Mo Brooks: Difference between revisions

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In the [[2006 primary elections|2006 Republican Primary]] Brooks ran for [[Lieutenant Governor of Alabama]], finishing behind [[Luther Strange]] and [[George Wallace Jr]]. In the [[2010 primary elections|2010 Republican Primary]] he successfully challenged incumbent [[Parker Griffith]] (who had switched from the Democratic Party) and activist [[Les Phillip]] for the Republican nomination for the 5th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. During the primary election campaign Brooks was lauded as a "Young Gun" by the Republican National Committee. He edged Democrat [[Steve Raby]] by a 58%-42% margin.
In the [[2006 primary elections|2006 Republican Primary]] Brooks ran for [[Lieutenant Governor of Alabama]], finishing behind [[Luther Strange]] and [[George Wallace Jr]]. In the [[2010 primary elections|2010 Republican Primary]] he successfully challenged incumbent [[Parker Griffith]] (who had switched from the Democratic Party) and activist [[Les Phillip]] for the Republican nomination for the 5th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. During the primary election campaign Brooks was lauded as a "Young Gun" by the Republican National Committee. He edged Democrat [[Steve Raby]] by a 58%-42% margin.


Brooks easily survived Griffith's primary challenge in [[2012 primary elections|2012]] and sailed to a 65%-35% victory over Democratic candidate Charlie Holley in the [[2012 general election|general election]]. In the [[2014 general election|2014 election]], with no Democratic candidate on the ballot, Brooks was easily re-elected over Republican challenger Jerry Hill and independent candidate Mark Bray. In [[2016]] he was challenged by Democrat Will Boyd Jr, but won a fourth term by a 67%-33% margin.
Brooks easily survived Griffith's primary challenge in [[2012 primary elections|2012]] and sailed to a 65%-35% victory over Democratic candidate Charlie Holley in the [[2012 general election|general election]]. In the [[2014 general election|2014 election]], with no Democratic candidate on the ballot, Brooks was easily re-elected over Republican challenger Jerry Hill and independent candidate Mark Bray. In [[2016]] he was challenged by Democrat Will Boyd Jr, but won a fourth term by a 67%-33% margin. During the 2016 campaign Brooks chaired the Alabama campaign committee for Ted Cruz for President. He also accused Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton of treason for potentially exposing state secrets held on an unsecured personal server.


Brooks qualified for the [[2017 U.S. Senate special election]] following Jeff Sessions' appointment as Attorney General of the United States. He finished third behind [[Roy Moore]] and [[Luther Strange]] in the Republican primary. Democrat [[Doug Jones]] eventually won the special election following published accusations regarding Moore's behavior as a prosecutor in [[Etowah County]]. Brooks endorsed Moore in the general election, attacking the ''Washington Post'' for their reporting.
Brooks qualified for the [[2017 U.S. Senate special election]] following Jeff Sessions' appointment as Attorney General of the United States. He finished third behind [[Roy Moore]] and [[Luther Strange]] in the Republican primary. Democrat [[Doug Jones]] eventually won the special election following published accusations regarding Moore's behavior as a prosecutor in [[Etowah County]]. Brooks endorsed Moore in the general election, attacking the ''Washington Post'' for their reporting.
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As a candidate for re-election to the House in [[2018 general election|2018]] Brooks held off Democratic challenger Peter Joffrion by a 61%-39% margin. He faced no challengers in the [[2020 general election]].
As a candidate for re-election to the House in [[2018 general election|2018]] Brooks held off Democratic challenger Peter Joffrion by a 61%-39% margin. He faced no challengers in the [[2020 general election]].


As a member of the House, Brooks has served on the House Committee on Armed Services and its Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies and Information Systems and on Strategic Forces, and on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology and its subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. He has been lauded by right-wing and conservative organizations for his opposition to spending bills and his votes in support of Republican policy priorities and nominations. He is a member of the "Freedom Caucus" and the "Congressional Constitution Caucus".
As a member of the House, Brooks has served on the House Committee on Armed Services and its Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies and Information Systems and on Strategic Forces, and on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology and its subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. He has been lauded by right-wing and conservative organizations for his opposition to spending bills and his votes in support of Republican policy priorities and nominations. He is a member of the "Freedom Caucus" and the "Congressional Constitution Caucus". He has repeatedly referred to his Democratic colleagues as "socialists". At the same time he defended fellow Republican Jim Jordan, accused of covering up sexual assault when he was a wrestling coach at Ohio State University.  


Books spoke out in support of President Trump's nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court and defended fellow Representative Jim Jordan, accused of covering up sexual assault when he was a wrestling coach at Ohio State University. In October [[2019]] he declined to sign onto a resolution criticizing Trump's removal of U.S. forces from Syria. Later that month he was part of a group of House Republicans that disrupted an impeachment hearing taking testimony about President Trump's refusal to send Congressionally-approved military support to Ukraine.
Brooks has been a consistent critic of the Affordable Care Act, signing pledges to seek its repeal and introducing legislation to defund it. He also announced his opposition to the Republican American Health Care Act of 2017, but ended up voting in favor of it. He has also been active in supporting legislation to reduce legal immigration and expand enforcement actions and penalties targeting illegal immigrants, including mass deportation. He has stated falsely that as many as a million illegal immigrants had voted in presidential elections, and used [[Birmingham]]'s [[2017 Birmingham Sanctuary City resolution|2017 Sanctuary City resolution]] as an example of a type of municipal policy that should punished. Brooks has also voted to end funding for public media.


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Brooks has voted in favor of empowering states to decriminalize marijuana, and has supported Republican-led plans to allow private investment with Social Security accounts and to have private insurers manage Medicare. He has pledged not to vote for tax increases, including a pledge not to support climate change legislation which might raise taxes. Brooks' speculations regarding the causes and likely course of climate change have been roundly rejected by scientists. He has voted in support of Republican-led tax cuts.
===Race issues===
On August 4, 2014, Brooks was interviewed on ''[[The Laura Ingraham Show]]'' and responded to a clip of [[Ron Fournier]] warning that the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] could not survive as the "party of white people". Brooks said, "Well, this is a part of the war on whites that's being launched by the Democratic Party ... And the way in which they're launching this war is by claiming that whites hate everybody else. It's part of the strategy that [[Barack Obama]] implemented in 2008, continued in 2012, where he divides us all on race, on sex, creed, envy, [[class warfare]], all those kinds of things". His remark drew considerable comments and controversy. When asked about it later that day, Brooks repeated the claim of a "war on whites", saying, "In effect, what the Democrats are doing with their dividing America by race is they are waging a war on whites, and I find that repugnant". Two days after his original comment, Brooks added that the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] was involved in a "war on whites".


===Drugs===
Brooks has generally opposed U.S. military campaigns overseas and foreign aid in general. When Louisiana Representative Steve Scalise was wounded by a gunshot to the leg suffered during a practice for a charity baseball game, Brooks used his belt as a tourniquet to slow the loss of blood. Shortly afterward he introduced a bill to allow lawmakers to carry concealed weapons in the District of Columbia.
Brooks has a "B" rating from [[National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws|NORML]] for his voting record on [[Cannabis (drug)|cannabis]]-related matters. He has said that [[Legalization of non-medical cannabis in the United States|legalization of marijuana]] is a state issue and voted for bills to allow [[Veterans Health Administration]] doctors to discuss [[medical marijuana]] with patients and block the DEA from taking enforcement actions against medical marijuana in [[Medical cannabis in the United States|states that have legalized it]].


===Economy===
Brooks emerged as one of President Trump's loyalist allies in the House of Representatives. He spoke frequently in support of Trump's border security proposals, and for his nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump endorsed Brooks in the 2018 election. In March 2019 he quoted from Hitler's ''Mein Kampf'' as a response to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on coordination between the Trump campaign and associates of Russian president Vladimir Putin, seeking to compare the Democratic Party and the media to Nazism. In October [[2019]] Brooks declined to sign onto a resolution criticizing Trump's removal of U.S. forces from Syria. Later that month he was part of a group of House Republicans that disrupted an impeachment hearing taking testimony about President Trump's refusal to send Congressionally-approved military support to Ukraine. He criticized the criminal prosecution of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, and was a featured speaker at the "Stop the Steal" rally that immediately proceeded the storming of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters seeking to prevent the certification of Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election.


