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Republicans censure Agema, ask Michigander to step down

Posted at 10:34 PM, Jan 14, 2015
and last updated 2015-01-14 22:36:40-05

(CNN) The Republican National Committee voted on Wednesday to censure one of its members for “harmful rhetoric” and called on him to leave his position as a member on the committee.

The RNC Executive Committee took the action against Michigan National Committeeman Dave Agema for making several derogatory posts about minorities, gays, lesbians and Muslims on his Facebook page. He recently posted a story on Facebook from the white supremacist magazine “American Renaissance” that was offensive to African-Americans.

“Dave Agema’s history of harmful and offensive rhetoric has no place in our party, which is why the RNC Executive Committee acted in the swiftest way possible to avoid giving him a platform,” Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said in a statement. “We have voted to censure him, and we are urging the Michigan GOP and their voters to explore options to discipline Agema for his actions. Today, we used all available tools to remove him from the committee.”

Michigan Republican Party Chairman Bobby Schostak said the state party would explore ways to try and have Agema removed from his position.

 Agema, who is attending the RNC Winter Meeting in Coronado, outside San Diego, has not reacted to the censure.