April 27, 2024

RESOLUTION: Trump Congressional allies formally argue he isn’t an insurrectionist

The judges at the Colorado Supreme Court have affirmed lower court rulings that Donald Trump engaged in insurrection against the United States and should be barred from holding office again. Now, MAGA Republicans in Congress are moving to counter that with a formal resolution in the House of Representatives.

Introduced by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and VP hopeful Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), the resolution, if passed, would be a formal statement from one branch of Congress that the former president is not an insurrectionist.

Though the resolution would carry no real legal weight, it does provide Trump’s legal team with one piece of evidence, however flimsy, to present to the Supreme Court this week.

A segment of Congress moving to Trump’s defense is also significant because Congress is the only entity that can come to Trump’s rescue and make him eligible for office again if the Supreme Court rules against him.

Though Republicans (much less the MAGA faction) lack sufficient support for that move, needing a two-thirds vote in both houses, they’re making their stance clear.

Introducing the bill, Gaetz said:

“We are here today to authoritatively express that President Trump did not commit an insurrection and we believe Congress has a unique rule in making that declaration. It’s not the job of the states and especially not the job of of some bureaucrats in Colorado to make the assessment and interfere with the rights of voters to cast their vote for the candidate of their choice.”

He skipped over the fact that voters can cast a vote for an ineligible candidate — in every election year there are a handful cast for Mickey Mouse, for example — but that those votes may not actually count.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) also spoke, saying that the argument that she, Trump, and others participated in an insurrection, is “selling the lies of the Democrats.” She scolded,

“Shame on every single person that has done that! Shame on you! You need to tell the truth! You have the freedom of the press, one of the greatest freedoms in the entire world!”

Representative Eric Burlison (R-MO) argued that none of the attackers was armed, in direct contrast to charging documents, convictions, and reports from Capitol Police. He griped:

“You know, I come from Missouri where a lot of people are armed! I don’t know how you’re gonna take over the Capitol if you’re not armed…It’s ridiculous to say that someone with face paint and bison horns is here to take over the Capitol!…We would have called what happened on that day a Wednesday in Missouri! We welcome free speech!”

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) weighed in too, declaring the case a “witch hunt,” and declaring that the “woke mob, the fake news, and the leftists” are guilty of “extortion” for continuing cases against the former president.

There is a petition circulating in opposition to the MAGA resolution, sponsored by Courage for America and The Daily Kos. Signers send the following message to Congress:

“We oppose Representative Matt Gaetz’s (FL-01) resolution pushing the extreme stance that former President Trump did not incite an insurrection on January 6, 2021. Rep. Gaetz’s February 6th resolution is extreme, perpetuates the Big Lie, and attempts to rewrite history to downplay the events of January 6th. We urge you to oppose Representative Matt Gaetz’s resolution.”

Here, Gaetz says Trump did not commit an insurrection:

Greene appoints herself as arbiter of who should be ashamed of their actions.

Burlison says back in Missouri, the Capitol attack would just have been considered a normal Wednesday.

Boebert says the election case is a “witch hunt” and “extortion.”

Their desperation is palpable.

Stephanie Bazzle

Steph Bazzle is a news writer who covers politics and theocracy, always aiming for a world free from extremism and authoritarianism. Follow Steph on Twitter @imjustasteph. Sign up for all of her stories to be delivered to your inbox here: