Democrat,

After the carnage that unfolded last week at the U.S. Capitol, House Democrats officially introduced Articles of Impeachment against President Trump today (again), this time for inciting an insurrection against the federal government. A vote could be held as soon as Wednesday and all ten members of our Democratic delegation are on record supporting impeachment. But we’ll be watching along with the rest of America to see if Republicans like Jeff Van Drew and Chris Smith will stand up for the rule of law and American values by voting to impeach, or if they will continue to cower behind Trump. 

The horrific events in Washington DC continue to reverberate here in New Jersey. Even after President Trump incited an angry mob that stormed the Capitol, Republican leaders like Jack Ciattarelli and Doug Steinhardt still refuse to beak from the embattled president. As Politico NJ reported: 

Even during the final, desperate days of Donald Trump’s presidency, the two main Republicans running for governor of New Jersey — a state where Trump has repeatedly proven to be electoral poison for the GOP — are maintaining their support for him.

Record columnist Charles Stile had a similar observation: 

Most of the state's Republican officials refused to hold Trump accountable for inciting the riot that that left five people dead, injured 50 police officers and brought the wheels of American democracy to a halt.

Certainly, they condemned the violence and the embarrassing banana republic-image of mob rule transmitted to the rest of the world.

But condemning Trump? Most didn't go there.

And today, Republicans in both chambers of our state legislature voted against, abstained or were too cowardly to vote for a symbolic measure condemning the insurrection of January 6, 2021.  

While the continuing spinelessness of New Jersey Republicans is enraging, an even more concerning story emerged today: Congresswoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman has tested positive for COVID-19 after being exposed to Republican House members who refused to wear masks during the Capitol insurrection: 

It’s unconscionable that COVID-19 deniers in Congress have put Rep. Watson-Coleman’s life in danger, and we are all praying for her speedy recovery. 

We will continue to keep you updated during this tumultuous time. Remember, better days are ahead — no matter what the Trumpers, QAnon devotees and conspiracy theorists say, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will take office on January 20th thanks to the hard work YOU all put in over the past four years. 

— NJDSC Team