Dear John,
Since our November election victory, I’ve been working diligently to set up a constituent-focused office that will meet the needs and interests of the people I serve.
On Sunday, January 3rd, I had the honor of being officially sworn in as Representative to the U.S. House for Virginia’s 5th Congressional District for the 117th Congress. I am truly humbled by the trust placed in me and the opportunity to serve the people of the 5th District.
In the days following the swearing-in, the most pressing issue before us was the certification of the Electoral College results. Unfortunately, January 6th turned tragically violent.
I was deeply saddened by the events that occurred at the Capitol last Wednesday and immediately condemned the violent actions that took place. America is a nation of laws, and the amount of lawlessness we witnessed in 2020 and into the beginning of 2021 unfortunately reveals the deep divisions within our country. Rioting, looting, destruction of property, shutdowns hurting families and small businesses, oppressive mandates from governors, and uncertainty about the integrity of our national elections have together created a perfect storm of civil unrest. I urge all Americans to respect our laws and our Constitution, while continuing to make their voices heard passionately but peacefully.
After a long review of the evidence presented from the November 3rd elections, one thing is clear: more investigation should have been conducted at the state levels. It is essential for these audits to be fully conducted by the state legislatures to ensure that state laws, federal laws, and the U.S. Constitution were followed. Rejection of the state certifications by Congress would have forced states to conduct such an evaluation. Without election integrity and the American people’s faith in the process, our Republic, and its ideals, will be severely undermined.
I joined Republican conservatives in the House in formally objecting to the electoral votes for six states in question (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin). While we were unable to prevail in a Democrat-majority House, I also then voted after debate concluded to reject the electoral votes for the two states for which we had concurring Senate objections (Arizona and Pennsylvania).
I will continue to do my best going forward to fight in Congress for the people of Virginia's 5th District, and for the principles that have and will continue to make America the greatest nation in history. I know we are resilient as Americans, and I look forward to better days ahead.
God Bless,
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