Shaheen Urges Group of GOP Lawmakers to End Meritless, Partisan Efforts Sowing Discord in U.S.

Following the violent assault on the U.S. Capitol yesterday by insurgents who were encouraged by President Trump’s inflammatory and baseless claims of voter fraud U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) delivered remarks on the Senate floor urging a group of Republican lawmakers to end their partisan actions bolstering the President’s lies in an effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. The remarks came as Congress moved to certify the Electoral College votes for each of the 50 states and Washington DC. This is historically a ceremonial and nonpartisan process that ensures the peaceful transition of power. However, seven Senate Republicans and 138 Republican House members chose to contest Congress’ certification, citing completely unfounded claims of voter fraud championed by President Trump. The United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency confirmed that the 2020 elections were the most secure in American history, and numerous recounts and audits in states reaffirm the legitimacy of the election results. The Supreme Court has repeatedly refused Donald Trump’s challenges to the election results. As a result of the mob that assaulted the Capitol, Shaheen and the Senators were evacuated to a safe location. After the lawmakers returned to the chamber, Shaheen delivered her remarks, where she condemned the violence and riots and urged the group of Republican lawmakers contesting the legitimate election results to end their dangerous rhetoric that helped spur the violent unrest. Shaheen drew on her experiences serving as an election monitor in developing democracies that view America’s peaceful democratic process as a model to emulate, and urged Republicans to finally accept the results of the election and move on so that the legislative body can perform its duty of serving the American people. Following Shaheen’s remarks, the Senate certified Joe Biden’s presidential win, affirming that he will become the 46th President of the United States in less than two weeks’ time.