In a ardent opinion for The Atlantic published Saturday, Sen. Ben Sasse
Ben SasseSasse: Capitol rioters ‘came dangerously close to the start of bloody constitutional crisis’ McConnell is about to teach Trump about political power one last time McConnell: Trump impeachment process begins after Biden swore MORE (R-Neb.) Said the QAnon conspiracy theory “destroys” the GOP and urged his fellow Republicans to reject it.
Sasse’s opinion comes less than two weeks after a violent crowd of President Trump
Donald Trump CIA chief threatened to resign due to pressure to install Trump loyalist as deputy: Azar’s report in departure letter says Capitol riot threatens to “ erode ” government performance. Justice Dept. thinks Trump should get immunity from rape defenders’ lawsuit MOREUS supporters forced their way into the Capitol, killing five people, including a Capitol Hill Police officer. The rioters stormed the Capitol with the intent of stopping Congress’s electoral college count that broke for president-elect Joe Biden
Joe BidenAzar in letter of departure says the uprising in the Capitol is threatening to “tarnish” the performance of the government. House Democrats Introduce Measures to Curb Trump’s Sale to Saudis. On The Money: Retail sales fall in last sign of weakening economy | Fast food workers on strike for minimum wage | US officials express concern about Mexico’s handling of energy permits, alleging that the election was fraudulent.
Many of the members photographed during the riots were featured with references to “Q” or “QAnon” on their clothing, including a man with a horned helmet and face paint popularly known as the “QAnon Shaman”.
Believers of the theory argue, without evidence, that President Trump is working to “expose the arrest of the US government by a global network of cannibalistic pedophiles.” Several newly elected lawmakers, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) Have been associated with the theory, although they later walked back her support because of ‘misinformation’.
In Sasse’s editorial entitled “ QAnon Destroys the GOP from the Inside, ” the legislature states that the riots that took place in the Capitol were not the result of a “ couple of bad apples, ” but rather a “ seed ” in which Republicans were allowed to grow . the party in time, including these theories.
Sasse said Officer Eugene Goodman, who was seen on video leading a crowd away from the Senate Chamber during the riots, was chased by a man wearing a shirt with the QAnon theory logo. The FBI has said the man, identified as Douglas Jensen, “wanted to show his T-shirt on video so ‘Q’ could get the credit.”
“It is the bloom of a rotten seed that took root in the Republican Party some time ago and was fueled by betrayal, bad political judgment and cowardice,” Sasse wrote.
Sasse said that when Trump leaves office, the GOP has a choice of either upholding the constitution, or “becoming a party of conspiracy theories.”
“When Trump leaves office, my party will be faced with a choice: we can commit to defending the Constitution and upholding our best American institutions and traditions, or we can be a party of conspiracy theories, cable news fantasies and ruin. that goes with it. them, “he said.”
“We could be Eisenhower’s party, or the Alex Jones conspiracy party,” Sasse continued, referring to Jones, who is a conspiracy theorist.
Sasse also accused some of his Republican colleagues of “winking” at conspiracy theorists while continuing to “preach” the Constitution.
“Until last week, many party leaders and advisers thought they could preach the Constitution with a nod to QAnon. They can’t, ”Sasse wrote. “The GOP must reject conspiracy theories or be consumed by them. Now is the time to decide what this party is about. “
Sasse also criticized House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy
Kevin McCarthy GOP divided over Liz Cheney’s future Democrats pointing finger at whether Capitol rioters had internal help Pelosi suggests criminal prosecution for every lawmaker who helped with Capitol riot MORE (R-Calif.) For not rejecting Taylor Greene’s campaign, calling the freshman lawmaker “cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.”
During her campaign, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy had a choice: either reject her campaign and possibly lose a Republican seat, or welcome her to his caucus and try to keep her ridiculous ideas under wraps. McCarthy failed the leadership test and sat on the sidelines, ”said Sasse.
Taylor Greene stated this month that she plans to file articles of impeachment against Biden the day after his inauguration.
Sasse recognized her plan and hit the Georgian Republican: “She will continue to ridicule herself, her constituents and the Republican Party, ”he said.
The Nebraska legislature concluded that in order to play a ‘constructive role’ in America’s future, the GOP must ‘reject the nonsense that set our party on fire’ and ‘rebuild’ itself through a ‘real response to the frustrations’. of the past decade. ”
“In a deadlock between constitution and madness, both men took sides,” Sasse said. “It’s the turn of the GOP to do the same.”
Opinion comes when the Senate takes up the impeachment process against Trump this session.
The House charged the president a second time during his presidency this week, accusing the president of inciting the violent mob that attacked the Capitol. Ten Republicans voted with House Democrats to impeach the president.
Before the crowd stormed the building on Jan. 6, Trump made comments on the National Mall, telling supporters he would never give in and encouraging the crowd to march to the Capitol and demand that Congress certify the victory of Biden’s Electoral College.
Sasse has spoken out about the events that took place in the Capitol and issued a statement this week urging Americans to consider the seriousness of the Capitol events.
In addition, he called for the efforts of his Republican colleagues, including Sen. Josh Hawley
Joshua (Josh) David HawleyCruz, Cornyn To Attend Biden Inauguration Former McCaskill Assistants Launch PAC To Thwart Hawley Former GOP Congressman Says He’s Leaving Party: ‘This Has Become a Sect’ MORE (R-Mo.) To object to the election results “really stupid.”