Many of the Republican senators who pledged to oppose certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the general election changed their minds on Wednesday night after a violent crowd of supporters of President Donald Trump appeared on the US Capitol on Wednesday .
Senator Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., Who promised Trump personally at a rally two days ago that she would oppose certification, changed course, saying she could not “in good conscience” continue to object to Biden’s presidency.
“When I arrived in Washington this morning, I fully intended to oppose the certification of electoral votes. However, the events that occurred today have forced me to reconsider and I cannot now, in good conscience, object,” said Loeffler, in what could be his last chamber speech after losing re-election to Reverend Raphael Warnock in the second round of the Georgia Senate the day before.
More than a quarter of Senate Republicans and possibly dozens of House Republicans on Monday planned to challenge the results of the 2020 general election.
The Senate voted 93 to 6 against objections to Arizona’s vote certification. Republican senators Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Cindy Hyde-Smith, John Neely Kennedy, Roger Marshall and Tommy Tuberville objected to voters.
The Senate term for former Republican Sen. David Perdue – who lost in Georgia’s runoff this week to Jon Ossoff – ended on January 3, leaving 99 voters.
In the House, 121 Republicans – 57% of the conference – voted in favor of Arizona’s objection, including House minority leader Kevin McCarthy of California and House minority leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana. The House rejected the challenge to Arizona’s electoral votes, 303-121.
Like Loeffler, Sen. Jim Lankford, R-Oklahoma, reconsidered his objections.
“Although we disagree – and sometimes we strongly disagree – we don’t encourage what happened today, ever,” said Lankford. “We are moving towards Joe Biden’s certification as [president of the United States] and we will work together. “
Earlier this week, Lankford was one of 11 senators who supported a proposal written by Cruz, R-Texas, to establish an electoral commission to review electoral fraud allegations, specifically “to consider and resolve ballot returns”.
Cruz objected on Wednesday morning along with Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar to the Arizona Electoral College vote just before pro-Trump protesters started taking over the Capitol. On Wednesday night, Gosar tweeted that he would move forward with his plan alongside Cruz and Arizona representative Andy Biggs. A member of the House and Senate, regardless of the state they represent, must oppose the certification of a state to take the matter to a vote.
“Leftist violence, or any violence, will not stop our mission of truth and transparency. People need and deserve the truth,” said Gosar, blaming the “leftists” baselessly for the violence.
Hawley, who was the first senator to announce that he would oppose the votes of the Electoral College, reaffirmed on Wednesday that he would also not withdraw his objection, and doubled requests for investigation of electoral fraud, complaints that were repeatedly withdrawn from the court.
“[I want] tell millions of Americans [that] violence is never guaranteed, that violence will not be tolerated, that those who engage in it will be prosecuted, but that this body will act to address the concerns of all Americans across the country. We need an investigation into irregularities and fraud, “said Hawley.
Although Senator Steven Danies, R-Mont., Had not previously announced that he planned to oppose the results of the Electoral College, he issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the violence.
“We must remain together. We will not allow today’s violence to prevent Congress from certifying the election. We must restore confidence in our electoral process. We must, and will, make a peaceful and orderly transition of power,” wrote Daines.
Senator Mitt Romney, R-Utah, who voted to condemn Trump in his Senate impeachment trial earlier last year, asked people to respect the democratic process.
“For anyone who continues to insist on an audit to satisfy the many people who believe the election has been stolen, I offer this perspective: no Congressional audit will ever convince these voters, especially when the president will continue to say the election has been stolen,” he said. Romney. “The best way to show respect for voters who were upset is to tell them the truth.”
Despite supporting the challenge to the Electoral College vote, McCarthy called for unity after Wednesday’s events.
“We will not waver, we will not bow and we will not shirk our duty. Let me be very clear, mobs do not rule America, laws govern America. It was true when our cities were burning this summer and it is true now “said McCarthy.
“We are going to show the country that the mafia did not win,” added the California Republican. “We have a job to do, we will do it proudly and be better when the sun comes up tomorrow.”