Most of the 12 Republican senators who said on Saturday that they would object to the certification of votes from the state Electoral College on Wednesday ignored the news program invitations to appear on Sunday.
Driving the news: State of the Union anchor Jake Tapper said that all 12 senators had refused or failed to respond to an invitation to explain their objection to CNN certification. Lulu Garcia-Navarro, of NPR, also said that all senators declined invitations to appear in the “Weekend Edition”.
Sens only. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who appeared on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who had an angry conversation with host Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press”, appeared on the programs.
- Cruz, who is leading the charge, admitted on Fox News that the Supreme Court would be a better forum for litigating the challenge, while urging his fellow Democrats to “just relax and let’s do our job”.
What is he saying: “I want to note that we invited each of the 12 senators involved in the plot of this shameful effort to come to the program this morning to try to defend and explain their position,” said Tapper. “Each of them refused or did not respond.”
- “Everything resembles what Ulysses S. Grant once wrote in 1861: ‘There are only two parties now, traitors and patriots.’ How would you describe today’s parties? “
The situation: The group includes Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), And Mike Braun (R -Ind.), As well as the newly installed Sens. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) And Tommy Tuberville (R -Ala.).
- Senators consider the coordinated effort separate from Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, who was the first in the House to announce that he would oppose the vote.
Go deeper: Several senators oppose the certification of election results