The Senate Ethics Committee has launched an official probe into whether Senators Ted Cruz
(R-TX) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) had a part in inciting the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6.
When the letter, signed by seven Democrats, announcing the complaint against Senators Cruz and Hawley was released we thought it was a typical Democrat drive-by media stunt – get a headline for a day and move on – but it now appears Democrats are serious about trying to oust, or at a minimum, use the “ethics process” to hobble two of the most effective conservatives in the Senate.
To give you a flavor of the unbiased nature of the Committee enquiry, the Senate Ethics Committee is led by Chair Chris Coons (D-Del.), who already called for Senators Cruz and Hawley to resign, and Vice Chair James Lankford (R-OK). Sen. Lankford is one of the Senate GOP’s inveterate squishes who planned to challenge the election results himself before backing away after the riot at the Capitol. Coons and Lankford speak frequently to each other and have a warm relationship, according to Politico.
According to the letter stating their complaint, the investigation will seek to determine, among other things:
1. Whether Senators Cruz and Hawley, and/or their staff or campaigns or fundraisers, were in contact or coordinated with the organizers of the rally;
2. Whether Senators Cruz and Hawley were aware of other Members’ contacts with the
organizers;
3. What Senators Cruz and Hawley, and/or their staff knew about the plans for the event,
through public or private sources, or are otherwise accountable for the violence or for
their failure to warn the Senate and the public about the risk of violence;
4. Whether Senators Cruz and Hawley received funding from organizations or donors that
also funded the rally;
5. Whether Senators Hawley or Cruz took any action that encouraged the insurrectionists’
actions, and whether the insurrectionists cited Senators Hawley or Cruz as part of their
rationale for storming the Capitol; and
6. Whether Senators Cruz and Hawley and/or their offices, fundraisers, or campaigns
otherwise engaged in criminal conduct, or unethical or improper behavior.
The disingenuous nature of the complaint is obvious; the media and Capitol Police were well aware of the threats of violence – the massive security failure at the Capitol can hardly be blamed on two Senators who had no control over disposition or rules of engagement of the Capitol or Metropolitan DC Police.
But the underlying premise of the complaint should concern every American, because what the Democrat complainants are saying is that Cruz and Hawley, and others, should be punished for fighting for Donald Trump’s constitutional rights.
Or as the letter of complaint put it, “By proceeding with their objections to the electors after the violent attack, Senators Cruz and Hawley lent legitimacy to the mob’s cause and made future violence more likely.”
Betraying the true political motivation behind the complaint, the Committee is also looking at “The extent, if any, of communication or coordination between Sens. Hawley and Cruz and the organizers of the rally remains to be investigated. Three members of the House of Representatives who coordinated with Senators Hawley and Cruz to object to the electors, Reps. Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar, and Mo Brooks, have been identified as alleged co-architects of the rally. Further investigation is necessary to determine whether and to what extent Senators Cruz and Hawley were also aware of these groups’ activities or coordinated with their efforts.”
This is a predicate to hauling in the donors, organizers and supporters of the “Stop the Steal” rally to intimidate and punishing them by forcing upon them legal fees and the vast amount of time required to defend themselves from these specious charges.
Let’s imagine for a moment that the Senate was debating and voting on any other matter that affected the constitutional rights of any American other than Donald Trump. Should Senators Cruz and Hawley have stopped advocating for their understanding of the Constitution on the death penalty or the right-to-life because one side or both sides became unruly and rioted?
Clearly, not.
A Senator who abandoned his or her position because of the unruly actions of third parties would, in our view, show themselves to be completely without principle – exactly like Senate Ethics Committee Vice Chairman James Lankford, who abandoned the challenge to the tainted Electors after the riot.
When passions are running high is exactly the time our Republic needs principled advocates on the Floor of the House and Senate to argue the positions held by the citizenry. If Senators advocating for the views of their constituents to the fullest extent the Constitution provides is somehow contrary to the Rules of the Senate, then what means of expression are left for the citizens whose voices are thereby silenced?
Call the toll-free Capitol Switchboard (1-866-220-0044), tell Republican Senators that the ethics complaint against Senators Cruz and Hawley is nothing more than a crude political attempt to hobble two of the Senate’s most effective conservatives and that any attempt to sanction Senators Hawley and Cruz must be rejected.
Senate Ethics Committee
Ted Cruz
Josh Hawley
January 6 riot
Chair Chris Coons
Vice Chair James Lankford
investigation
capitol police
threats
2020 Election
voter fraud objections
Stop the Steal rally
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