Manchin says 14th Amendment enough to remove Senators Cruz and Hawley

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Sen. Joe Manchin said that the 14th Amendment has enough grounds to push for Senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley’s removal from office.
• The 14th Amendment says that all Lawmakers should never be involved in any acts of insurrection or rebellion.
• Both Republicans and Democrats called out the two senators, with the opposing party asking for their resignation.

Citing the 14th Amendment, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said the Senate should deliberate about removing Senators Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., because of their oppositions the previous week over the Electoral College outcomes.

 On Friday night, during the interview with PBS’s “Firing Line,” Manchin said the Senate should consider the option following the rioting supposedly initiated by President Trump and influenced by GOP such as Cruz a Hawley. They frequently claimed the election was a sham, and the Trump supporters raided the Capitol in one of the lowest moments in the history of American democracy.

When asked if 14th Amendment should be invoked, Manchin said the Senate should take it as a possibility, while noting that Senator Cruz is

“ a very bright individual, and I get along fine with Ted, but what he did was totally outside of the realm of our responsibilities or our privileges.”

Section 3 of the 14th Amendment states that no legislator currently serving

“shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.”

Detractors of Cruz and Hawley and, who spearheaded the attempts in the Senate to oppose the presidential election results in Pennsylvania and Arizona and, believe the article applies to the two Lawmakers.

Critics also blame the two for provoking the violence with their claims concerning election loopholes and fraud. The previous week’s chaos killed five people, including an officer of the Capitol Police and a demonstrator.

Numerous Democrats have demanded the resignation of the two senators, while Republican allies have reprimanded them for their complaints.

The two senators, in response, explained that they only represent their constituents’ concern about election fraud that was promoted by Trump and his camp.

The rioters last week failed to block the proceedings to certify the Electoral College results indicating that President-elect Joe Biden has won by 306-232 lead. While the vote was successful, legislators were vacated to a safe location. Manchin said he talked with Hawley and told him that he

“have a right to do what you’re doing, but think of what’s happening, what you’re seeing on the monitors. Think about, basically, our country.”

Manchin added that his colleague listened, and he hoped Hawley can act and change his stand on opposing the election results at that time.

Source: The Hill