In 2011, Brooks said, "Financial issues overshadow everything else going on in Washington. That one set of issues is sucking everything else out of the room".<ref name=brookstimesdailyeconomy>{{cite news |last=Delinski |first=Bernie |newspaper=[[TimesDaily]] |title=Brooks: Economy biggest issue |url=http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20110701/NEWS/110639978?Title=Brooks-Economy-biggest-issue |date=June 30, 2011 |access-date=July 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811042259/http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20110701/NEWS/110639978/1011/NEWS |archive-date=August 11, 2011 }}</ref>
Among the Republican candidates seeking Richard Shelby's former Senate seat, Brooks staked an early polling lead with Trump's endorsement. After [[Mike Durant]] cut into his lead, Trump rescinded his support. Brooks' immediate reaction was to relate how even after Biden was inaugurated, Trump had demanded that he should use the House of Representatives to 'immediately' remove the President from office and hold a new election.
 
Brooks supports changes to [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]],<ref name=brooksgovtfinanceprob /> including allowing individuals to invest some of their Social Security money in private retirement accounts.<ref name=ontheissues-10-cc-q6>{{cite web|title=Public Notes on 10-CC-q6|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Notebook/Note_10-CC-q6.htm|work=On the Issues|access-date=July 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815003254/http://www.ontheissues.org/Notebook/Note_10-CC-q6.htm|archive-date=August 15, 2011|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name=ontheissues-brooks-socsec>{{cite web|title=Mo Brooks on Social Security|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Mo_Brooks_Social_Security.htm|work=On the Issues|access-date=July 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927141348/http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Mo_Brooks_Social_Security.htm|archive-date=September 27, 2011|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> He has said that he does not support the full privatization of Social Security "because the stock market and many other investments are simply too volatile".<ref name=brooksforcongresswebsite>{{cite web|title=Seniors' Issues|url=http://mobrooksforcongress.com/?page_id=434|work=Mo Brooks for Congress|access-date=July 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510073017/http://mobrooksforcongress.com/?page_id=434|archive-date=May 10, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Brooks also supports the plan [[Paul Ryan]] proposed to shift [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] from a publicly run program to one managed by private insurers.<ref name=ontheissues-mobrooks-healthcare />
 
Brooks signed [[Grover Norquist]]'s [[Americans for Tax Reform#Taxpayer Protection Pledge|Americans for Tax Reform]]'s [[Taxpayer Protection Pledge]].<ref name="ATR">{{cite web |title=The Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers 112th Congressional List |url=http://s3.amazonaws.com/atrfiles/files/files/091411-federalpledgesigners.pdf |publisher=Americans for Tax Reform |access-date=November 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107102835/http://s3.amazonaws.com/atrfiles/files/files/091411-federalpledgesigners.pdf |archive-date=January 7, 2012 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> He supports the [[Fair Tax]] proposal.<ref name=brooksgovtfinanceprob /> In 2010, Brooks signed a pledge sponsored by [[Americans for Prosperity]] not to vote for any [[climate change]] legislation that would raise taxes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://americansforprosperity.org/noclimatetax//wp-content/uploads/2010/02/brooks.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=September 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021205400/http://americansforprosperity.org/noclimatetax//wp-content/uploads/2010/02/brooks.pdf |archive-date=October 21, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
 
At a monthly breakfast meeting of the Madison County Republican Men's Club, Brooks referred to the jobs bill President Obama proposed as the "Obama 'kill jobs' bill".<ref name=huntsvilletimes-brooks-killjobsbill>{{cite news|last=Kesner|first=Keith|title=Mo Brooks warns of threat to nation from deficits, says Obama employment plan a 'kill jobs' bill|url=http://blog.al.com/breaking/2011/09/mo_brooks.html|access-date=November 14, 2011|newspaper=The Huntsville Times|date=September 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129075624/http://blog.al.com/breaking/2011/09/mo_brooks.html|archive-date=November 29, 2011|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> He told the crowd that it added to the debt, promoted "frivolous lawsuits," and created new government agencies.<ref name=huntsvilletimes-brooks-killjobsbill /> He challenged Obama's promotion of the bill, saying, "If Barack Obama is serious about jobs, how about repealing Obamacare, dealing with illegal immigration and urging the Democratic-controlled Senate to pass pro-jobs bills that have already cleared in the House".<ref name=huntsvilletimes-brooks-killjobsbill /> At the same meeting, Brooks compared the [[Great Recession|recession of 2008]] (and its after effects) with the [[Great Depression]], saying that the problems associated with the Great Depression are "a cakewalk compared to what can happen to our country if we don't start acting responsibly in Washington, D.C., to try to get this deficit under control".<ref name=huntsvilletimes-brooks-killjobsbill/>
 
In 2020, Brooks was one of 48 members of Congress the [[National Taxpayers Union]] named a "Taxpayer's Friend" for tax-related votes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moseley |first1=Brandon |title=Brooks named "Taxpayer's Friend" by the National Taxpayers Union |url=https://www.alreporter.com/2020/06/05/brooks-named-taxpayers-friend-by-the-national-taxpayers-union/ |access-date=July 20, 2020 |work=www.alreporter.com |date=June 5, 2020}}</ref>
 
===Environment===
In May 2018, Brooks claimed that land erosion played a significant role in [[sea level rise]]. "Every time you have that soil or rock or whatever it is that is deposited into the seas, that forces the sea levels to rise, because now you have less space in those oceans, because the bottom is moving up". The vast majority of the scientific community rejects this claim.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/05/republican-lawmaker-rocks-tumbling-ocean-causing-sea-level-rise|title=Republican lawmaker: Rocks tumbling into ocean causing sea level rise|date=May 17, 2018|work=[[Science (magazine)|Science]]|access-date=May 17, 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517165517/http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/05/republican-lawmaker-rocks-tumbling-ocean-causing-sea-level-rise|archive-date=May 17, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://climatefeedback.org/evaluation/story-on-congressmans-incorrect-claims-about-sea-level-rise-could-have-corrected-them-more-explicitly/|title=Story on congressman's incorrect claims about sea level rise could have corrected them more explicitly|date=January 16, 2019|website=Climate Feedback|language=en-US|access-date=January 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119123050/https://climatefeedback.org/evaluation/story-on-congressmans-incorrect-claims-about-sea-level-rise-could-have-corrected-them-more-explicitly/|archive-date=January 19, 2019|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> At the hearing, Brooks also argued that the [[Antarctic ice sheet]] was growing. In actuality, while in the past it has grown, in recent years it has shrunk, and earlier growth does not disprove that climate change is occurring.<ref name=":3" />
 
===Foreign policy===
 
Brooks has said, "we cannot continue to be the world police".<ref name=brookstimesdailyeconomy /> He has expressed disappointment that the U.S. military did not leave [[Afghanistan]] immediately after [[death of Osama bin Laden|Osama bin Laden's death]] on May 1, 2011.<ref name=brookstimesdailyeconomy />
 
Brooks disapproves of [[NATO]] military actions in Libya that the United States has been involved in. In 2011, he said, "I reject the president's position that the way to prevent Libyans from killing Libyans is by Americans killing Libyans".<ref name=brookspressrelease624>{{cite web|last=Brooks|first=Mo|title=6/24/2011, Congressman Brooks' Statement on Libya|url=http://brooks.house.gov/press-release/6242011-congressman-brooks-statement-libya|access-date=July 1, 2011|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20110707191445/http://brooks.house.gov/press%2Drelease/6242011%2Dcongressman%2Dbrooks%2Dstatement%2Dlibya|archive-date=July 7, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> He voted against H.R. 2278 and after voting published the following statement: "We should be out of Libya altogether, and not voting piecemeal on parts of the operation. While this bill excludes some operations in Libya, it approves many others. The lesson from [[Vietnam War|Vietnam]] is that the one sure way to lose a war is by fighting it half-way".<ref name=brookspressrelease624/>
 
