Hi,
Since the January 6 insurrection, more than 1,000 people have been charged
with crimes relating to the attack. Almost 600 have been found guilty.^1
Leaders of far-right militia groups including the Proud Boys and the Oath
Keepers were convicted on charges of seditious conspiracy, with sentences
as long as 18 years in prison.^2
However, the vast majority of elected officials who helped plan and
execute the attack, including members of Congress and state legislators,
have faced zero consequences whatsoever.
Enough is enough. The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states in no
uncertain terms that anyone who has “engaged in insurrection or rebellion”
against the United States shall be barred from public office.^3
That means we need a formal investigation into elected Republicans who
helped plan the insurrection or participated in the riot itself, including
Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar and North Carolina
State Rep. Donnie Loftis. If the investigation confirms their roles in the
January 6 attack, they must be expelled from their seats and barred from
running again.
[ [link removed] ]Will you chip in to support Demand Progress Action’s work, including
demanding that insurrectionists who violated the 14th Amendment be
expelled from office and barred from running for office in the future?
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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia was specifically identified by
insurrection organizers among those who participated in the planning
sessions leading up to January 6. On the day of the attack, she exhorted
the crowd to "Fight For Trump" by repeating lies about election fraud and
saying "This is our 1776 moment."
Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona also participated in planning sessions,
according to insurrection organizers, and asked for a “blanket pardon”
before the attack, indicating that he knew what they were doing was
illegal.^4
North Carolina State Rep. Donnie Loftis admitted after January 6 that he
joined the riot and was "at the entrance when they breached the door."^5
Each of these Republicans should be fully investigated and, if the facts
are confirmed, expelled and barred from running for office again under the
14th Amendment. They wouldn't be the first elected officials to face these
consequences. A New Mexico judge last year enforced the insurrection
clause to ban a January 6 rioter and county commissioner from ever holding
office again.^6
But this won’t happen unless the public understands that this isn’t some
fringe idea. That means it’s up to us to educate the public and demand a
thorough investigation of every member of Congress involved in January 6
and expel any wrongdoers they find.
[ [link removed] ]Will you donate $10 to Demand Progress Action and support
our work, including demanding accountability for the January 6
insurrectionists who still hold public office?
Thanks for standing with us,
Tihi and the team at Demand Progress
[ [link removed] ]DONATE
Sources:
1. NPR, "1,000 people have been charged for the Capitol riot. Here's where
their cases stand," [ [link removed] ]January 3, 2023.
2. Associated Press, "Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes sentenced to 18
years for seditious conspiracy in Jan. 6 attack," [ [link removed] ]May 25, 2023.
3. The Conversation, "Forgotten insurrection clause of 14th Amendment used
to force GOP members of Congress to defend their actions on Jan. 6,"
[ [link removed] ]May 9, 2022.
4. Rolling Stone, "EXCLUSIVE: Jan. 6 Protest Organizers Say They
Participated in ‘Dozens’ of Planning Meetings With Members of Congress and
White House Staff," [ [link removed] ]October 24, 2021.
5. WRAL, "Incoming NC lawmaker was at Jan. 6 US Capitol protests, riot,"
[ [link removed] ]November 1, 2021.
6. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, "Judge removes
Griffin from office for engaging in the January 6 insurrection,"
[ [link removed] ]September 6, 2022.
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