Dear friends,
There has been much debate in recent days about where Republican loyalties lie – to a President, a President-elect, or to our political aspirations. We must place our loyalty with our country and the Constitution. The United States is not and should not be defined by any one person in the Oval Office or any political party agendas. We are Americans based on the ideals of freedom and equality under the law, that is embodied in our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Our freedoms and our humanity are what unite us as a nation and defending our Constitution ultimately preserves our freedoms and protects our humanity.
I have had to make several important votes these past few weeks: certification of electoral college votes; a resolution urging Vice-President Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment; and an impeachment. For all three, I relied on our Constitution, God’s guidance, and the truth as God enabled me to see:
- I voted to certify the electoral college vote because I do not believe that Congress has the constitutional authority to overturn a state’s certified electoral college vote unless under narrowly prescribed circumstances. No evidence of fraud was submitted for review during House proceedings that would have indicated they should not be certified. Our duties under the 12th Amendment are clearly defined.
- I opposed the Speakers effort to invoke the 25th Amendment. The intent of section 4 of the 25th Amendment is for the Vice President and the Cabinet to have a legal avenue to remove the President if he is unable to fulfill his duties; not for Congress to direct the removal of the President.
- I opposed impeachment. Section 4 of Article II of the Constitution specifically references removal from office as a consequence of an impeachment conviction, it therefore follows that one must actually be in office to be tried and convicted on impeachable offenses. There was not enough time to conduct a trial before January 20, which is when the President-elect will be sworn in and a peaceful transfer of power will occur. Moreover, while impeachment is often cited as a political process, that does not mean we should abandon the traditions of due process. In this case, due process was thrown out the window to fulfill a political agenda and to rush the impeachment process. No hearings were held; no evidence or witnesses were presented for review, and the President was not given the chance to defend himself.
Following the mob attack on January 6 at our nation’s Capitol, the President committed to an orderly transition of power. It should have been much earlier. But now, we have an opportunity to come together and move our country forward as we begin a new session and welcome a new Administration into the White House. We should seek to heal and reconciliation, not further exacerbate our partisan divisions.
What happened at the Capitol was reprehensible, and I send my deepest condolences to those who lost their lives. I condemn the rioters who broke into the Capitol, assaulted police, vandalized the House and Senate, and led an attempt to stop one of our most sacred constitutional processes. They do not represent the Republican party nor the values of our great Republic. We demand those involved be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
We must always protect peaceful protest, and thousands and thousands choose to do so on a regular basis. But violence against fellow citizens cannot be justified.
--Don Bacon
