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Connecticut State Rep. Cara Pavalock-D'Amato did the unthinkable on opening day of the 2026 legislative session in Hartford.
She turned her back during Gov. Ned Lamont's State of the State address, revealing an "ICE IN" message on her jacket, a counter-balance to the anti-ICE rhetoric coming from Lamont.
“ICE, everywhere you go uninvited, violence follows. Go home. We’re keeping Connecticut safe without you,.” Lamont said yesterday, while democrats cheered.
Democrats quickly pointed out that Pavalock-D'Amato's clothing choice was in violation of decorum rules that restrict political messages in the chamber.
Nonetheless, she continued to trigger democrats by posting her opening day fashion choice on Facebook. Her post drew more than 600 comments, plenty of them unhinged.
She was accused of being from a "white privileged woman tribe" and told "no one is legal on stolen land … your white privilege is showing!"
They called her "white trash" and a "MAGA moron" for not realizing she "lived in a liberal state" -- as if MAGA conservatives should know to keep their opinions to themselves because they don't matter in a blue state like Connecticut.
From time to time, Pavalock-D'Amato engaged with the trolls... adding comments like:
"All these liberals on here complaining but not one of them sponsors an illegal alien so they can emigrate here. Step up to the plate!" wrote Pavalock-D'Amato.
She didn't seem to have any takers.
Pavalock-D'Amato's choice of clothing seemed apropos in light of Lamont's promises to keep on protecting illegals, and ensuring they continue to receive entitlements and benefits meant for legal citizens.
Several Republican legislators walked out of Lamont's speech in protest of his inflammatory anti-ICE comments, including Rep. Kurt Vail (R-Stafford), a retired correction officer; Rep. Ben McGorty (R-Shelton); and Sen. Rob Sampson (R-Wolcott/North Haven).
"The governor made a comment that they're less-trained," said McGorty. "They're more trained. My son is an ICE agent and I am offended by his comments today in front of everybody. He was grandstanding for his election. ICE agents train all the time. They go to the Federal Law Enforcement Academy. ICE agents are residents of Connecticut."
Vail said he walked out because the governor's comments were disrespectful.
"It was extremely unprofessional," Vail said. "You either support law enforcement or you don't. You can't pick and choose those battles. You're putting ICE at-risk. I know people in ICE. They're highly trained professionals. The governor talked about bipartisanship and all he said was negative things about the federal government. Playing politics with it enrages people even more. I felt like I needed to speak out."
Speaker of the House Matt Ritter commented on Pavalock-D'Amato's stunt during a news briefing prior to today's session after a reporter asked if there would be any action taken to reprimand the State Rep.
"My advice to everybody out there is don't test me on this," said an emotional Ritter.
He proceeded to explain that politicians could be "expelled" or "impeached" for violations of legislative rules that ban political messages on clothing, and warned, "don't do it again."
He was asked to clarify the rule on political messages.
"You can do whatever you want outside the chamber," Ritter said. "But you can't wear, you can't have posters or placards or displays on clothing or in the chamber, we're trying to have some decorum here."
He pointed to other measures that could be taken for such violations, like reprimand, censure, or even impeachment.
State Rep. Jason Rojas said that Pavalock-D'Amato's behavior, including "doubling down" on her pro-ICE sentiment by posting to Facebook that she referred three illegals to ICE, was "egregious and gross" and has a "very chilling effect on how people feel" coming into the Hartford Capitol building.
Then Ritter remembered how awful it was when certain people broke decorum rules by declining to submit to the mask mandate in the chamber during the covid plandemic.
"The most serious non-compliant time that I can remember in my time as speaker was the people not wearing masks during covid," said Ritter with a straight face.
He went into the session and warned legislators not to turn "this place into a circus.”
“Do I make myself clear that we’re not going to have this tomfoolery and riffraff ever again this session?” said Ritter.
After today's session, Pavalock-D'Amato, who has since allegedly received a death threat over her comments, gave a quick interview.
"I respect the chamber and I respect the speaker but his members have far bigger issues than wearing 'ICE' on their jacket," she said. "I think he needs to deal with his own chamber first before he starts being triggered by letters on a jacket and words on a jacket, especially when those individuals, especially in Connecticut, are protecting us."
“There’s no way for us to speak during that speech, so I don’t have any regrets whatsoever," said a defiant Pavalock-D'Amato.
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In my 63 years, I don’t recall a public official demonstrating any such level of candor and courage against the MOB.
(No disrespect intended to the forever-compromising-their-principles, decorum-minded-at-all-costs minority party)
Take a cue.