Seven senators and 138 House members called 'treason caucus' face calls for expulsion from Congress
Dozens of Republican lawmakers are facing harsh condemnation after going forward with challenging the Electoral College results overnight Wednesday to Thursday following the breach of the Capitol by thousands of Donald Trump’s supporters.
Throughout the certification process, which was delayed six hours due to pro-Trump protesters marching the halls of the Capitol, seven senators and 138 House members still objected to the Electoral College results in some states – including Arizona and Pennsylvania.
Among these lawmakers are House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley and Representatives Matt Gaetz, Louie Gohmert, Paul Gosar, Jim Jordan and just sworn-in Representatives Ronny Jackson, a former physician and chief medical adviser to Trump, Tommy Tuberville and Marjorie Taylor Greene, a QAnon conspiracy theorist.
Freshman Representative Cori Bush, a new progressive member of the ‘squad,’ is calling for the expulsion of these lawmakers and the others who she claims ‘incited this domestic terror attack through their attempts to overturn the election.’
Dozens of Republican lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (left) and Senator Josh Hawley (right), are facing condemnation after going forward with challenging the election results following the chaos at the Capitol Wednesday
Thousands of Donald Trump’s most fervent supporters descended on Capitol Hill Wednesday to protest the results of the presidential election and obstruct Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s victory
Freshman Representative Cori Bush is calling for the expulsion of all GOP members who challenge the Electoral College results following the breach of the Capitol, claiming they incited the scene
‘I believe the Republican members of Congress who have incited this domestic terror attack through their attempts to overturn the election must face consequences,’ Bush, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, wrote
Bush, who was among lawmakers evacuated from the House Chamber Wednesday, is a member of the House Judiciary Committee, the government chamber’s investigative arm.
Objectors are now facing the wrath of even some of their own supporters, who claim the scene at the Capitol Wednesday should have been enough to deter them from the symbolic protest of the outcome of the election.
Hawley, however, said during his remarks while objecting to Arizona’s results, that his challenge is not symbolic – claiming his goal is to voice his legitimate concerns with the election process in 2020, mainly the laws changed to accommodate for a more lax mail-in voting system without, in some cases, state legislature approval.
The Missouri Republican came under fire after he was pictured appearing to stand in solidarity with the Trump protesters Wednesday by pumping his fist in the air in their direction as the mob descended on Capitol Hill.
Challenges to state outcomes were only deliberated if at least one Senator and one representative objected to the results.
While Representative Jody Hice of Georgia objected to the results in Georgia, no senator objected, including outgoing Senator Kelly Loeffler, who previously said she would challenge the results in her
own state but changed her mind following the chaos at the Capitol.
Hice said Biden’s win in the Peach State was tainted by ‘an unprecedented amount of fraud and irregularities.’ She did not provide any evidence for the claims.
Greene objected to Michigan’s electoral votes, but no senator joined.
Among those facing criticism are House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senator Josh Hawley – McCarthy is seen addressing Congress Wednesday night as they reconvened in the House ChamberÂ
Representative Mo Brooks of Alabama, who can be credited with leading the last-ditch effort to overturn the election results, objected to Nevada’s votes. Greene joined him in that challenge.
When Vice President Mike Pence, who presided over the proceedings, announced deliberations would not launch on Georgia, Michigan or Nevada’s results, there were cheers from Democrats – and some Republicans.
Shortly before 4:00 a.m., Congress officially certified the Electoral College results for Joe Biden.
Also overnight, Trump finally claimed in a statement there would be a ‘peaceful transition’ of power. The message was released on Twitter through his adviser Dan Scavino after the president was locked out of his account for three tweets stoking protesters.
On Wednesday afternoon, Trump spoke to thousands of his supporters gathered on the Ellipse to protest the outcome of the 2020 presidential election and Congress moving to certify the results.
After Trump left the stage, a large portion of those at the rally marched from there to Capitol Hill, where they stormed the steps of the building and were able to gain access.
For six hours protesters wandered the halls of Congress, banged on the House chamber doors, breached the doors of the Senate chamber, sat at the desks of lawmakers and their aides and wreaked havoc.
Four were killed, including a female Trump supporter who was shot in the chest.
When the Senate reconvened at 8 p.m., and the House of Representatives at 9:00 p.m. after the building was cleared and law enforcement continued throughout the night to push the perimeter of Capitol Hill further out.
