If Representative Jackie Walorski had an inkling of honor – or respect for the people of Indiana’s 2nd Congressional district – she would tender her resignation from Congress, effective immediately.
The five-term Republican dishonored her office when she aided and abetted insurrectionists at the United States Capitol. Rather than stand up to the mob, Walorski perpetuated lies about supposed voter fraud and fully supported President Trump’s attempt to overturn a free and fair election.
Walorski – whose fealty is to a corrupt president and would-be dictator, not the American people or the United States Constitution – should be ashamed for her actions leading up to the insurrection and failed coup attempt, but it is doubtful that she is even capable of shame.
Of course, Walorski is not alone in her transgressions. In fact, she has plenty of company among Indiana’s Republican delegation. Senator Mike Braun lent his support to the overturning of the election. It only took multiple people dead – including a Capitol Hill police officer – for him to come to his senses and withdraw his objections to Biden electors.
To be sure, Braun deserves no credit for doing a 180 at the last minute – not outwardly supporting an insurrection does not deserve praise – although Senator Todd Young does deserve credit for coming out against the stunt before violence reached the steps of the Capitol.
(Side note: Both former President George W. Bush and Senator Mitt Romney used the word “insurrection” to describe the events at the Capitol. These men are stalwart conservatives and lifelong Republicans. Their loyalty to the Republican Party earned them their party’s nomination in 2000, 2004, and 2012, respectively. Their loyalty to their country is clearly more important to them.)
In addition to Walorski, Representatives Jim Banks and Jim Baird objected to the Biden electors even after the violence at the Capitol. They are just as culpable as Walorski. If they do not willingly resign, the House of Representatives should vote to expel them as well.
Even short of expulsion, the 14th Amendment makes clear that “no person shall be a Senator or Representative” if they “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” or gave aid or comfort to insurrectionists.
The full text of Section Three of the 14th Amendment reads:
No Person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.
Walorski and other Republicans who objected to Biden electors after the insurrection did so knowing full well that they were offering aid and comfort to insurrectionists. In other words, they are already technically ineligible to serve under the 14th Amendment. But since they are unlikely to willingly cede power – and there is no other mechanism for removing them enshrined in the Constitution, such as a recall – they should face the humiliation of a vote for expulsion.
Again, these people are likely incapable of shame, but let the historical record show that we did not sit idly as institutional arsonists took a sledgehammer to our democracy. There must be consequences for the attacks – both the physical attack on the Capitol and the sustained attacks on our democracy.
Let them carry the stain of subservience to Donald Trump and the subversion of our democracy as a badge of dishonor for the rest of their lives.
