As the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to target and kill innocent Ukrainian civilians, the United States must continue to act to help the Ukrainian people defend themselves and their nation’s sovereignty and freedom itself. Congress recently approved funding for humanitarian and military aid for Ukraine, and we are working with our NATO Allies and international partners to impose severe costs on Russian President Putin and his government, as well as distribute much-needed humanitarian aid, weapons, and assets to the Ukrainian military. The work is not done.
As the fighting continues, many Ukrainians still in Ukraine are trapped in bomb shelters, basements, and subways where they have limited access to food, water, and medicine, among other necessary supplies.
Previous agreements between Russia and Ukraine to guarantee humanitarian aid delivery into Ukraine have so far proven to be unreliable, as Russian shelling continues to destroy roads and endanger transportation routes. Additionally, U.S. intelligence warns that the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv could run out of food and water in the coming days.
Recently, I joined my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to urge President Joe Biden and his administration organize an international humanitarian aid airlift to quickly deliver urgently needed non-military supplies, such as food, water, and medicine, to the Ukrainian people. CLICK HERE to read the full letter.
Along with providing military assets, the U.S. and our Allies can act to save more lives in Ukraine without without endangering Americans. While Russia has stepped up the brutality of their war against Ukraine with deadly attacks against civilian infrastructure – including a maternity hospital, members of the press, and thousands of innocent civilians, the U.S. and our allies must provide humanitarian aid.
Loveland, Ohio – The Republican U.S. House members representing the Loveland area, Steve Chabot and Brad Wenstrup, voted today not to impeach President Donald Trump.
The President was however impeached for the second time. Today’s vote was:
231 YES
197 NO
5 NO VOTE
Ten Republicans joined Democrats in voting for impeachment.
Today’s vote was the second time in 14 months the Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives has voted to impeach the president.
Senate Leader, Mitch McConnell has said that he supported the impeachment, however he has neither said whether he will vote for removing the President from office or when he will allow a Senate vote.
Chabot was one of the few Republicans who spoke today against impeachment during the House session. He did not address the allegations made against the President. He said he was against “snap impeachments”.
Here are Chabot’s remarks:
Wenstrup released the following statement after voting today against House Democrats’ articles of impeachment against President Trump:
EDITOR’S NOTE AND CORRECTION (1/15/21 9 PM):
Chris Krepich with Congressman Brad Wenstrup’s office contacted Loveland Magazine and informed us that the story we published “President impeached: Chabot and Wenstrup vote “NO” and dated 1/13/2021 “contains an old quote from Congressman Wenstrup regarding a different impeachment.” We apologize to the Congressman and our readers.
Here is the correct statement:
Washington, January 13, 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Congressman Brad Wenstrup (OH-02) issued the following statement after voting against an article of impeachment against the President:
“President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States after running on a promise of uniting the country. Putting the country through another impeachment process in the last week of the President’s term in office will only further divide us. Public officials across the political spectrum need to collectively lower the temperature of our nation. We would best serve our constituents and the country by ensuring an orderly and peaceful transfer of power, rather than forcing through the House a rushed and inherently political impeachment.
“Democratic leadership has stated they may delay transmitting the article of impeachment to the Senate for up to 100 days, and the Senate has already stated they cannot take up an impeachment trial until after President-elect Biden has been sworn in. Impeachment is a grave power; it must not be exercised in haste.
“Investigations into the tragic events of January 6th are still ongoing. The facts of the day have not been fully uncovered. However, it is already clear that many came to Washington, D.C., prepared for violence before any words were spoken at the morning rally. It would be prudent to wait for all of the facts to come to light if we are to properly evaluate the gravity of the situation. If Members of Congress want to build a serious and credible case against President Trump, they should wait until we have a complete, factual understanding of what transpired. Given these concerns and limitations, I cannot support this impeachment that is markedly short of due process.
“In the wake of these events, our nation – all of us – must take a deep breath and do some soul searching. Every individual American needs to take a long look in the mirror and examine what we say, how we say it, and the actions we take.
“Last Wednesday’s extremely egregious events did not happen in a vacuum. Our country has seen escalating political violence in recent years, and individuals are responsible for the actions they take. Unfortunately, I am no stranger to that political violence, having survived the politically-motivated shooting by a far-left extremist inspired by Bernie Sanders on a baseball field four years ago. I chose then to not – and still do not – hold Senator Sanders responsible.
“Ultimately, everyone is responsible for their own actions. I said that then, I said that during the riots of the past summer, and I say that again now.
“President Trump’s actions and words during the violence last Wednesday were inappropriate. He failed to quickly and unequivocally condemn the violence wrought upon the Capitol, which was bravely defended by our selfless Capitol Police Officers. Today, the President’s legacy is already entrenched in the minds of every American, as is the legacy of all those who have called for or committed violence in America.
“The course we are on today will only cause more division rather than the unity we need. I will continue to work toward a more perfect union with peace, prosperity, liberty, and justice for all.”
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Tyler Buchanan with the Ohio Capital Journal said this afternoon that Chabot voted against certifying the Electoral College count of Pennsylvania, citing baseless claims that widespread fraud led President-elect Joe Biden to win that state. Chabot’s vote was made just a few hours after insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol, a riot that left five dead.
Marty Schladen reports in the Ohio Capital Journal that Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine called up the National Guard yesterday preparing for a possible attack on the Ohio Statehouse. Threats have been made that armed protests are planed for this Sunday and in conjunction with the Jan. 20 inauguration
DeWine said he was activating 500 members of the Ohio Guard to protect the Statehouse and the U.S. Capitol. The Ohio Capital is currently being boarded up to prevent unauthorized entrance. The FBI reports that armed-protests are planned in all 50 states.