Brooks opposed the [[Electrify Africa Act of 2013]], a bill that would direct the president to establish a multiyear strategy to help countries in [[sub-Saharan Africa]] develop a mix of power solutions to provide sufficient electricity access to people in rural and urban areas in order to alleviate poverty and drive economic growth.<ref name=2548sum>{{cite web|title=H.R. 2548 – Summary|url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/2548|publisher=United States Congress|access-date=May 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508061124/http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/2548|archive-date=May 8, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="BrooksAL"/> At a meeting of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he said, "American taxpayers spend more than $40 billion per year on foreign aid ... Given America's out-of-control deficits and accumulated debt that threaten our economic future, I cannot justify American taxpayers building power plants and transmission lines in Africa with money we do not have, will have to borrow to get, and cannot afford to pay back".<ref name=BrooksAL>{{cite news|last=Gattis|first=Paul|title=U.S.Rep Brooks: Keep American tax dollars in America, not Africa|url=http://blog.al.com/breaking/2014/02/us_rep_mo_brooks_keep_american.html|access-date=May 7, 2014|newspaper=AL.com|date=February 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508030940/http://blog.al.com/breaking/2014/02/us_rep_mo_brooks_keep_american.html|archive-date=May 8, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
 
In 2019, Brooks was one of 60 representatives to vote against condemning Trump's withdrawal from [[Syria]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/116-2019/h560|title=H.J.Res. 77: Opposing the decision to end certain United States ... -- House Vote #560 -- Oct 16, 2019|website=GovTrack.us}}</ref>
 
In 2020, Brooks voted against the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021, which would prevent the president from withdrawing soldiers from [[Afghanistan]] without congressional approval.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/116-2020/h152|title = H.R. 6395: William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act … -- House Vote #152 -- Jul 21, 2020}}</ref>
 
In June 2021, Brooks was one of 49 House Republicans to vote to repeal the [[Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-set-repeal-2002-iraq-war-authorization-n1271107|title=House votes to repeal 2002 Iraq War authorization|website=NBC News|first=Rebeca|last=Shabad|date=June 17, 2021|access-date=March 21, 2022}}</ref><ref>https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2021/roll172.xml</ref>
 
===2017 congressional baseball shooting===
{{main|Congressional baseball shooting}}
 
On June 14, 2017, at 7:09{{nbsp}}am [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]], Brooks was practicing for the annual charity [[Congressional Baseball Game]] when James T. Hodgkinson opened fire on members of the Republican team, including House [[Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives|Majority Whip]] [[Steve Scalise]]. The practice was at the Eugene Simpson Baseball Fields in the Del Ray neighborhood of [[Alexandria, Virginia]]. Brooks used his belt as a [[tourniquet]] to help stop bleeding for a staffer who had been shot in the calf. After the shooting ended, Brooks and Representative [[Brad Wenstrup]] assisted Scalise by applying pressure to the wound until he could be evacuated.<ref name="auto">{{cite news |url=http://thehill.com/homenews/house/337723-gop-rep-recounts-using-belt-as-tourniquet-at-baseball-practice-shooting |newspaper=The Hill |title=GOP rep recounts using belt as tourniquet at baseball practice shooting |first=Ben |last=Kamisar |date=June 14, 2017 |access-date=June 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618064218/http://thehill.com/homenews/house/337723-gop-rep-recounts-using-belt-as-tourniquet-at-baseball-practice-shooting |archive-date=June 18, 2017 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Brooks's name appeared on the shooter's [[assassination]] list.<ref name=Watson>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/virginia-shooting-suspect-had-of-names-including-members-of-congress-on-him/|newspaper=CBSNews|title=Alexandria gunman carried list of names of members of Congress|first=Kathryn|last=Watson|date=June 16, 2017|access-date=June 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627115827/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/virginia-shooting-suspect-had-of-names-including-members-of-congress-on-him/|archive-date=June 27, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
 
Less than a week after the shooting, Brooks introduced the Congressional Self-Defense Act, allowing lawmakers to carry concealed weapons. In his press release, Brooks stated, "I believe all law-abiding citizens should be able to conceal carry". He has supported bills to allow national reciprocity.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brooks|first=Mo|title=Brooks Introduces Congressional Self-Defense Act to Allow Lawmakers to Conceal Carry|date=June 20, 2017|url=https://brooks.house.gov/media-center/news-releases/news-release-brooks-introduces-congressional-self-defense-act-allow|access-date=June 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702100827/https://brooks.house.gov/media-center/news-releases/news-release-brooks-introduces-congressional-self-defense-act-allow|archive-date=July 2, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In July 2017, Brooks ran a campaign ad on [[YouTube]] featuring audio of the five shots from the attack. Steve Scalise's Chief of Staff strongly objected to the ad on [[Twitter]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Clark|first1=Dartunorro|last2=Thorp|first2=Frank V|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/rep-mo-brooks-uses-sounds-scalise-shooting-campaign-ad-n786076|title=Rep. Mo Brooks Uses Sounds of Scalise Shooting in Campaign Ad|work=NBC News|date=July 24, 2017|access-date=January 17, 2021}}</ref>
 
===Health care===
 
Brooks opposes the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] (also known as Obamacare) and has said that the committee that passed it did not understand it.<ref name=ontheissues-mobrooks-healthcare>{{cite web|title=Mo Brooks on Health Care|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Mo_Brooks_Health_Care.htm|work=On the Issues|publisher=On the Issues|access-date=November 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201231953/http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Mo_Brooks_Health_Care.htm|archive-date=February 1, 2012|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> He signed the [[Club for Growth]]'s "Repeal-It!" pledge that stated that upon his election to Congress he would "sponsor and support legislation to repeal any federal health care takeover passed in 2010, and replace it with real reforms that lower health care costs without growing government".<ref name=ontheissues-mobrooks-healthcare /> He was also endorsed by the website Defundit.org for his stance on Obamacare.<ref name=brooks-defundit>{{cite web|title=Endorsements|url=http://defundit.org/?page_id=6|work=DefundIt.org – Pledge to DeFund Obamacare!|access-date=November 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205143825/http://defundit.org/?page_id=6|archive-date=December 5, 2010|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Brooks co-sponsored H.R. 127, which would have removed all funding from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, and any amendments made by either act.<ref name=ontheissues-mobrooks-healthcare />
 
In March 2017, Brooks said that he would not vote for the [[American Health Care Act of 2017|American Health Care Act]], the GOP's initial plan to replace the Affordable Care Act.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2017/03/mo_brooks_sticks_to_plan_will.html|title=Mo Brooks sticks to plan, will vote against GOP health care plan|work=AL.com|access-date=March 24, 2017|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324165836/http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2017/03/mo_brooks_sticks_to_plan_will.html|archive-date=March 24, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> He said, "I will vote against the American Health Care Act because it has more bad policy than any bill I have ever faced".<ref name=":0" /> But on May 4, 2017, Brooks voted&nbsp;for the American Health Care Act, which would repeal the Affordable Care Act.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/ahca-house-vote/|title=How the House voted to pass the GOP health-care bill|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=May 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505013036/https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/ahca-house-vote/|archive-date=May 5, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/04/politics/house-health-care-vote/index.html|title=How every member voted on health care bill|last=Staff|first=C. N. N.|website=CNN|access-date=May 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504205501/http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/04/politics/house-health-care-vote/index.html|archive-date=May 4, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
 
In an interview with [[CNN]]'s [[Jake Tapper]], Brooks controversially argued that the AHCA "will allow insurance companies to require people who have higher health care costs to contribute more to the insurance pool. That helps offset all these costs, thereby reducing the cost to those people who lead good lives, they're healthy, they've done the things to keep their bodies healthy. And right now, those are the people—who've done things the right way—that are seeing their costs skyrocketing".<ref name=prosperity>{{cite web |title=The American Health Care Act's Prosperity Gospel: With the bill 51 votes away from law, the central philosophy of the Trump era is one step closer to becoming policy |first=Vann R. II|last=Newkirk |date=May 5, 2017 |access-date=May 6, 2017 |work=[[The Atlantic]] |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/05/the-prosperity-gospel-of-american-health-care/525264/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507022918/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/05/the-prosperity-gospel-of-american-health-care/525264/ |archive-date=May 7, 2017 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name=subsidised>{{cite news |title=Republican Congressman suggests poor people don't deserve healthcare for not leading 'good lives' |first=Rachel |last=Roberts |date=May 2, 2017 |access-date=May 6, 2017 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/republcan-congressman-mo-brooks-poor-people-no-healthcare-good-lives-subsidised-alabama-a7713371.html |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505121536/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/republcan-congressman-mo-brooks-poor-people-no-healthcare-good-lives-subsidised-alabama-a7713371.html |archive-date=May 5, 2017 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
 
