At least half of the eight Republican senators who voted against the election of President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College will attend the inauguration on Wednesday in Washington to support the peaceful transfer of power, Fox News learns.
Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who led the January 6 effort to cast electoral votes for Biden, will appear on the official Capitol oath. Senators Roger Marshall, R-Kan. And Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., Who joined Cruz in objection to Biden’s victory before a Joint Congressional Session, will also attend Biden’s inauguration, their offices confirmed.
In this July 14th photo, Republican U.S. Senate candidate and former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville speaks at a campaign event in Montgomery, Alabama. (AP Photo / Butch Dill, Archive)
And Senator Rick Scott, R-Fla., Who voted to reject Biden voters in the state of Pennsylvania, will also appear on Wednesday. Scott last week even asked President Trump to attend too, but Trump declined.
“I intend to attend and I believe it is an important tradition that demonstrates the peaceful transfer of power to our people and the world,” said Scott last week.
Along with Cruz, Senator Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Led the effort to oppose the votes of Biden Electoral College, even after a deadly Capitol riot interrupted the counting of votes. Both Cruz and Hawley were criticized for alerting the base to the far-reaching challenges that fueled the Capitol riot.
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It was unclear whether Hawley would attend the opening, as his office did not respond to requests for comment.
The three other senators who voted against Biden’s victory in at least one state were Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., Senator John Kennedy, R-La., And Senator Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo. Its offices did not respond to Fox News questions about whether they will attend the inauguration on Wednesday for Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
The senators who opposed it said they were representing the concerns of their constituents, who have deep doubts that the electoral processes in other states are not fair and secure. Trump fueled distrust of the election results by refusing to yield, claiming that he won the elections overwhelmingly and spreading allegations of widespread electoral fraud.
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Other senators who initially raised concerns about the validity of the election with Cruz and demanded a 10-day emergency audit of the results will also be present at the inauguration, including Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Steve Daines, R-Mont., And James Lankford, R-Okla. The trio initially said they intended to oppose the Electoral College certification, but in the end joined the majority of their Republican Party colleagues to approve the results after the riot.
Senator James Lankford, R-Okla., Will attend the opening ceremony on Wednesday, as he did in 2013 and 2017.
(Reuters / Joshua Roberts)
All state election officials maintained the integrity of their certified results and dozens of courts rejected Trump’s lawsuits to contest the election. Federal officials, including Attorney General William Barr, rejected Trump’s allegations of widespread fraud.
Wednesday’s inauguration will be like no other in history. Ceremonies are reduced due to the strong coronavirus pandemic. The military presence in Washington is huge after pro-Trump protesters stormed the Capitol on January 6 in an attempt to prevent Biden’s victory from being certified.
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Trump, who was accused by the House on Wednesday for his role in inciting the riot, refused to acknowledge the defeat and will leave for his resort in Mar-a-lago, Florida on the morning of January 20 to avoid possession. . He did not speak to Biden to concede. Vice President Mike Pence, however, will attend.
National Guard patrol members outside the Capitol building on the Capitol in Washington, January 14. (AP Photo / Andrew Harnik)
Members of Congress have boycotted openings in the past for political reasons. Notably, about 70 Democrats refused to attend Trump’s inauguration four years ago, after he tweeted derogatory comments about the late civil rights icon, Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., Who announced he would not be attending. Dozens of Democrats said they would boycott Trump’s inauguration to support Lewis, who did not consider Trump a “legitimate president”.
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On the House side, Republican Party leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif, said he would attend Biden’s inauguration. McCarthy was one of 138 House Republicans who voted to reject Biden’s victory in Pennsylvania, even after the turmoil. North Carolina freshman Madison Cawthron, who also opposed the Pennsylvania vote, also plans to appear on Wednesday, his office said.
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But others who voted against Biden’s electoral victory intend to stay at home, including Rep. Diana Harshbarger, R-Tenn., And Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga.
“There are extreme security concerns,” said Greene. “20,000 National Guards have been brought in for a virtual grand opening.”
It is not clear whether any of Trump’s most loyal allies in the House will attend. The spokesmen for the Reps. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., Mike Kelly, R-Pa. And Devin Nunes, R-Calif., Did not respond to Fox News’ requests for comment.
Given the increased security, threats to members of Congress and new precautions against the coronavirus, some lawmakers who would otherwise have appeared will stay home.
Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas, will not attend Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday.
(Fox News screenshot)
Freshman MP Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas, will not attend because she has already had to cancel district events this week because of the impromptu impeachment vote that Democrats have called. Van Duyne voted against the victory of the Biden Electoral College in Pennsylvania.
“On Thursday, the Inaugural Committee added new COVID testing requirements that would require the congresswoman to be in DC two days ahead of the expected opening,” said Van Duyne spokeswoman Amanda Thompson. “Because the majority called for last-minute impeachment hearings this week, we were forced to reschedule several appointments in the district for the next week. Therefore, the Congresswoman regrets not being able to attend the inauguration due to appointments in the district.”
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Deputy Nancy Mace, RS.C., who refused to join Republican colleagues in the Electoral College’s objections, will also stay home because of ongoing security threats.
“She did not attend for security reasons,” said spokeswoman Natalie Johnson. “She received several threats, so we are keeping her in Charleston for security.”
Each member of the House and Senate will receive a ticket and a guest ticket for the inauguration.
Even some Democrats expressed reservations about participation, given the threats to members of Congress and concerns about any last attempt by Trump supporters to halt the launch of the ceremony.
US Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., Listens to a constituent in Wixom, Michigan, Thursday, August 15, 2019. (AP Photo / Paul Sancya)
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., Has decided not to bring her 15-year-old son into office for security reasons and will instead have a virtual celebration.
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“I just get teary-eyed at the thought of Kamala Harris becoming vice president and being there at this historic moment,” Tlaib told Detroit News.
“But I don’t feel comfortable. I hope that the new president-elect Biden and vice-president-elect Harris are protected and everything is going well. I know we will all be safe at home and we will be able to experience that.