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Hi,
More than 1,000 people have been charged for crimes on January 6, and hundreds have been found guilty.1
But of the elected officials who helped plan or participated in the riot, few have faced any consequences whatsoever.
The 14th Amendment states explicitly that anyone who has engaged in insurrection against the United States is disqualified from holding public office.
We’ve mobilized tens of thousands of people to demand enforcement of the 14th Amendment’s prohibition on insurrectionists holding public office. Now it’s up to us to keep educating the public and demand a thorough investigation of every other politician who may have violated their oath to the Constitution on January 6.
If the facts are confirmed, they should be expelled and barred from running for office ever again.
Congressman Paul Gosar of Arizona was reportedly among the most “ubiquitous players” in the deadly attack on the Capitol on January 6.2
Georgia’s Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene allegedly joined planning sessions with riot organizers and told the crowd at the Capitol, "This is our 1776 moment."3
And state Rep. Donnie Loftis of North Carolina was quoted bragging that he helped breach the Capitol door.4
These are just a few of the elected officials who may have played a role in the January 6 insurrection.
That’s why Demand Progress is calling for an investigation of Gosar, Greene, Loftis, and other insurrectionist public officials. If it’s found they violated the 14th Amendment, they should be expelled.
One who has been held accountable is a county commissioner in New Mexico. A court ruled that his appearance on January 6 violated the 14th Amendment and ordered him expelled from office.5
Other insurrectionists should be held to the same standard and barred from holding office if found in violation of the 14th Amendment. No one is above the law.
To be clear: we’re not calling for the immediate expulsion of these elected officials. But there’s sufficient justification for a full investigation, and should that investigation show that they violated the 14th Amendment, then the law should be enforced.
Will you donate $10 today to Demand Progress Action and help support our work?
With gratitude for all that you do,
Tihi and the team at Demand Progress Action
Sources:
1. Associated Press, "Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes sentenced to 18 years for seditious conspiracy in Jan. 6 attack," May 25, 2023.
2. Politico, "Enablers, line-straddlers and quiet resisters: How GOP lawmakers contributed to Jan. 6," January 6, 2023.
3. 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.
4. WRAL, "Incoming NC lawmaker was at Jan. 6 US Capitol protests, riot," November 1, 2021.
5. 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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