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A group of Senate Democrats on Thursday filed an ethics complaint against Republican sensibilities Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz, calling for an investigation to determine whether the couple coordinated with the organizers of the pro-Trump rally on January 6 which preceded the deadly riot in the United States. Capitol.
The Senate Ethics Committee “should also come up with recommendations for strong disciplinary action, including up to expulsion or censorship, if the facts uncovered warrant it,” said the Seven Democrats, led by Sen. Sheldon. Whitehouse, DR.I., in a letter to the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Committee.
Hawley, R-Mo., And Cruz, R-Texas, had announced in the days leading up to the riot that they would oppose the vote count in states that former President Donald Trump falsely claimed to have won in the the January 6 electoral vote count, which “amplified allegations of electoral fraud which have resulted in threats of violence against national and local authorities across the country,” the letter said.
“The question the Senate must answer is not whether Senators Hawley and Cruz had the right to object to voters, but whether Senators failed to do so.[p]loyalty to the highest moral principles and to the country above loyalty to persons, party or government service “or having” improper conduct reflecting the Senate “in connection with the violence of January 6,” said the letter.
He noted that the two voted to reject the counting electoral votes even after violence on Capitol Hill disrupted the counting process.
The letter noted that “both men touted their plan to challenge voters to collect campaign contributions,” although it is “likely” that both knew the underlying voter fraud allegations were false. “These solicitations continued during and after the insurgency,” says the complaint.
Hawley and Cruz have denied any wrongdoing and claim they were trying to protect the integrity of the election. “Joe Biden and the Democrats talk about unity but brazenly try to silence dissent. This latest effort is a blatant abuse of the Senate ethics process and a blatant attempt at partisan revenge, ”Hawley said in a statement.
Cruz told reporters on Tuesday that he had done nothing to incite violence. “Debating a constitutional law issue on the Senate floor is the antithesis of trying to resolve conflicts through a violent terrorist attack,” he said.
The letter, which was also signed by Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Mazie Hirono, D-Hi., Tim Kaine, D-Va., And Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, call for an investigation into whether they were involved in Trump’s rally before the riot, where the president called on his supporters to “fight” the election result in order to “save” the country.
“The extent, if any, of communication or coordination between the senses. Hawley and Cruz and the organizers of the rally remains to be investigated. Three members of the House of Representatives who coordinated with the senses. Hawley and Cruz to oppose voters, Reps. Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar and Mo Brooks have been identified as alleged co-architects of the rally. Further investigation is needed to determine whether and to what extent Senators Cruz and Hawley were also aware of the activities of these groups or coordinated with their efforts, ”the letter says.
The ethics committee, which is chaired by Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., Made no comment. The Republican deputy chairman of the committee is Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma. Lankford had initially approved of Cruz’s challenge, but withdrew his support following the riot.
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