After Congress failed [[Efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act|to repeal the Affordable Care Act]], Brooks said, "we have Republicans who do not want to repeal Obamacare. They may have campaigned that way, they may have voted that way a couple of years ago when it didn't make any difference".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://theintercept.com/2017/03/31/repeal-votes-obamacare/ |title=GOP Lawmakers Now Admit Years of Obamacare Repeal Votes Were a Sham |first=Lee|last=Fang |date=March 31, 2017 |website=[[The Intercept]] |access-date=April 16, 2017 |quote="We have Republicans who do not want to repeal Obamacare," said Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., on Sirius XM Patriot on Wednesday. "They may have campaigned that way, they may have voted that way a couple of years ago when it didn't make any difference," Brooks continued. "But now that it makes a difference, there seems to not be the majority support that we need to pass legislation that we passed 50 or 60 times over five or six years." |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426082303/https://theintercept.com/2017/03/31/repeal-votes-obamacare/ |archive-date=April 26, 2017 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
 
According to a survey by the [[Christian Coalition of America|Christian Coalition]], Brooks also opposes government-run health care.<ref name=ontheissues-mobrooks-healthcare /> He voted yes on repealing the Prevention and Public Health Fund in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.<ref name=ontheissues-mobrooks-healthcare />
 
===Immigration===
 
Brooks has been endorsed by Americans for Legal Immigration (ALI),<ref name=ontheissues-brooks-immigration /> a [[Political action committee|political action committee (PAC)]]. The anti-immigration organization [[NumbersUSA]] gave him a 100% score.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.numbersusa.com/content/my/tools/grades/list/0/CONGRESS/US/H/Grade/Active/|title=NumbersUSA Immigration Report Card|access-date=December 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222073247/https://www.numbersusa.com/content/my/tools/grades/list/0/CONGRESS/US/H/Grade/Active/|archive-date=December 22, 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Brooks has sponsored or co-sponsored 112 immigration-related bills since taking office in January 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=Congress.gov|url=https://www.congress.gov/member/mo-brooks/B001274?r=1&q={%22search%22:[%22mo+brooks%22],%22congress%22:%22all%22,%22subject%22:%22Immigration%22}|access-date=December 13, 2016}}</ref> He has also said that he feels Congress will probably do nothing about illegal immigration in the coming years.<ref name=brooksgovtfinanceprob>{{cite news|last=Lawson|first=Brian|title=U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks warns government has dire financial problems|url=http://blog.al.com/breaking/2011/06/us.html|access-date=July 1, 2011|newspaper=The Huntsville Times|date=June 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615180200/http://blog.al.com/breaking/2011/06/us.html|archive-date=June 15, 2011|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
 
Brooks opposes allowing illegal immigrants to remain in the United States. As part of his 2010 campaign, he advocated getting the federal government "out of the way so state and local governments can help solve the problem".<ref name=brooksforcongresswebsite /><ref name=ontheissues-brooks-immigration>{{cite web|title=Mo Brooks on Immigration|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Mo_Brooks_Immigration.htm|work=On the Issues|access-date=November 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927174422/http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Mo_Brooks_Immigration.htm|archive-date=September 27, 2011|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> He advocated making it "unprofitable" for employers to hire illegal immigrants over American citizens.<ref name=ontheissues-brooks-immigration /> In 2014, he called for the deportation of 8 million undocumented workers, as well as 500,000 [[Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals|DACA]] recipients.<ref name=al.com>{{cite web|title=8 million undocumented workers, 500,000 young immigrants should be deported, Rep. Mo Brooks tells MSNBC host|date=August 2, 2014|url=http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2014/08/8_million_undocumented_workers.html|access-date=August 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006093423/http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2014/08/8_million_undocumented_workers.html|archive-date=October 6, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
 
On June 29, 2011, reporter Venton Blandin of [[WHNT-TV]] asked Brooks to repeat what he had previously stated at a [[town hall meeting]] about [[illegal immigrant]]s. Brooks repeated his previous statement, saying, "As your congressman on the House floor, I will do anything short of shooting them. Anything that is lawful, it needs to be done because illegal aliens need to quit taking jobs from American citizens".<ref name=brookswhntimmigrants>{{cite news|last=Blandin|first=Venton|title=Congressman Mo Brooks Makes Strong Comments on Illegal Immigration Law|url=http://www.whnt.com/news/whnt-congressman-mo-brooks-makes-strong-comments-on-illegal-immigration-law-20110628,0,1001498.story|access-date=July 1, 2011|date=June 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702193212/http://www.whnt.com/news/whnt-congressman-mo-brooks-makes-strong-comments-on-illegal-immigration-law-20110628,0,1001498.story|archive-date=July 2, 2011|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
 
In May 2015, Brooks sponsored an amendment to strip a particular provision in the [[National Defense Authorization Act]], thereby preventing the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] from allowing "Dreamers" ([[Undocumented youth in the United States|undocumented youth]] who received temporary legal status under the [[Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals]] program) to enlist in the armed services.<ref>{{cite news|first=Lisa|last=Mascaro|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-pn-immigrants-military-20150514-story.html|title=Republicans block young immigrant 'dreamers' from military|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=May 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829032826/http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-pn-immigrants-military-20150514-story.html |archive-date=August 29, 2017 }}</ref> Brooks stated his opposition to illegal immigrants serving in the military, saying, "These individuals have to be absolutely 100 percent loyal and trustworthy, as best as we can make them, 'cause they're gonna have access to all sorts of military weaponry—even to the point of having access to weapons of mass destruction like our nuclear arsenal. And I'm gonna have much greater faith in the loyalty of an American citizen than a person who is a citizen of a foreign nation".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shabad|first1=Rebecca|title=GOP lawmaker: Don't allow people who came to US illegally in the military|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/214336-gop-lawmaker-dreamers-shouldnt-be-allowed-in-military-because|access-date=August 5, 2014|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=August 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808061919/http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/214336-gop-lawmaker-dreamers-shouldnt-be-allowed-in-military-because|archive-date=August 8, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> He said [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]], a city where Alabama's strict immigration law has been criticized, needed to prepare to spend more money if it wants to be a [[sanctuary city]]. He told Blandin, "They need to start picking up the tab that American citizens are having to pick up. If Birmingham wants to be a sanctuary city, or wants to head in that direction, that is their decision. They are absolutely wrong".<ref name=brookswhntimmigrants />
 
On January 6, 2021, just hours after Trump supporters [[2021 United States Capitol attack|attacked the United States Capitol]], Brooks claimed that over 1 million illegal immigrants voted for [[Joe Biden]] in the [[2020 United States presidential election]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=News|first=CBS|date=January 8, 2021|title=Congressman Mo Brooks election fraud claims met with sharp disagreement|url=https://whnt.com/news/alabama-news/congressman-mo-brooks-election-fraud-claims-met-with-sharp-disagreement/|access-date=|website=[[CBS News 19]]}}</ref> and [[Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election|objected to counting Arizona's electoral votes]] on that basis. According to Brooks, Biden promised to create a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants in order to get their votes.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Times|first=Los Angeles|date=January 15, 2021|title=Biden plans early legislation to offer legal status to 11 million immigrants without it|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-01-15/biden-to-send-congress-bill-to-legalize-11-million-immigrants-who-lack-documentation|access-date=}}</ref>
 
Brooks voted against the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019, which would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the per-country numerical limitation for employment-based immigrants, to increase the per-country numerical limitation for family-sponsored immigrants, and for other purposes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/116-2019/h437|title = H.R. 1044: Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019 -- House Vote #437 -- Jul 10, 2019}}</ref>
 
