Legislative Administration committee hears testimony after lawmaker’s social media posts invoking 'final solution'

The House Legislative Administration Committee held a public hearing on conduct referred to it after Representative Travis Cochran made social media posts that several colleagues and members of the public described as invoking the Nazi-era phrase “final solution” and calling for the deportation of a fellow legislator.

Chair opened the session by outlining the scope and rules: testimony would be limited to actions taken by Representative Cochran during the 2025–2026 term, public speakers had three minutes, and the committee would not vote at the hearing but would take up a recommendation in executive session in the coming week. Paul Smith, clerk of the House, referenced Mason’s Manual and Section 561, noting that a reprimand motion filed on the floor had already been referred to this committee.

Representative Travis Cochran addressed the panel and read a prepared statement. He said the remark was intended as a sarcastic joke about “theater kids in politics” in response to a karaoke invitation, denied knowing that Representative Jessica Grill was Jewish at the time he posted, and declined to take questions.

Lawmakers who testified urged formal discipline. Minority Leader Representative Alexis Simpson described two social media posts — one that she said called for the deportation of Representative LSE Bay and another that used the phrase “final solution” in response to a karaoke invitation — and argued the behavior reflected a troubling pattern. Representative Jessica Grill, who said she invited colleagues to a bipartisan karaoke event, told the committee that the phrase is inseparable from the Holocaust and said that, in her view, the comments were not a joke.

Multiple representatives and community witnesses detailed what they said was a pattern of demeaning posts and cited personal safety concerns. Several speakers — including members of the Jewish community, faith leaders, survivors and representatives of civic organizations — said that the phrase “final solution” is synonymous with genocide and that its use by an elected official is a direct invocation of violence that has real safety consequences. Eric Martin, executive director of the Jewish Federation of New Hampshire, told the committee the phrase is “universally understood as the Nazi plan to systematically exterminate the Jewish people” and described a rise in local anti‑Semitic incidents and increased security costs for institutions.

Other legislators urged restraint. Representative Matt Drew said the proceeding reflected “performative partisanship” and warned officials against punishing speech simply because it offends, invoking First Amendment protections. Several members also questioned what level of discipline short of expulsion would change behavior.

The committee’s clerk noted that Representative Simpson had made a motion on the House floor to reprimand Representative Cochran; that motion was referred to the committee as part of the process. The chair said the panel would meet in executive session to consider a recommendation to the full House, which could include options ranging from no action to reprimand, censure or expulsion. No formal vote on discipline was taken at the hearing.

Next steps: The committee will deliberate in executive session and then report a recommendation to the full House, which must vote to adopt any disciplinary action. The committee asked members and public speakers to submit written testimony and documentation for the record.