bill to name Israel an American strategic partner, because it would have subsidized green energy companies in Israel.

May 2014: Objected to Voice Vote Awarding Jack Nicklaus Gold Medal

In May 2014, Thomas Massie objected to a voice vote to award golf star Jack Nicklaus a gold medal recognizing his "service to the nation", and demanded a roll call vote.

June 2014: Named "Mr. No" by Politico

By mid-June 2014, Thomas Massie had voted "no" at least 324 times in the 113th Congress, opposing one of every three measures. Politico named him "Mr. No".

2015: Massie votes 'present' on Iran nuclear agreement

In 2015, Thomas Massie voted 'present' on the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, making him the only member of the House to do so and the only Republican not to vote against it.

2015: Voted Present on Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

In 2015, Thomas Massie was the sole member of the House to vote "present" on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran nuclear agreement, citing Constitutional concerns.

November 2016: Voted Against Extension of U.S. Sanctions Against Iran

In November 2016, Thomas Massie was the only member of the House to vote against an extension of U.S. sanctions against Iran.

2016: Massie opposes extending sanctions on Iran

In 2016, Thomas Massie was the only member of the House to vote against extending sanctions on Iran.

February 2017: Introduced Bill to Abolish Department of Education

In February 2017, Thomas Massie introduced a one-page bill that would abolish the United States Department of Education, and cosponsored a bill that would abolish the Environmental Protection Agency.

April 2017: Expressed Skepticism Over Assad's Role in Chemical Attack

In April 2017, Thomas Massie expressed skepticism over the role of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in the 2017 Khan Shaykhun chemical attack.

May 2017: Sole House Member to Vote Against Sanctions on North Korea

In May 2017, Thomas Massie was the sole House member to vote against sanctions on North Korea.

July 2017: Opposed New Economic Sanctions Against Russia, Iran, and North Korea

In July 2017, Thomas Massie joined Representatives Amash and John Duncan Jr., and Senators Rand Paul and Bernie Sanders in opposing a bill to impose new economic sanctions against Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

2017: Massie votes against bill to impose new sanctions on Iran, Russia, and North Korea

In 2017, Thomas Massie was one of three House members to vote against a bill to impose new sanctions on Iran, Russia, and North Korea.

2018: Massie criticizes Macron's stance on climate change

In 2018, after French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to Congress about the Paris Climate Accords, Thomas Massie described Macron as "a socialist militarist globalist science-alarmist."

March 26, 2019: Voted to Override Trump's Veto on National Emergency Declaration

On March 26, 2019, Thomas Massie was one of 14 Republicans to vote with all House Democrats to override Trump's veto of a measure unwinding Trump's declaration of a national emergency at the southern border.

April 10, 2019: Called John Kerry's Degree "Pseudoscience"

On April 10, 2019, during John Kerry's testimony, Thomas Massie called Kerry's political science degree from Yale University a "pseudoscience degree" and called Kerry's position on climate change "pseudoscience."

July 2019: Voted Against Resolution Opposing Boycott of Israel

In July 2019, Thomas Massie was the only Republican among 17 members of Congress to vote against a House resolution opposing efforts to boycott Israel and the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement.

August 2019: Called for James Comey to be imprisoned instead of Maria Butina

In August 2019, Massie stated that former FBI Director James Comey should be imprisoned instead of Maria Butina.

October 2019: Criticized jail sentence for Maria Butina

In October 2019, Massie criticized the jail sentence given to Maria Butina, a Russian citizen who pleaded guilty to conspiring to act as a foreign agent in the United States, describing the sentence as motivated by Russophobia.

November 2019: Sole No Vote on Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act

In November 2019, Thomas Massie was the sole "no" vote in Congress on the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019, which he called an "escalation" with the People's Republic of China.

November 2019: Massie votes against Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act

In November 2019, Thomas Massie was the sole member of Congress to vote against the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, citing his belief against intervening in other nations' internal affairs.

December 2019: Sole Vote Against the UIGHUR Act

In December 2019, Thomas Massie was also the sole vote against the Uighur Intervention and Global Humanitarian Unified Response (UIGHUR) Act, stating it would be hypocritical to take drastic action against China while still doing business with it.

2019: Massie suggests concerns over rising carbon dioxide levels were exaggerated.

During a 2019 House Oversight Committee hearing on the impact of climate change, Thomas Massie suggested that concerns over rising carbon dioxide levels were exaggerated.

2019: Massie opposes condemning the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement

In 2019, Thomas Massie was the only Republican House member to vote against condemning the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, citing concerns about federal interference in private boycotts.

2019: Massie opposes act refusing to recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea

In 2019, Thomas Massie was the only member of Congress to oppose an act that refused to recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea.

February 26, 2020: Massie votes against making lynching a federal hate crime

On February 26, 2020, Thomas Massie voted against making lynching a federal hate crime.

March 27, 2020: Massie Forces House Members' Return Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

On March 27, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Thomas Massie forced House members to return to Washington by threatening a quorum call on a $2.2 trillion aid package, drawing criticism for potentially endangering members of Congress.