Brooks voted against the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 which authorizes DHS to nearly double the available H-2B visas for the remainder of FY 2020.<ref>https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1865/text?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Further+Consolidated+Appropriations+Act%2C+2020%22%5D%7D&r=1&s=2</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2019689 |title=Archived copy |access-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118053727/https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2019689 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 
===Juneteenth===
In June 2021, Brooks was one of 14 House Republicans to vote against legislation to establish June 19, or [[Juneteenth]], as a federal holiday.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/16/politics/house-vote-juneteenth-federal-holiday-senate-passed-june-19/index.html|title=Congress passes bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday|publisher=CNN|last1=Grayer|first1=Annie|last2=Diaz|first2=Danielle|date=June 16, 2021|accessdate=June 16, 2021}}</ref> His rationale for his vote was that the holiday's date was too exclusive and significant only to [[Texas]], and that the freeing of slaves should be celebrated on another day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsfa.com/2021/06/17/rep-mo-brooks-explains-no-vote-juneteenth-holiday-bill/|title=Rep. Mo Brooks explains "No" vote on Juneteenth holiday bill|work=WSFA 12|date=June 17, 2021|accessdate=March 24, 2022}}</ref>
 
===Media===
Brooks voted to terminate funding for [[National Public Radio]].<ref name=ontheissues-brooks-technology>{{cite web|title=Mo Brooks on Technology|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Mo_Brooks_Technology.htm|work=On the Issues|access-date=November 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113040017/http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Mo_Brooks_Technology.htm|archive-date=January 13, 2012|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name=ontheissues-vote11-hv192>{{cite web|title=Vote number 11-HV192 terminating funding for National Public Radio on Mar 17, 2011 regarding bill H.1076 Prohibit Federal Funds for NPR Results: Passed 228-192|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/HouseVote/Party_11-HV192.htm|work=On the Issues|publisher=On the Issues|access-date=November 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926184954/http://ontheissues.org/HouseVote/Party_11-HV192.htm|archive-date=September 26, 2011|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=H.R.1076|url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d112:h.r.01076:|work=Bill Summary & Status 112th Congress (2011–2012)|publisher=[[The Library of Congress]]|access-date=November 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215044315/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d112:h.r.01076:|archive-date=December 15, 2012|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
 
===Michael Flynn===
 
Brooks believes that National Security Advisor [[Michael Flynn]] was "set up" by "FBI partisan hacks" and that Flynn's trial "was a miscarriage of justice".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moseley |first1=Brandon |title=Brooks says that Flynn's prosecution was a politically motivated setup |url=https://www.alreporter.com/2020/05/11/brooks-says-that-flynns-prosecution-was-a-politically-motivated-setup/ |access-date=July 20, 2020 |work=[[Alabama Political Reporter]]|date=May 11, 2020}}</ref> He supports assigning a special prosecutor to investigate the federal case against Flynn, in which Flynn pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI.<ref name="FlynnTweet513">{{cite web |title=Time for @TheJusticeDept to appoint a special prosecutor to bring to justice the @FBI partisan hacks who set up American patriot @GenFlynn . It should be made crystal clear to DOJ employees that political prosecutions will not be tolerated & there are serious consequences for it. |url=https://twitter.com/RepMoBrooks/status/1260656774886993925 |website=Twitter |access-date=July 20, 2020 |language=en |date=May 13, 2020}}</ref>
 
Flynn initially endorsed Brooks in the [[2022 United States Senate election in Alabama]] but subsequently switched his support to [[Michael Durant]].<ref>{{cite web|website=Newsweek|author=Jason Lemon|date=June 12, 2021|title=Michael Flynn Endorses Mo Brooks for Senate as 'Sedition Is Un-American' Banner Flies Overhead|url=https://www.newsweek.com/michael-flynn-endorses-mo-brooks-senate-sedition-un-american-banner-flies-overhead-1600078}}</ref><ref name="Flynn">{{Cite web|url=https://yellowhammernews.com/michael-flynn-endorses-mike-durant-for-u-s-senate-alabama-doesnt-need-another-career-politician/|title=Michael Flynn endorses Mike Durant for U.S. Senate — 'Alabama doesn't need another career politician'|last=Smith|first=Dylan|work=Yellowhammer News|date=February 15, 2022|accessdate=March 16, 2022}}</ref>
 
===National security===
 
Brooks supports the [[National Security Agency]]'s power to collect telephone metadata on Americans, saying its potential to thwart terrorist attacks outweighs potential infringements on privacy.<ref>{{cite web |first=Dale |last=Jackson |title=Congressman Mo Brooks' response to constituents questions on NSA vote and programs ... |url=http://theattackmachine.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/congressman-mo-brooks-response-to-constituents-questions-on-nsa-vote-and-programs/ |date=August 1, 2013 |access-date=November 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109230611/http://theattackmachine.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/congressman-mo-brooks-response-to-constituents-questions-on-nsa-vote-and-programs/ |archive-date=November 9, 2013 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> But in 2014, he voted for the [[USA Freedom Act]],<ref name="FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 230">{{cite web|title=FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 230|url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2014/roll230.xml|access-date=July 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606064645/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2014/roll230.xml|archive-date=June 6, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> which, according to its sponsor, would "rein in the dragnet collection of data by the [[National Security Agency]] (NSA) and other government agencies, increase transparency of the [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court]] (FISC), provide businesses the ability to release information regarding FISA requests, and create an independent constitutional advocate to argue cases before the FISC".<ref name=Guardian>{{cite web|last=Roberts|first=Dan|title=The USA Freedom Act: a look at the key points of the draft bill|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/10/the-usa-freedom-act-a-look-at-the-key-points-of-the-draft-bill|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=October 10, 2013|access-date=January 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110193348/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/10/the-usa-freedom-act-a-look-at-the-key-points-of-the-draft-bill|archive-date=January 10, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
 
===Regulatory reform===
 
In December 2011, Brooks voted in support of H.R. 10, the "Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny Act," which would have required Congressional approval for any "major regulations" issued by the executive branch but, unlike the 1996 [[Congressional Review Act]], would not require the president's signature or override of a probable presidential veto.<ref name="wapo111207">{{cite news |first=Felicia |last=Sonmez |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |title=REINS bill to expand congressional power over executive regulations passed by House |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/2chambers/post/reins-bill-to-expand-congressional-power-over-executive-regulations-passed-by-house/2011/12/07/gIQAs6VMdO_blog.html |date=December 7, 2011 |access-date=October 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021195227/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/2chambers/post/reins-bill-to-expand-congressional-power-over-executive-regulations-passed-by-house/2011/12/07/gIQAs6VMdO_blog.html |archive-date=October 21, 2013 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FreedomWatch Scorecard|url=http://congress.freedomworks.org/legislators/mo-brooks|access-date=October 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021195330/http://congress.freedomworks.org/legislators/mo-brooks|archive-date=October 21, 2013|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
 
===Socialism===
 
In April 2011, Brooks said in a congressional speech, "Folks, we are here today forcing this issue because America is at risk. We are at risk of insolvency and bankruptcy because the socialist members of this body choose to spend money that we do not have". After this remark, Democratic Congressman [[Keith Ellison (politician)|Keith Ellison]] asked that Brooks's comments be "taken down". Brooks said that he had the choice to either have the comment stricken from the record or defend the remark and wait until later in the day for a formal ruling over whether the comment was appropriate. Brooks chose to have the remark withdrawn before he continued with his speech. Ellison accepted the withdrawal.<ref name=brookssocialistbham>{{cite news|last=Orndorff|first=May|title=US Rep. Mo Brooks retracts 'socialist' remark|url=http://blog.al.com/sweethome/2011/04/us_rep_mo_brooks_retracts_soci.html|access-date=July 1, 2011|work=The Birmingham News|date=April 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727055630/http://blog.al.com/sweethome/2011/04/us_rep_mo_brooks_retracts_soci.html|archive-date=July 27, 2011|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Afterward, Brooks said that he did not regret his initial remark and thought those who objected to his comment, particularly Democrats, were "thin-skinned".<ref name="brookssocialistbham" /> He said, "People could quite clearly infer that socialism is what the other guys are promoting".<ref name="brookssocialistbham" /> Brooks has called [[Pete Buttigieg]], [[Amy Klobuchar]], [[Kimberly Gardner]], [[Nancy Pelosi]], [[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]], [[Bernie Sanders]], [[Bill de Blasio]], and others socialists.<ref name="Roose623">{{cite web |title=Pres. Teddy #Roosevelt helped establish US Forest Service, 150 national forests, 51 bird preserves, 4 national game preserves, 5 national parks & 18 national monuments. His reward from NYC #Socialist Mayor #De Blasio? Remove his statute! USA: Fight back! |url=https://twitter.com/RepMoBrooks/status/1275416625978716160 |website=Twitter |access-date=July 20, 2020 |language=en |date=June 23, 2020}}</ref>
 
