The California Democratic Party president has linked a Republican Party petition to oust Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom with the recent attempted “coup” on the US Capitol.
“Donald Trump and the California Republicans who encouraged attacks on the U.S. Constitution … are also involved in the recall effort against Governor Gavin Newsom,” said President Rusty Hicks at a virtual news conference on Tuesday, first reported by Political.
“This recall effort … should really be called The CA Coup,” he added.
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Newsom has faced harsh criticism from California Republicans for their rigorous treatment of the coronavirus. The state saw more than 2.7 million cases – a rate that is 70% higher than the next leading infection state. And with 36,000 deaths from the virus, only Texas and New York had higher death rates than California.
Led by former law enforcement officer Orrin Heatlie, the Republicans collected 1 million of the 1.5 million signatures required by mid-March to trigger a mid-year election.
Critics on social media were quick to condemn the comparison of a political procedure with the recent mob that attacked the Capitol building.
“Comparing the capital’s attack on our democracy to a repeal effort allowed by the state Constitution, signed by 1 [million] people across the political spectrum, it’s absolutely shameful, “said former San Diego Republican mayor Kevin Faulconer.
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Hicks resisted the Republican Mayor’s disdain and called him “California’s ReTrumplican”.
“What is ‘absolutely shameful’ is a political opportunist who is willing to advance the cause of white supremacists, conspiracy theorists and those who encourage violence in our democratic institutions,” wrote Hicks. “But I think that’s what it means to be a California ReTrumplican.”
Hicks maintained his comments, telling Fox News in a statement that California Republicans are “willing to use this legal process to promote right-wing extremist agendas”.
“Including those of some involved in violence against our democratic institutions,” continued Hicks. “Each potential signatory, endorser and funder must be aware of this reality.”
Newsom remained silent about the effort to recall his government, instead focusing on trying to improve the rate of vaccine distribution in his state.
State officials like Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti blamed the federal government for the slow release of vaccines.
The White House Coronavirus Task Force has repeatedly said it is leaving it up to state officials to find out the proper distribution of the vaccine – a challenge for the most populous state in the United States.
California has begun to administer mass distribution sites, with Los Angeles Dodger and San Diego Padre stadiums as locations to help improve the vaccine’s accessibility to the public.
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Newsom also suggested in a tweet on Tuesday night that, following instructions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, California could open access to the vaccine for anyone 65 and older.
Brittany De Lea contributed to this report.