Manchin: Deleting Hawley and Cruz with 14th Amendment ‘should be a consideration’

His. Joe manchinJoseph (Joe) Manchin ‘Almost Heaven, West Virginia’ – Joe Manchin and a 50-50 Senate McConnell on the verge of schooling Trump on political power for the last time GOP lawmakers present a resolution to censor Trump on the Capitol riot MORE (DW.Va.) said the Senate should consider removing the Senses. Josh hawleyJoshua (Josh) David Hawley Cruz and Cornyn to attend Biden inauguration Former McCaskill aides launch PAC seeking to thwart Hawley Former GOP congressman says quitting party: ‘It’s become a cult ” MORE (R-Mo.) And Ted cruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzCruz and Cornyn to attend inauguration of Biden For platform regulation, Congress should use European cheat sheet Former GOP congressman says he is quitting the party: ” It has become a sect »MORE (R-Texas) via the 14th Amendment over their objections last week to the Electoral College results.

Addressing the PBS ‘line of fire’ on Friday night, Manchin said the Senate should explore the option after a violent crowd, annoyed by President TrumpCIA chief threatened to resign for pushing to install Trump loyalist as MP: Azar report in departure letter says riot on Capitol Hill threatens to ‘tarnish’ administration achievements Justice Department Says Trump Should Get Trial Immunity For Rape Accusor MORE and convinced by Republicans like Hawley and Cruz that the election was fraudulent, sacked the Capitol in one of the darkest spots in American democracy.

“That should be a consideration,” Manchin replied when asked if the 14th Amendment should be triggered. “He understands that. Ted is a very bright person, and I get along well with Ted, but what he did was totally outside of our responsibilities or privileges.

The third section of the 14th Amendment states that no legislator in office “shall have engaged in an insurrection or rebellion against them, nor bring aid or comfort to his enemies. But Congress can, by a two-thirds vote of each House, remove such a handicap. ”

Critics of Hawley and Cruz, who led the Senate effort to oppose the presidential election results in Arizona and Pennsylvania, said the amendment applies to both senators, whom they accuse of ‘inciting a riot with their rhetoric echoing concerns of electoral fraud and irregularities. The chaos of the past week resulted in the deaths of five people, including a Capitol Hill police officer and a rioter who was shot dead by another policeman as he tried to break through a window in the building.

Several Democrats called for the resignation of the two senators, while Republicans berated them for their objections, which Sen. Ben sasseBen SasseSasse: Rioters on Capitol Hill ‘came dangerously close to triggering a bloody constitutional crisis’ McConnell set to listen to Trump on political power for the last time McConnell: Trump impeachment trial set to begin after Biden has taken the oath MORE (R-Neb.) Called “idiot”.

Hawley and Cruz, however, defended their actions, saying they were trying to address the concerns of their constituents about voter fraud propagated by the President and his allies.

“I am totally convinced that this was done for political reasons. It was all politically motivated. It has been calculated, ”Manchin said. “I believe that all of my colleagues really made a decision that was politically the best for them and the fastest for them. It was not what they believed to be right or wrong.

Rioters last week tried unsuccessfully to stop a vote to certify the electoral college results showing the president-elect Joe bidenJoe BidenAzar in departure letter says riot on Capitol Hill threatens to ‘tarnish’ administration’s accomplishments House Democrats introduce measures to oppose Trump’s bombshell to Saudis On The Money: Retail sales drop, latest sign of weakening economy | Fast food workers strike for minimum wage | US officials concerned about Mexico’s management of energy permits READ MORE with a 306-232 victory. As the vote finally passed, lawmakers were temporarily on the run to a place of safety, where Manchin said he spoke with Hawley.

“I looked at Josh, and I said, ‘Josh, you have the right to do what you do, but think about what’s going on, what you see on the monitors. Think, roughly, about our country, ” he said. “There wasn’t a lot of conversation about it. He listened to me, and I could tell it was weighing on him, and I was hoping that maybe we could change our mind to go up there and stop his objections. “