===Tax reform===
 
Brooks voted for the [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017]],<ref name="Almukhtar">{{cite web|last1=Almukhtar|first1=Sarah|title=How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/19/us/politics/tax-bill-house-live-vote.html?_r=0|website=The New York Times|access-date=December 21, 2017|date=December 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222053322/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/19/us/politics/tax-bill-house-live-vote.html?_r=0|archive-date=December 22, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> saying the bill was a way "to put more money into the pockets of working Alabamians at all income levels" and that it would "spur much-needed economic growth that will both help with America's deficit and debt crisis".<ref name="WHNT121917">{{cite web|title=House passes $1.5T tax bill, delivering on a major piece of GOP agenda|url=http://whnt.com/2017/12/19/house-passes-1-5t-tax-bill-delivering-on-a-major-piece-of-gop-agenda/|website=WHNT.com|access-date=December 21, 2017|date=December 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052030/http://whnt.com/2017/12/19/house-passes-1-5t-tax-bill-delivering-on-a-major-piece-of-gop-agenda/|archive-date=December 22, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
 
=== Donald Trump ===
[[File:2017 NASA Authorization Bill Signing (33532083886).jpg|thumb|Brooks with [[Donald Trump]] in the [[Oval Office]], 2017]]
In May 2018, during the Republican primary for Brooks's seat, he said he was a Trump supporter in response to criticism from his opponent that he had criticized Trump.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2018/05/mo_brooks_announcement.html|title=Trump endorses Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks for re-election|work=[[The Birmingham News]]|date=May 30, 2018|access-date=May 31, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817233657/https://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2018/05/mo_brooks_announcement.html|archive-date=August 17, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Trump endorsed Brooks's 2018 reelection,<ref name=":4" /> saying Brooks "fought by my side to secure our border, rebuild our military, cut our taxes, repeal ObamaCare, and [[Trump wall|build the wall]]!".<ref name=":4" /> Brooks also opposed [[First impeachment of Donald Trump|Trump's first impeachment]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Erica |title=Congressman Mo Brooks votes no against articles of impeachment |url=https://www.trussvilletribune.com/2019/12/18/congressman-mo-brooks-votes-no-against-articles-of-impeachment/https://www.trussvilletribune.com/2019/12/18/congressman-mo-brooks-votes-no-against-articles-of-impeachment/ |date=December 18, 2019}}</ref> On March 25, 2019, shortly after Attorney General [[William Barr]]'s summary of the [[Mueller report]] was released, Brooks read a passage from [[Adolf Hitler]]'s 1925 autobiography ''[[Mein Kampf]]'' on the House floor, comparing the Democratic Party and the media to the [[Nazi Party]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Hayes|first=Christal|date=March 26, 2019|title=Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks reads from Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' while bashing Democrats, media|work=[[USA Today]]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/03/26/alabama-mo-brooks-quotes-hitler-house-floor-bash-democrats/3282595002/|access-date=January 17, 2021}}</ref>
 
In April 2021, Trump announced his endorsement of Brooks's 2022 Senate campaign.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Steinhauser|first=Paul|date=2021-04-07|title=Trump endorses Mo Brooks in Alabama Senate race|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-endorses-mo-brooks-alabama-senate-race|access-date=2021-04-07|website=Fox News|language=en-US}}</ref> In March 2022, Trump rescinded his endorsement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Griffiths |first=Brent D. |date=2022-03-23 |title=Mo Brooks says Trump asked him to 'immediately' remove Biden from office and illegally hold a new presidential election |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/mo-brooks-says-trump-asked-him-to-immediately-remove-biden-from-office-and-illegally-hold-a-new-presidential-election-2022-3 |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>
Brooks later said Trump had asked him to remove [[Joe Biden]], who had defeated Trump in the November 2020 presidential election, but Brooks said he refused because the January 6, 2021, certification by Congress was final.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/03/23/nation/trump-rescinds-brooks-endorsement-alabama-us-senate-race/ |agency=[[Associated Press]] |title=After losing endorsement, Alabama representative claims Trump asked him to 'remove Joe Biden' from White House |author1=Kimberly Chandler |author2=Jill Colvin |date=March 23, 2022}}</ref>
 
=== Defense ===
In September 2021, Brooks was among 75 House Republicans to vote against the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022, which contains a provision that would require women to be drafted.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/573751-house-passes-sweeping-defense-policy-bill|title=House passes sweeping defense policy bill|first=Regina|last=Zilbermints|date=September 23, 2021|website=TheHill}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/117-2021/h293|title=H.R. 4350: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 -- House Vote #293 -- Sep 23, 2021|website=GovTrack.us}}</ref>
 
==Other events==
 
===2016 presidential election===
On November 9, 2015, Brooks endorsed [[Ted Cruz]] for [[President of the United States]], and served as Chairman of the Cruz campaign's Alabama leadership team.<ref>{{cite web|title=Congressman Mo Brooks Endorses Ted Cruz for President, Named Chairman of Alabama Leadership Team|url=https://www.tedcruz.org/news/congressman-mo-brooks-endorses-ted-cruz-for-president-named-chairman-of-alabama-leadership-team/|access-date=March 6, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054447/https://www.tedcruz.org/news/congressman-mo-brooks-endorses-ted-cruz-for-president-named-chairman-of-alabama-leadership-team/|archive-date=March 4, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
 
On September 9, 2016, Brooks said that [[Hillary Clinton]] "betrayed her country by exposing national security information to risk by our adversaries. That is a criminal offense. That makes it an impeachable offense. ... Hillary Clinton has, in my opinion, committed a [[high crimes and misdemeanors|high crime or misdemeanor]] or [[treason]]".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Koplowitz|first1=Howard|title=Mo Brooks: Hillary Clinton should be impeached if elected, but Congress lacks political will|url=http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/09/mo_brooks_hillary_clinton_shou.html|access-date=May 15, 2017|newspaper=[[The Birmingham News]]|date=September 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707090155/http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/09/mo_brooks_hillary_clinton_shou.html|archive-date=July 7, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>


<!--
===2020 presidential election===
===2020 presidential election===
{{see|Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election}}
After Joe Biden was projected the winner of the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]], Brooks staunchly defended Trump and made claims of fraud. He argued that most [[Postal voting in the 2020 United States elections|mail-in voting]] was unconstitutional,<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Zanona|first=Melanie|date=December 2, 2020|title=The GOP's electoral mischief|url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/huddle/2020/12/02/the-gops-electoral-mischief-491033|access-date=December 15, 2020|website=[[Politico]]|language=en|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125002212/https://www.politico.com/newsletters/huddle/2020/12/02/the-gops-electoral-mischief-491033|url-status=dead}}</ref> and that "if only lawful votes by eligible American citizens were cast, Donald Trump won the [[United States Electoral College|Electoral College]] by a significant margin".<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Matthew|last2=Wu|first2=Nicholas|date=December 3, 2020|title=Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks says he will challenge Electoral College results|language=en|work=[[USA Today]]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/12/03/rep-mo-brooks-challenge-electoral-college-results-congress/3808498001/|access-date=December 3, 2020}}</ref> His assertions that the election was stolen by extraordinary voter fraud and election theft measures were unsupported by evidence.<ref name=":5" />
After Joe Biden was projected the winner of the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]], Brooks staunchly defended Trump and made claims of fraud. He argued that most [[Postal voting in the 2020 United States elections|mail-in voting]] was unconstitutional,<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Zanona|first=Melanie|date=December 2, 2020|title=The GOP's electoral mischief|url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/huddle/2020/12/02/the-gops-electoral-mischief-491033|access-date=December 15, 2020|website=[[Politico]]|language=en|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125002212/https://www.politico.com/newsletters/huddle/2020/12/02/the-gops-electoral-mischief-491033|url-status=dead}}</ref> and that "if only lawful votes by eligible American citizens were cast, Donald Trump won the [[United States Electoral College|Electoral College]] by a significant margin".<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Matthew|last2=Wu|first2=Nicholas|date=December 3, 2020|title=Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks says he will challenge Electoral College results|language=en|work=[[USA Today]]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/12/03/rep-mo-brooks-challenge-electoral-college-results-congress/3808498001/|access-date=December 3, 2020}}</ref> His assertions that the election was stolen by extraordinary voter fraud and election theft measures were unsupported by evidence.<ref name=":5" />


