Assembly Republicans Boycott Judiciary Committee Over Bill Essayli’s Removal

Republican members of the Assembly Judiciary Committee boycotted a hearing Tuesday to protest Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas recently removing Assemblyman Bill Essayli (R-Riverside), a former federal prosecutor, from the committee in retribution for Essayli criticizing Democrat colleagues for voting “to protect illegal immigrant pedophiles.”

The boycott move was made at the request of Assembly Republican leader James Gallagher, according to Politico.

As the Globe reported Monday, Assembly Speaker Rivas removed Assemblyman Essayli from the Assembly Judiciary Committee Thursday following a vote in the Assembly to end sanctuary state protections for pedophiles.

And Essayli shared his thoughts on X/Twitter calling Democrat Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo a “pedophile protector,”

Assemblyman Essayli called Schiavo a pedophile protector because she voted with Democrat colleagues to block his attempt to force the Assembly to vote on his Assembly Bill 2641, after refusing to allow his bill to be heard in the legislative committees.

Following the Assembly vote on his bill May 21st, Essayli said:

“It is disgusting that Assembly Democrats just voted to protect illegal immigrant pedophiles. But they are now all on record that they care more about protecting illegal immigrants — even those who rape an innocent child — more than protecting American children. Today is a sad, shameful day in the California State Capitol.”

“Last week Democrats silenced me for forcing a vote on the Floor to end sanctuary state protections for pedophiles,” Essayli said May 30th. “Today they are punishing me by stripping me of my seat on the Judiciary Committee. I will not be deterred by their threats and intimidation.”

For that statement, he has paid a price. Yet Assemblyman Essayli’s statement is far more mainstream than what the Democrats are doing in the Assembly and Senate – namely protecting illegal immigrant pedophiles from deportation, and trying to prohibit schools from allowing parental notification regarding their child’s “changing” gender identity in Assembly Bill 1955.

“They cut my mic, killed the bill, and punished me by removing me from the Assembly Judiciary Committee. These people are truly shameful,” posted on X Tuesday.

There is so much gamesmanship taking place – the California Senate pulled a fast one last week and voted to pull Assemblyman Chris Ward’s AB 1955 from the Senate Health Committee and send it straight to the Appropriations Committee.

Assemblyman Essayli said:

This is “democracy” under the Democrat control. Suppress opposition. Break procedural rules designed to allow for transparency and debate. Rush rush rush before the public finds out what they’re up to.

Assemblywoman Schiavo penned an op-ed taking shots at Essayli and misleading on the proper legislation process:

“Last week, a colleague of mine – Republican Bill Essayli, who is so extreme he attacks members of his own party and will refuse to join their Republican caucus meetings – caused some controversy in Sacramento.”

“No bill can be taken up on the floor of the Assembly unless it passes a committee, a fact that Assemblymember Essayli is well aware.”

“And, Asm. Essayli didn’t stop there. He then went on to lie to the public, saying that his colleagues – including myself – opposed the legislation itself and that we were against the policy he was putting forward. The fact is, we never voted on the bill, because he didn’t take it through the legislative process.

The fact that Asm. Essayli chose to not have his bill heard in committee, and then asked his colleagues to break the rules for him – with full knowledge of the rules, process, and what would happen along the way – is proof in and of itself that his intent had nothing to do with the policy at all. In fact, he is using those he is claiming to protect with his legislation, minors who are victims and survivors.”

Essayli responded with an op-ed of his own:

“On Tuesday, documented pedophile protector Pilar Schiavo published an editorial attacking me for holding Assembly Democrats accountable for their heinous public safety policies that protect illegal immigrants convicted of sex crimes against minors. Her piece was filled with all the vitriolic rhetoric and misinformation typical of the Democrat supermajority in our State Legislature.

Let’s start with the facts. Under sanctuary state policies enacted by Sacramento Democrats, it is the official policy of the State of California to protect convicted illegal immigrants from deportation, regardless of their crimes. The law, SB 54 or “The California Values Act,” makes it illegal for any law enforcement officer in the state to transfer a convicted criminal in their custody to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement in response to a hold request, known as a detainer.”

“This policy is what led to a Colombian illegal immigrant — convicted of raping a 14-year-old girl — being released onto our streets. He was finally apprehended in Boston by immigration authorities and deported last month.”

“The Democrat Difference that Assemblywoman Schiavo can always count on is that her bills will never be denied that ‘privilege.’

In my case, I was left with no choice but to bring my bill up for a vote directly on the Assembly Floor.

According to Assemblywoman Schiavo, I was pulling from the playbook of far-right “MAGA extremists” last week when I forced a vote on AB 2641. If wanting to protect our kids from illegal immigrant pedophiles is Sacramento’s definition of a far-right MAGA extremist, I’m happy to accept that label.”

It’s quite clear that Democrats aren’t used to a Republican fighting back with such fervor and determination. And Democrats don’t like it.

So, it is good that the Republicans boycotted the Assembly Judiciary Committee today. Voters need to see their elected politicians fighting back – they need to see much more of that, but with the fervor and determination of Assemblyman Bill Essayli.

California Democrats should be forced to take a position on sanctuary protections for illegal immigrants convicted of sex crimes against minors, Assemblyman Bill Essayli (R-Riverside) told the Globe.

We need to know why there are Democrat lawmakers in California opposing a bill to protect American citizens from criminal illegal aliens.