Concord, NH – The NH House voted today to have the Legislative Administration committee review online comments made by Republican State Rep. Robert Fisher (R-Laconia), creator of the online forum “Red Pill” which supports the degradation of women and promotes rape culture. The committee will recommend reprimand, censure, expulsion, or no action. Prior to the vote, the New Hampshire House GOP added an amendment to the motion to also investigate a female Democratic lawmaker for expressing strong opinions online, including once using a curse word five months ago which she apologized for at the time.

Statement from Granite State Progress Executive Director Zandra Rice Hawkins:

“The NH GOP is sending a loud message that it will work to provide political cover for individuals like Rep. Fisher who promote rape culture and misogyny. There should have been no hesitation in calling out Fisher’s action and no hiding behind false equivalences.  The NH GOP didn’t want to hold Fisher accountable, so they chose instead to target a female legislator who speaks her mind. This is the same playbook that encourages rape culture in the first place – blame the woman.”

House Majority Leader Richard Hinch (R-Merrimack) also stated there would be a statute of limitations on the rape culture comments and the committee would only investigate comments Fisher made during the current legislative session even though he founded and contributed to the website Red Pill over the course of many years.

###

Granite State Progress is a progressive advocacy organization that addresses issues of immediate state and local concern. Granite State Progress works as a communications hub for the progressive community to provide a strong, credible voice in advancing progressive solutions to critical community problems.