April 2020: Massie votes against Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act

In April 2020, Thomas Massie was one of five House members who voted against the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, which allocated an additional $320 billion in funding for the Paycheck Protection Program.

July 2020: Massie argues against mask mandates and compulsory vaccinations

In July 2020, Thomas Massie argued against face mask mandates and compulsory vaccinations, later facing allegations of antisemitism after a tweet comparing vaccine mandates to the Holocaust.

September 2020: Commented on Kyle Rittenhouse case

In September 2020, Massie commented on the Kyle Rittenhouse case, stating that Rittenhouse had shown "incredible restraint" during the Kenosha, Wisconsin protest, noting he "didn't empty a magazine into a crowd."

2020: Massie votes against the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

In 2020, Thomas Massie was one of only three House members to vote against the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.

June 2021: Voted against Juneteenth as a federal holiday

Also in June 2021, Massie was one of 14 House Republicans who voted against legislation to establish Juneteenth (officially named "Juneteenth National Independence Day") as a federal holiday, opposing the "Independence Day" naming while supporting a day to celebrate the abolition of slavery.

June 27, 2021: Sued Nancy Pelosi over mask fines

On June 27, 2021, Massie, along with Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Ralph Norman, announced that they were suing Speaker Nancy Pelosi after being fined for refusing to wear masks on the House floor.

July 2021: Voted Against the ALLIES Act

In July 2021, Thomas Massie voted against the bipartisan ALLIES Act, which would increase the number of special immigrant visas for Afghan allies of the U.S. military.

September 2021: Only Republican to Vote Against Funding for Israel's Iron Dome

In September 2021, Thomas Massie was the only Republican to vote against $1 billion of funding for Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system.

December 4, 2021: Criticized for Christmas photo with guns

On December 4, 2021, Massie faced criticism after posting a family Christmas photo on his Twitter account featuring an assortment of guns, shortly after the 2021 Oxford High School shooting. He expressed that he did not intend to offend with the card.

December 2021: Sole Vote Against Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

In December 2021, Thomas Massie was the sole vote against the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.

2021: Massie votes against funding for Israel's Iron Dome

In 2021, Thomas Massie joined eight Democratic representatives in voting against $1 billion in funding for Israel's Iron Dome air defense system, citing concerns about the national debt.

2021: Massie votes against measure condemning the Myanmar coup d'état

In 2021, Thomas Massie was one of 14 House Republicans to vote against a measure condemning the Myanmar coup d'état.

January 30, 2022: Massie Criticized for Twitter Attack on Anthony Fauci

On January 30, 2022, Thomas Massie received criticism for a Twitter attack on Anthony Fauci, in which he used a quote by neo-Nazi Kevin Alfred Strom, mistakenly attributing it to Voltaire.

February 28, 2022: Massie votes against Emmett Till Antilynching Act

On February 28, 2022, Thomas Massie was one of three representatives to vote against the Emmett Till Antilynching Act.

March 2022: Massie opposes resolution supporting Ukraine's sovereignty

In March 2022, Thomas Massie was one of three members to oppose a resolution supporting Ukraine's sovereignty after it was invaded by Russia and later amplified Russian claims that Ukraine was developing biological weapons.

May 2022: Only House Member to Vote Against Resolution Denouncing Antisemitism

In May 2022, Thomas Massie was the only member of the House of Representatives to vote against a non-binding resolution denouncing antisemitism and opposition to Israel.

February 2023: Voted against resolution mourning Turkey-Syria earthquake victims

In February 2023, Massie, along with Marjorie Taylor Greene, voted against a nonpartisan resolution that mourned the victims of the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes and condemned Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad's actions.

October 2023: Massie votes against House resolution guaranteeing U.S. support for Israel

In October 2023, Thomas Massie was the only Republican to vote against a House resolution guaranteeing U.S. support for Israel's military actions in Gaza.

November 2023: Massie opposes resolution affirming Israel's right to exist

In November 2023, Thomas Massie was the only member of Congress to oppose a resolution affirming Israel's right to exist and equating anti-Zionism to antisemitism.

December 2023: Massie tweets meme contrasting Zionism with American patriotism

In December 2023, Thomas Massie tweeted a meme appearing to contrast Zionism with American patriotism.

March 2024: Massie votes against House Resolution condemning Russia's kidnapping of Ukrainian children

In March 2024, Thomas Massie voted against House Resolution 149 condemning "the wrongful and illegal kidnapping of children from Ukraine" by Russia, one of nine Republicans to do so.

April 16, 2024: Massie co-sponsors motion to vacate filed by Marjorie Taylor Greene

On April 16, 2024, Thomas Massie co-sponsored a motion to vacate, filed by Marjorie Taylor Greene, in an attempt to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson from his position.

May 2024: AIPAC announces ad campaign targeting Massie

In May 2024, AIPAC and allied groups announced a $300,000 ad campaign targeting Thomas Massie for perceived "anti-Israel views", prompting Massie to post a poll on X about AIPAC's registration as a foreign agent.

June 2024: Massie claims each Republican member has an AIPAC person

In a June 2024 interview, Thomas Massie claimed that every Republican member of Congress except himself has an "AIPAC person" who directs their votes.