Line 148: Line 40:
On January 11, District of Columbia [[Attorney General]] [[Karl Racine]] said that he was looking at whether to charge Brooks, along with [[Rudy Giuliani]] and [[Donald Trump Jr.]], with inciting the violent attack.<ref name="cnbc-2021">{{cite news |title=DC attorney general considers riot incitement charges against Donald Trump Jr., Giuliani, GOP Rep. Brooks |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/11/capitol-riot-donald-trump-jr-rudy-giuliani-could-face-charges-in-dc.html |access-date=January 12, 2021 |work=CNBC |archive-date=January 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113193353/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/11/capitol-riot-donald-trump-jr-rudy-giuliani-could-face-charges-in-dc.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
On January 11, District of Columbia [[Attorney General]] [[Karl Racine]] said that he was looking at whether to charge Brooks, along with [[Rudy Giuliani]] and [[Donald Trump Jr.]], with inciting the violent attack.<ref name="cnbc-2021">{{cite news |title=DC attorney general considers riot incitement charges against Donald Trump Jr., Giuliani, GOP Rep. Brooks |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/11/capitol-riot-donald-trump-jr-rudy-giuliani-could-face-charges-in-dc.html |access-date=January 12, 2021 |work=CNBC |archive-date=January 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113193353/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/11/capitol-riot-donald-trump-jr-rudy-giuliani-could-face-charges-in-dc.html |url-status=live}}</ref>


On March 5, 2021, Representative [[Eric Swalwell]] filed a civil lawsuit against Brooks and three others ([[Donald Trump]], [[Donald Trump Jr.]], and [[Rudy Giuliani]]), seeking damages for their alleged role in inciting the riot.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/06/03/eric-swalwell-sues-donald-trump-rudy-giuliani-over-capitol-riot-but-cant-find-mo-brooks/7522681002/|title=Unanswered calls and a thwarted private detective: Swalwell's lawsuit over Jan. 6 has trouble getting started|last=Jansen|first=Bart|date=June 3, 2021|work=USA Today|access-date=July 28, 2021}}</ref> Brooks tried to claim immunity on the basis that he had given the speech on January 6 in his capacity as a federal employee,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/mo-brooks-capitol-riot-lawsuit/2021/07/06/fa69a34c-de80-11eb-9f54-7eee10b5fcd2_story.html|title=Rep. Mo Brooks says he can't be sued for inciting Capitol riot because he is a federal employee|last=Hsu|first=Spencer S.|date=July 6, 2021|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 28, 2021}}</ref> but the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] said the speech was not part of his duties as a member of Congress.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/07/28/1021611663/the-doj-wont-defend-rep-mo-brooks-in-court-against-claims-he-incited-jan-6-riot|title=The DOJ Won't Defend Rep. Mo Brooks In Court Against Claims He Incited The Jan. 6 Riot|last=Diaz|first=Jaclyn|date=July 28, 2021|work=NPR|access-date=July 28, 2021}}</ref> In a sworn affidavit, Brooks stated that his fiery language in the speech was about the 2022 and 2024 elections.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/07/republican-mo-brooks-insurrection-lawsuit-doj.html|title=Mo Brooks Accidentally Gave Up His Immunity From Eric Swalwell's Insurrection Lawsuit|last=Stern|first=Mark Joseph|date=July 28, 2021|work=Slate|access-date=July 28, 2021}}</ref> On March 9, 2022, a federal judge dismissed Swalwell's lawsuit, saying that Brooks's speech was protected by the First Amendment.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Sneed |first1=Tierney |last2=Polantz |first2=Katelyn |date=9 March 2022 |title=Judge dismisses Democratic lawmaker's January 6 civil conspiracy lawsuit against Mo Brooks |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/09/politics/mo-brooks-january-6-dismissed/index.html |access-date=2022-03-10 |website=CNN}}</ref>
On March 5, 2021, Representative [[Eric Swalwell]] filed a civil lawsuit against Brooks and three others ([[Donald Trump]], [[Donald Trump Jr.]], and [[Rudy Giuliani]]), seeking damages for their alleged role in inciting the riot.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/06/03/eric-swalwell-sues-donald-trump-rudy-giuliani-over-capitol-riot-but-cant-find-mo-brooks/7522681002/|title=Unanswered calls and a thwarted private detective: Swalwell's lawsuit over Jan. 6 has trouble getting started|last=Jansen|first=Bart|date=June 3, 2021|work=USA Today|access-date=July 28, 2021}}</ref> Brooks tried to claim immunity on the basis that he had given the speech on January 6 in his capacity as a federal employee,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/mo-brooks-capitol-riot-lawsuit/2021/07/06/fa69a34c-de80-11eb-9f54-7eee10b5fcd2_story.html|title=Rep. Mo Brooks says he can't be sued for inciting Capitol riot because he is a federal employee|last=Hsu|first=Spencer S.|date=July 6, 2021|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 28, 2021}}</ref> but the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] said the speech was not part of his duties as a member of Congress.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/07/28/1021611663/the-doj-wont-defend-rep-mo-brooks-in-court-against-claims-he-incited-jan-6-riot|title=The DOJ Won't Defend Rep. Mo Brooks In Court Against Claims He Incited The Jan. 6 Riot|last=Diaz|first=Jaclyn|date=July 28, 2021|work=NPR|access-date=July 28, 2021}}</ref> In a sworn affidavit, Brooks stated that his fiery language in the speech was about the 2022 and 2024 elections.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/07/republican-mo-brooks-insurrection-lawsuit-doj.html|title=Mo Brooks Accidentally Gave Up His Immunity From Eric Swalwell's Insurrection Lawsuit|last=Stern|first=Mark Joseph|date=July 28, 2021|work=Slate|access-date=July 28, 2021}}</ref> On March 9, 2022, a federal judge dismissed Swalwell's lawsuit, saying that Brooks's speech was protected by the First Amendment.


==2022 Senate campaign==
==2022 Senate campaign==
On March 22, 2021, Brooks announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retiring [[Richard Shelby]] in [[2022 United States Senate election in Alabama|2022]].<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|last=Greenwood|first=Max|date=2021-03-22|title=Mo Brooks launches Senate bid in Alabama|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/544367-mo-brooks-launches-senate-bid-in-alabama|access-date=2021-05-08|website=TheHill|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|agency=Associated Press|date=2021-03-22|title=Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks enters US Senate race|url=https://www.wvtm13.com/article/alabama-rep-mo-brooks-to-make-announcement-at-campaign-rally/35904026|access-date=2021-05-08|website=WVTM|language=en}}</ref> He positioned himself as a staunch ally of Trump, repeated Trump’s claim that the 2020 election was stolen, and alleged that socialists were taking over the government.<ref name="auto1"/> Trump endorsed Brooks in April 2021,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Steinhauser|first=Paul|date=2021-04-07|title=Trump endorses Mo Brooks in Alabama Senate race|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-endorses-mo-brooks-alabama-senate-race|access-date=2021-04-07|website=Fox News|language=en-US}}</ref> but rescinded his endorsement in March 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Griffiths |first=Brent D. |date=2022-03-23 |title=Mo Brooks says Trump asked him to 'immediately' remove Biden from office and illegally hold a new presidential election |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/mo-brooks-says-trump-asked-him-to-immediately-remove-biden-from-office-and-illegally-hold-a-new-presidential-election-2022-3 |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> Brooks ascribed that to Brooks having refused to work to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/03/23/nation/trump-rescinds-brooks-endorsement-alabama-us-senate-race/ |agency=[[Associated Press]] |title=After losing endorsement, Alabama representative claims Trump asked him to 'remove Joe Biden' from White House |author1=Kimberly Chandler |author2=Jill Colvin |date=March 23, 2022}}</ref>
On March 22, 2021, Brooks announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retiring [[Richard Shelby]] in [[2022 United States Senate election in Alabama|2022]]. He positioned himself as a staunch ally of Trump, repeated Trump’s claim that the 2020 election was stolen, and alleged that socialists were taking over the government.<ref name="auto1"/> Trump endorsed Brooks in April 2021, but rescinded his endorsement in March 2022. Brooks ascribed that to Brooks having refused to work to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election.
 


