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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.
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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.
Thanks for standing with us,
Tihi and the team at Demand Progress
Sources:
1. NPR, "1,000 people have been charged for the Capitol riot. Here's where their cases stand," January 3, 2023.
2. Associated Press, "Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes sentenced to 18 years for seditious conspiracy in Jan. 6 attack," 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," 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," October 24, 2021.
5. WRAL, "Incoming NC lawmaker was at Jan. 6 US Capitol protests, riot," November 1, 2021.
6. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, "Judge removes Griffin from office for engaging in the January 6 insurrection," September 6, 2022.
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