Ritik Gupta
WASHINGTON – Although it was apparent that President Donald Trump-inspired the uprising at the Capitol on Wednesday, Democrats clamped some of the burden on Sen. Ted Cruz, too, condemning him of facilitating sedition and anarchy by stimulating Trump’s prevaricate about election cheating.
Cruz had been thorough not to immediately reflect any of Trump’s more frivolous and unsubstantiated assertions about voting manipulation and fraud.
But he did happen as one of the two most enthusiastic Senate supporters for obstructing Congress from asserting President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College triumph on Wednesday, urging a 10-day delay.
“It is your self-serving attempt at sedition that has helped to inspire these terrorists and their attempted coup,” contended Beto O’Rourke, the El Paso Democrat who arrived near to ousting Cruz in 2018.
Just before 3 a.m. Thursday in Washington, with the House discussing a challenge to the Pennsylvania electors that Cruz himself assisted in the Senate – panning out on the losing barrier of a 92-7 vote – Cruz handed out a full-throated denial of the mob violence.
“The attack at the Capitol was a despicable act of terrorism and a shocking assault on our democratic system,” he said, in a written declaration that recited beliefs conveyed earlier – yelling for trial for acts of violence, touting Capitol Police for reclaiming order, and protecting his need for an investigation into alleged abnormalities before Biden’s success is substantiated.
“Now, we must come together and put this anger and division behind us,” he said. “Congress must fulfill our constitutional responsibility to complete the Electoral College certification process. We must, and I am confident we will, have a peaceful and orderly transition of power, pursuant to the Constitution.”
By then, certification was approximately at hand.
O’Rourke’s tweet arrived in reaction to Cruz denouncing turmoil after the mob had invaded Congress, halting discussions in the House and Senate accelerated by his criticism of Biden’s triumph in Arizona.
It is your self serving attempt at sedition that has helped to inspire these terrorists and their attempted coup. https://t.co/AGj44pipsd
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) January 6, 2021
Four hours after the destruction commenced, and with lawmakers yet crouched for security, Cruz dismissed issues about whether the violence provoked him to reexamine his complaints and ploys. Aides gave no understanding into how he would continue when the Senate and House began again considerations Wednesday night.
As it came out, Cruz gave his name to no additional criticisms. Only his likely 2024 rival, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley furnished a symbol for another challenge, paving the means for a two-hour House discussion on Pennsylvania’s electors that terminated as expected: Biden’s triumph was asserted, 282-138.
Senator Ted Cruz walked out of the room where senators are being held. A reporter asked him if he felt responsible for today's events. Another asked him if he would still object to the Electoral College results. The senator did not reply and went back in the room.
— Grace Segers (@Grace_Segers) January 6, 2021
Cruz did push back against O’Rourke after Capitol Police vacated lawmakers, even as pro-Trump revolutionaries inhabited Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office and camped outside on marble strides hallways off-limits to the populace.
“Stop stoking division. Stop spreading hatred. Stop using malicious rhetoric (such as false & reckless charges of `sedition’). Stop showing contempt for the half of the country that disagrees with you,” Cruz reacted to his erstwhile opponent. “Violence is wrong. We can do better. We are one Nation. #EPluribusUnum.”
That special choice of the reaction was significant because on Election Night 2018, when Cruz scraped a second term with less than 51% against O’Rourke, he proposed a statement of modesty and conciliation that Texans had not listened to during his movement or, indeed, during his first term: “I am your senator as well.”
Stop stoking division.
Stop spreading hatred.
Stop using malicious rhetoric (such as false & reckless charges of “sedition”).
Stop showing contempt for the half of the country that disagrees with you.
Violence is wrong. We can do better. We are one Nation. #EPluribusUnum https://t.co/Kikh4dW46u
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 6, 2021
Matthew Eshbaugh-Soha, chair of the University of North Texas political science department, described in relation Cruz’s short-lived pledge to tone down the partisanship to a kid who gets in distress, “but the punishment isn’t as bad as you thought.” “It was a close call,” he said. “You’re like, I’ll never do this again. …And then two weeks later, you’re doing the same thing.”
Cruz directed a group of 11 senators urging an emergency examination, though in two months since Election Day, no proof of extensive fraud has emerged.
“I am not arguing for setting aside the result of this election,” he contended after disputing to the Arizona electors, conserving that procedurally, he had no additional means to concentrate Congress’ scrutiny on the idea, which he asserted was intended for strengthening public trust in the consequence.
After revolutionaries raged the Capitol, he phoned for trials.
“In no way would Sen. Cruz ever condones this,” said spokeswoman Lauren Bianchi.
Julián Castro, the former Obama housing secretary and San Antonio mayor, asserted Cruz “has embarrassed Texas and the entire nation.” Like Trump, “he would watch democracy burn if he got to rule the ashes.”
He and his brother, Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, called on Cruz to relinquish, as did many other Texas Democrats.
Ted Cruz is like Trump: he would watch democracy burn if he got to rule the ashes.
He has embarrassed Texas and the entire nation.
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) January 6, 2021
Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin, a cautious and loyal Trump analyst, indicated the Senate expel Cruz and Hawley, a likely 2024 foe.
“With 50 D’s you’d only need 16 R’s to expel Cruz. THAT shouldn’t be hard,” she tweeted, attributing to Cruz’s stature for retaining few friends after eight years punctuated by grandstanding, the hostility of GOP administration, and brutal partisanship.
With 50 D's you'd only need 16 R's to expel Cruz. THAT shouldn't be hard.
— Jennifer 'Punish Domestic Terrorists' Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) January 6, 2021
Cruz’s campaign to enable forestall the final loss for Trump was widely discerned as a means to curry endorsement with the president and his base ahead of another run for president.
Conservatives in Congress praised them when he stood up in the House chamber at the commencement of Wednesday’s joint round and announced his complaint on the Arizona electors. Across the hallway, he has been a loathed figure, and the remarkable circumstances motivated even more sharp assaults than average.
The Texas Democratic Party called on the Justice Department to examine Cruz for provoking sedition. The party spokesman Abhi Rahman teased that the violence had a silver lining: “@tedcruz’s presidential ambitions are dead in the water.”
“Ted Cruz led a charge of the ‘Sedition Caucus,’ which ignited the people who stormed the U.S. Capitol and brought gunshots and violence,” said Ed Espinoza, executive director at Progress Texas. “Cruz’s act of political theater has brought domestic terrorism to our nation’s Capitol.”
Donald Trump owns this.
Ted Cruz owns this.
Josh Hawley owns this.
Any blood will be on their hands. pic.twitter.com/USeCQc3X9I— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) January 6, 2021
Several Texas Democrats blamed Cruz for inciting the lawlessness, along with Trump.
“You fan the flames and then condemn the growing fire?” tweeted state Rep. Joe Moody, an El Paso Democrat who served as pro tempore of the Texas House. Aiming his comments at Cruz, he wrote, “You are an embarrassment to Texas and should be ashamed of yourself.”
State Rep. James Talarico, D-Round Rock, went further, tweeting at Cruz: “You sacrificed your country for your ambition. You’re not a senator, you’re a traitor.”
The Boot Texas Republicans PAC was constructed to obstruct Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton likewise accused Cruz and called on him to relinquish.
“Ted Cruz incited the riot we saw today,” said spokesman Zack Malitz. “Cruz told the country that the election was stolen. Cruz undermined public faith in the election by suggesting that there is a conspiracy to overturn the will of the people.”
