Marjorie Taylor Greene denies wanting to stop Biden’s certification
Marjorie Taylor Greene today faced an administrative judge at a hearing that could see the Georgia Republican banned from public office because of her alleged support for the 6 January insurrection at the US Capitol.
The congresswoman was questioned about the 2021 Capitol riot by lawyer Ron Fein, representing a group of voters who filed a challenge with the Georgia secretary of state’s office alleging that Ms Greene helped facilitate the attack that ultimately sought to upend Congress’ certification of Joe Biden’s presidential election victory.
They say that her behaviour violates a clause in the US Constitution’s 14th Amendment and makes her ineligible to run for reelection.
Among other things, the case against the congresswoman hinges on her repeated use of a “codeword” – specifically, repeated references to the year 1776 – which the lawyers say encouraged the rioters who descended on the Capitol.
For her part, Ms Greene is appealing a federal judge’s ruling allowing a challenge to her eligibility to run for reelection to proceed and in the hour leading up to her hearing, the pro-Trump lawmaker took to Twitter to urge her fellow Republicans to “protect election integrity”.
ICYMI: Greene complains that ‘nasty’ media will be in courtroom for hearing
Republican US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene complained to former Trump attorney Jenna Ellis that the press would have access to the courtroom during a trial over whether or not she was actually eligible to be included on the ballot in the midterm elections.
A group of five voters from Ms Greene’s district is suing the congresswoman, alleging that she is ineligible to run for federal office under the 14th Amendment. The group claims she “voluntarily aided and engaged” in the Capitol riot insurrection, which should invalidate her ability to hold federal office under the 14th Amendment. That amendment was ratified after the Civil War to prevent Confederate officers and officials from holding public office in the US.
“It’s absurd what they are claiming and lying about,” Ms Greene said. “They’re going to allow the press in the courtroom. They’re going to allow the whole thing to be videoed live out to go anywhere in the world that they want to. And you know what that’s going to look like — the Democrats and the nasty mainstream media, you know, the ones that lie about me constantly anyways, well, they’re going to be able to twist and turn, and clip out any little piece they want of the horrible things that these funded attorneys are going to try to say about me.”
Graig Graziosi reports.
Oliver O’Connell23 April 2022 11:00
ICYMI: Greene lawyer claims Trump ‘executive privilege’ to block question on martial law discussions
The attorney defending Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene against a lawsuit seeking to disqualify her from appearing on the 2022 midterm ballot for supporting the 6 January insurrection attempted to block her from answering a question about whether she discussed the invocation of martial law with former president Donald Trump by invoking “executive privilege”.
Andrew Feinberg reports.
Oliver O’Connell23 April 2022 09:00
Related: Gaetz slams McCarthy for support of Liz Cheney after audio leak
As Kevin McCarthy faces humiliation over a recording of him suggesting that Donald Trump resign over the 6 January riot, hardcore Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz has attacked the House Republican leader for his previous support for Congresswoman Liz Cheney.
Tweeting the morning after the audio emerged, Mr Gaetz wrote that Mr McCarthy had stood by the staunchly Trump-critical congresswoman, who also appears on the recording, even as she prepared to vote for Mr Trump’s impeachment after the Capitol was attacked.
Andrew Naughtie has the story.
Oliver O’Connell23 April 2022 07:00
Related: Trump accepted ‘some responsibility’ for Jan 6, new McCarthy audio reveals
As Kevin McCarthy reels from the leak of a conversation in which he described telling Donald Trump to resign over the 6 January Capitol riot, a new recording has emerged of the top House Republican telling members of his party that the then-president accepted “some responsibility” for the attack.
Andrew Naughtie reports for The Independent.
Oliver O’Connell23 April 2022 05:30
Related: McCarthy and Trump reportedly spoke after revelations he considered telling president to resign
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Donald Trump reportedly spoke on the phone after newly released audio recordings revealed that the California Republican told GOP leadership that then-President Trump should resign following the 6 January, 2021 attack on the US Capitol led by a mob of his supporters.
Alex Woodward has the story.
Oliver O’Connell23 April 2022 04:30
Related: Report says McCarthy privately suggested Twitter should ban more of his fellow Republicans
Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy reportedly suggested Twitter and Facebook should suspend social media accounts that belong to his GOP colleagues who amplified baseless 2020 election claims that fuelled the violent attack on the US Capitol mounted by Donald Trump’s supporters.
Alex Woodward reports.
Oliver O’Connell23 April 2022 03:30
Greene lawyer claims Trump ‘executive privilege’ to block question on martial law discussions after election
The attorney defending Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene against a lawsuit seeking to disqualify her from appearing on the 2022 midterm ballot for supporting the 6 January insurrection attempted to block her from answering a question about whether she discussed the invocation of martial law with former president Donald Trump by invoking “executive privilege”.
Andrew Feinberg reports for The Independent.
Oliver O’Connell23 April 2022 02:30
Greene ‘gathered the kindling’
Lawyer for the challengers Andrew Celli said Rep Greene was one of those who “gathered the kindling” for the fire that was the Capitol riot.
Oliver O’Connell23 April 2022 01:30
Gaetz reacts to ‘Independence Day’ reference
Florida Representative Matt Gaetz was as incredulous as most when the challenger’s legal team not only referenced the movie Independence Day but also played a clip of the fictional president’s soaring speech that Rep Greene apparently quoted.
He even retweeted actor Randy Quaid who appeared in the movie and was equally surprised by the moment.
Oliver O’Connell23 April 2022 00:30
Greene doesn’t recall discussing imposing martial law
One might’ve thought a newly sworn-in lawmaker would remember discussing the imposition of martial law with the outgoing president.
Oliver O’Connell22 April 2022 23:30