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Many Republican senators who had vowed to oppose the certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s general election victory changed their minds Wednesday night after a violent crowd of supporters of President Donald Trump descended on the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday .
Senator Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., Who promised Trump in person at a rally two days ago that she would oppose certification, turned the tide, saying she couldn’t ” in good conscience “follow through on his objection to Biden’s presidency.
“When I arrived in Washington this morning, I fully intended to oppose the certification of electoral votes. However, the events of today have forced me to reconsider and I cannot now in good conscience oppose me, “Loeffler said, in what may be his last speech to the chamber after losing his re-election to Reverend Raphael Warnock in the Georgia Senate second round a day earlier .
As of Monday, more than a quarter of Senate Republicans and perhaps dozens of House Republicans had planned to challenge the 2020 general election results.
The Senate voted 93-6 against objections to Arizona’s certification of votes. Republican Senators Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Cindy Hyde-Smith, John Neely Kennedy, Roger Marshall and Tommy Tuberville all continued their objections to voters.
Former Republican Senator David Perdue’s term in the Senate – who lost in the second round in Georgia 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 Whip Steve Louisiana Scalise. The House rejected the challenge to Arizona’s electoral votes, 303-121.
Like Loeffler, Sen. Jim Lankford, R-Okla., Reconsidered his objections.
“While we disagree – and sometimes strongly disagree – we don’t encourage what happened today, ever,” Lankford said. “We are moving towards the certification of Joe Biden as [president of the United States] and we will work together. “
Earlier this week, Lankford was one of 11 senators who backed a proposal drafted by Cruz, R-Texas, to establish an election commission to examine allegations of voter fraud, in particular “to review and resolve disputed returns.” ballots.
Cruz opposed the Arizona Electoral College vote on Wednesday morning with Representative Paul Gosar from Arizona just before pro-Trump protesters began to take control of the Capitol. On Wednesday night, Gosar tweeted that he was moving forward with his plan alongside Cruz and Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs. A member of both the House and the Senate, regardless of the state they represent, must oppose certification of a state to bring the matter to a vote.
“Left-wing violence, or any other violence, will not deter our mission of truth and transparency. People need and deserve the truth,” Gosar said, baselessly accusing “leftists” of the violence.
Hawley, who was the first Senator to announce he would oppose Electoral College votes, reaffirmed Wednesday that he also would not withdraw his objection and doubled down on calls to investigate electoral fraud, including allegations have been repeatedly rejected by the court.
“[I want] tell millions of Americans [that] violence is never justified, 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 the irregularities, the fraud, ”Hawley said.
Although Senator Steven Danies, R-Mont., Has not previously announced that he plans to oppose the Electoral College’s results, he issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the violence.
“We must stand united. We will not let today’s violence deter Congress from certifying the election. We must restore confidence in our electoral process. We must, and we will have, a peaceful and orderly transition of power. “Daines wrote.
Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, who voted to convict Trump in his Senate impeachment trial early last year, urged people to respect the democratic process.
“For anyone who insists on an audit to satisfy the many people who believe the election was stolen, I would offer this perspective: No Congressional audit will ever convince these voters, especially when the president continues to say l ‘election was stolen,’ Romney said. “The best way to show respect for voters who have been upset is to tell them the truth.”
Despite his support for the Electoral College’s contested vote, McCarthy called for unity after Wednesday’s events.
“We will not falter, we will not bend or back down from our duty. Let me be very clear, crowds do not rule America, laws rule America. This was true when our cities were burning this summer and it’s true now, ”McCarthy said.
“Let’s show the country that the crowd didn’t win,” added the California Republican. “We have a job to do, let’s do it with pride and be better when the sun comes up tomorrow.”
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