The US Congressman, who has been actively encouraging the American government to pressure Liberia to establish a war crimes court to prosecute perpetrators of the country’s civil war, has lost his seat at the polls.
According to the Associated Press news agency, U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan, the only Republican member of New York City’s congressional delegation, has been defeated by a Democratic Party candidate in the November 6 Midterm election, the Associated Press has reported.
Democrat Max Rose defeated U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan, unseating Rose is an Army veteran who was wounded in Afghanistan in 2013. He beat the odds in defeating Donovan in a district that covers Staten Island and a small part of Brooklyn.
Just last week, Representative asked Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo what their respective departments can do to further encourage Liberia to establish a war crimes tribunal.
Mr. Donovan’s letter comes after Liberian Foreign Minister Gbehzohngar Findley’s recent comments which reportedly suggested a referendum be used to determine the establishment of a war crimes tribunal.
In September, Rep. Donovan introduced his resolution on Liberia. Last month, the House Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously passed Donovan’s resolution. His remarks can be watched here.
Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), who co-sponsored the resolution, also applauded Congressman Donovan’s leadership.
He stated, “Liberia and Liberian-Americans have no greater friend, I would say, than our good friend Dan Donovan,” a press release from the US Lawmaker’s office said last week.