GOP Sen. John Thune
John Randolph ThuneHillicon Valley: Biden Takes “Executive Action” to Address SolarWinds Breach | Facebook and Google Respond to Proposed Australian Law | DOJ accuses North Korean hackers of stealing .3 billion in cryptocurrency Congress puts renewed pressure on self-driving car bill Juan Williams: Bring common sense back to the GOP MORE (SD) on Thursday convicted members of his party for rushing to condemn Republican lawmakers who supported the conviction of former President Trump
Donald Trump Federal Prosecutors Investigated Proud Boys’ Ties to Roger Stone in Case 2019: CNN Overnight Defense: One-Third of Service Employees Refuse Coronavirus Vaccine | Biden to take executive action in response to Solar Winds hack | US and Japan reach cost-sharing deal that Trump “ won’t say ” when he’s MORE active in 2024, accusing them of participating in ‘canceling culture’.
The Associated Press reported that Thune, the No. 2 Republican senator, defended his GOP colleagues who voted to condemn Trump in the first interview he’s had since voting to acquit the former president.
“A strong case had been made,” said Thune. “People can come to different conclusions. If we’re going to criticize the media and the left for canceling culture, we can’t do that ourselves. “
As the AP notes, Thune has appointed House Republican Conference Chair, Rep. Liz Cheney
Elizabeth (Liz) Lynn Cheney: More people say Greene is a Republican Party representative than Cheney: Republican Party poll derails? Trump solves McConnell, MAGA primary challengers promises MORE (R-Wyo.) After voting to impeach Trump. The Wyoming GOP voted to disapprove of Cheney, and Republican lawmakers like Rep. Matt Gaetz
Matthew (Matt) GaetzHogan praises Kinzinger in Time profile: ‘Adam proved the measure of his courage’ Gaetz suggests DeSantis could become president in 2024 if Trump is out of the picture Scarborough says comparisons of Capitol riots with summer protests are irrelevant MORE (Fla.) Have led to calls for Cheney to be removed from power.
According to the AP, Thune also said he would help candidates who “aren’t going to talk about conspiracies and things like that.”
“At the grassroots level, there are a lot of people who want to see Trump-like candidates,” Thune said. “But I think we are going to look for candidates who are eligible.”
Trump was acquitted a second time last week after the Senate failed to obtain the 67 votes it took to convict him. Seven Republican senators voted to convict, making it the most bipartisan impeachment vote in history.
Thune indicated last week that he was open to disapproving Trump before the last impeachment vote was held.
“I know there are a few resolutions … I’ve seen at least a few resolutions that I think can get some support,” Thune told reporters at the time.
The vote to disapprove Trump would require 60 Senate votes, meaning Democrats would need 10 Republicans to vote for disapproval.
Democratic lawmakers have also discussed using the 14th Amendment to prevent Trump from running for federal office again in the future. However, Thune was less in favor of this strategy than disapproval.
“I don’t think … they will go anywhere,” he said last week.