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Brooks met  of [[Toledo, Ohio]], at [[Duke University]]. They were married in 1976. She graduated from the [[University of Alabama]] with a degree in [[accounting]]. In 2004, she attended the [[University of Alabama in Huntsville]] for a degree in teaching. She has retired from teaching math at [[Whitesburg Middle School]] in Huntsville.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mo Brooks' Biography|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/121610/mo-brooks#.VH0DIvnF91A|website=Project Vote Samrth|access-date=December 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827074633/http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/121610/mo-brooks#.VH0DIvnF91A|archive-date=August 27, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> They have two sons, two daughters, and ten grandchildren.<ref name="section9" />
She graduated from the [[University of Alabama]] with a degree in [[accounting]]. In 2004, she attended the [[University of Alabama in Huntsville]] for a degree in teaching. She has retired from teaching math at [[Whitesburg Middle School]] in Huntsville. They have two sons, two daughters, and ten grandchildren.
 
Brooks joined the [[LDS Church]] in 1978, and though he still attends Mormon services with his wife, he considers himself a [[non-denominational Christian]].<ref>Brooks, Mo. [https://www.facebook.com/notes/mo-brooks/parker-griffith-attacks-mo-brooks-with-false-push-polling/386494031463 Parker Griffith Attacks Mo Brooks With False "Push Polling"].</ref>


On December 13, 2017, Brooks revealed in a House floor speech that he has [[prostate cancer]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://hotair.com/headlines/archives/2017/12/mo-brooks-reveals-prostate-cancer/|title=Mo Brooks reveals he has prostate cancer - Hot Air|work=Hot Air|access-date=July 11, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711152012/https://hotair.com/headlines/archives/2017/12/mo-brooks-reveals-prostate-cancer/|archive-date=July 11, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>-->
Brooks joined the [[LDS Church]] in 1978, and though he still attends Mormon services with his wife, he considers himself a [[non-denominational Christian]].


On December 13, 2017, Brooks revealed in a House floor speech that he has [[prostate cancer]].


-->
==References==
==References==
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*  

Revision as of 17:41, 24 April 2022

Morris Jackson Brooks Jr (born April 29, 1954 in Charleston, South Carolina) is an attorney, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Alabama's 5th Congressional District, and a candidate in the 2022 Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat left open by the retirement of Richard Shelby.

Brooks is the son of Morris and Betty Noland Brooks. He was born in South Carolina, but the family moved to Huntsville when he was 9 years old. His father was an electrical engineer at Redstone Arsenal's Meteorology Center and mother taught economics and government at Lee High School. Morris Jr graduated from Grissom High School in 1972 and studies political science and economics at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. He married Martha Jenkins, whom he met at Duke, in 1976. He completed a juris doctorate at the University of Alabama School of Law in 1978.

After a short time working for the Tuscaloosa County District Attorney's Office he moved back to Huntsville to clerk for circuit court Judge John David Snodgrass. He ran successfully for the District 18 seat, representing northwest Alabama, in the Alabama House of Representatives in 1982. He held that seat through three more elections until he was appointed to succeed Robert Cramer as Madison County District Attorney in 1991. He lost the office to Democrat Tim Morgan in the 1992 election. In 1993 he was hired as counsel to Leo & Associates, a firm specializing in commercial litigation, and was made a partner in the firm of Leo & Brooks.

In 1995 Brooks was hired as a special assistant in Attorney General of Alabama Jeff Sessions' office. He continued in that role under Attorney General Bill Pryor until 2002. Meanwhile he was elected to the Madison County Commission in 1996 and re-elected in 2000, 2004 and 2008.

In the 2006 Republican Primary Brooks ran for Lieutenant Governor of Alabama, finishing behind Luther Strange and George Wallace Jr. In the 2010 Republican Primary he successfully challenged incumbent Parker Griffith (who had switched from the Democratic Party) and activist Les Phillip for the Republican nomination for the 5th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. During the primary election campaign Brooks was lauded as a "Young Gun" by the Republican National Committee. He edged Democrat Steve Raby by a 58%-42% margin.

Brooks easily survived Griffith's primary challenge in 2012 and sailed to a 65%-35% victory over Democratic candidate Charlie Holley in the general election. In the 2014 election, with no Democratic candidate on the ballot, Brooks was easily re-elected over Republican challenger Jerry Hill and independent candidate Mark Bray. In 2016 he was challenged by Democrat Will Boyd Jr, but won a fourth term by a 67%-33% margin. During the 2016 campaign Brooks chaired the Alabama campaign committee for Ted Cruz for President. He also accused Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton of treason for potentially exposing state secrets held on an unsecured personal server.

Brooks qualified for the 2017 U.S. Senate special election following Jeff Sessions' appointment as Attorney General of the United States. He finished third behind Roy Moore and Luther Strange in the Republican primary. Democrat Doug Jones eventually won the special election following published accusations regarding Moore's behavior as a prosecutor in Etowah County. Brooks endorsed Moore in the general election, attacking the Washington Post for their reporting.

As a candidate for re-election to the House in 2018 Brooks held off Democratic challenger Peter Joffrion by a 61%-39% margin. He faced no challengers in the 2020 general election.

As a member of the House, Brooks has served on the House Committee on Armed Services and its Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies and Information Systems and on Strategic Forces, and on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology and its subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. He has been lauded by right-wing and conservative organizations for his opposition to spending bills and his votes in support of Republican policy priorities and nominations. He is a member of the "Freedom Caucus" and the "Congressional Constitution Caucus". He has repeatedly referred to his Democratic colleagues as "socialists". At the same time he defended fellow Republican Jim Jordan, accused of covering up sexual assault when he was a wrestling coach at Ohio State University.

Brooks has been a consistent critic of the Affordable Care Act, signing pledges to seek its repeal and introducing legislation to defund it. He also announced his opposition to the Republican American Health Care Act of 2017, but ended up voting in favor of it. He has also been active in supporting legislation to reduce legal immigration and expand enforcement actions and penalties targeting illegal immigrants, including mass deportation. He has stated falsely that as many as a million illegal immigrants had voted in presidential elections, and used Birmingham's 2017 Sanctuary City resolution as an example of a type of municipal policy that should punished. Brooks has also voted to end funding for public media.

Brooks has voted in favor of empowering states to decriminalize marijuana, and has supported Republican-led plans to allow private investment with Social Security accounts and to have private insurers manage Medicare. He has pledged not to vote for tax increases, including a pledge not to support climate change legislation which might raise taxes. Brooks' speculations regarding the causes and likely course of climate change have been roundly rejected by scientists. He has voted in support of Republican-led tax cuts.

Brooks has generally opposed U.S. military campaigns overseas and foreign aid in general. When Louisiana Representative Steve Scalise was wounded by a gunshot to the leg suffered during a practice for a charity baseball game, Brooks used his belt as a tourniquet to slow the loss of blood. Shortly afterward he introduced a bill to allow lawmakers to carry concealed weapons in the District of Columbia.

Brooks emerged as one of President Trump's loyalist allies in the House of Representatives. He spoke frequently in support of Trump's border security proposals, and for his nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump endorsed Brooks in the 2018 election. In March 2019 he quoted from Hitler's Mein Kampf as a response to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on coordination between the Trump campaign and associates of Russian president Vladimir Putin, seeking to compare the Democratic Party and the media to Nazism. In October 2019 Brooks declined to sign onto a resolution criticizing Trump's removal of U.S. forces from Syria. Later that month he was part of a group of House Republicans that disrupted an impeachment hearing taking testimony about President Trump's refusal to send Congressionally-approved military support to Ukraine. He criticized the criminal prosecution of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, and was a featured speaker at the "Stop the Steal" rally that immediately proceeded the storming of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters seeking to prevent the certification of Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election.

Among the Republican candidates seeking Richard Shelby's former Senate seat, Brooks staked an early polling lead with Trump's endorsement. After Mike Durant cut into his lead, Trump rescinded his support. Brooks' immediate reaction was to relate how even after Biden was inaugurated, Trump had demanded that he should use the House of Representatives to 'immediately' remove the President from office and hold a new election.

References

External links

[[Category:U.S. Representatives]

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