You can report suspicious activities and crime by contacting your local FBI office 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also submit a tip electronically at tips.fbi.gov. You can contact the local FBI field office at:
2012 Ronald Reagan Drive Cincinnati, OH 45236 cincinnati.fbi.gov (513) 421-4310
Schladen reports that DeWine said he would activate more members of the Guard if its commander recommends it or if Ohio mayors request a Guard presence in their cities. It “would certainly be our worst fear,” if Capitol Square in Columbus comes to resemble the scene in D.C. last week, the governor said.
Contact your local FBI office or submit a tip electronically if you have information about:
Possible acts of terrorism, including violence, funding, or recruitment;
Persons sympathetic to terrorists or terrorist organizations;
Suspicious activities that you believe threaten national security, especially suspicious activities that involve foreign powers or foreign organizations;
It was a tumultuous week for our nation. Yet, America has shown her resolve. It is critical that everyone – regardless of political party – work to lower the collective temperature of our political discourse. We must, as Ronald Reagan often said, disagree without being disagreeable. Before any political ideology or persuasion, we are first Americans.
Please join me in praying for our nation and those who lost their lives during the events that unfolded at the Capitol this past week.
I unequivocally condemn the actions of the criminals who broke into the U.S. Capitol, injured law enforcement, and tried to disrupt the constitutional process. No matter what flag one is carrying, people violating the law need to be held accountable. That is not who we are. That is not what this country stands for.
The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in the fabric of our constitutional republic. It is part of what makes America the greatest country in the world. Without it, we are no better than the banana republics from which we seek to protect ourselves and our allies.
I believe there remain constitutional concerns and actual violations regarding election administration. Understandably, many Americans across the political spectrum have concerns about its fairness and accuracy. Unfairness on the part of the media and big tech only exacerbated these concerns, which have been arising over the last two decades.
I am deeply concerned about state officials making changes to their election laws without the consent of their state legislators. This concern has arisen in states won by each candidate.
That’s why I joined with 125 of my colleagues last month in signing the amicus brief that presented election irregularities and asked the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on whether states should be held accountable to the Constitutional prescriptions. It is the body best suited to make that determination of constitutionality. Unfortunately, it refused to hear the case based on standing, though it never heard the arguments or struck down the merits of the questions. The Court has unfortunately left this issue unresolved.
Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution grants state legislatures sole authority to direct the manner for how its state’s Electors are appointed to the Electoral College. And yet, judges, governors, and other officials in certain states repeatedly made changes to election laws that circumvented the state legislatures.
The discrepancies in these states must be resolved, and the constitutional questions must be answered. Before the election, state legislatures should have exerted their constitutional role to either object to or codify election administration changes. They did not, and they still have not, sadly. The Supreme Court should have accepted the opportunity to hear and rule on this issue, which is why I joined the amicus brief asking the Court to take up the issue and rule definitively. They did not. Presidential campaigns with constitutional concerns should have brought those forth before Election Day. They did not. We as Congress should weigh these constitutional concerns alongside a state’s constitutional role in appointing and certifying their electors.
Two constitutional issues are hitting each other: The non-constitutionality of non-legislative changes to the election and the constitutionality of states choosing their own electors and certifying them.
Specifically, I joined the petition to object to Pennsylvania’s Electors because of clear discrepancies between Pennsylvania’s own state law and how its election was administered. These include judges unilaterally extending certain election deadlines, election officials not requiring signature checks on mail-in ballots, and inconsistent standards from county officials for “ballot curing.” I believe the changes these Pennsylvania officials made without the consent of their state legislators are unconstitutional. In addition, Pennsylvania’s law – Act 77, which expanded mail-in ballots – violates their own Constitution. These issues need to be heard and debated. Objections in the certification process are not unprecedented.
As I understand it, neither Article II nor the 12th Amendment grants Congress the power to overrule the states’ certification of their own Electors.Article II states, in part, “Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors,” and the 12th Amendment states, in part, “The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted; — The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President.” Historically, a reason the Electoral Counting Act of 1887 included the ability to object to a slate of electors came from the need to resolve disputes arising from when a single state certified multiple slates of electors. That has not happened in this case.
One may not like it right now amidst this election, but we would create a dangerous precedent and do harm to the institution of the Electoral College and election process. If either party were to gain a majority in both chambers of Congress, they could simply reject the will of the voters and select their own President.
This is not a decision I have arrived at lightly, and I understand and respect that many of my colleagues may have reached a different conclusion. Our discussions in the House were spirited and sincere, with both sides legitimately standing firmly on constitutional ground with competing interpretations.
The Electoral College is a critical component of our carefully balanced constitutional republic, and we must protect it. Let me be clear: the issues I’ve raised deal not with the institution of the Electoral College but only with how some states have run their elections and selected their Electors. Ultimately, the individual states should and must decide their Electors.
Where Do We Go from Here?
I pledge to work to ensure that these constitutional questions are answered ahead of the next election so that Americans can have faith in our republic as well as clarity as we work to protect the electoral college, our constitution, and our laws. America remains the greatest country in the world. However, we must settle these unresolved questions and restore faith in our election system if we are to live up to the legacy given to us by past generations and sustain the blessings of our liberties for future generations. I pledge to work to ensure these constitutional questions are answered ahead of the next election so Americans have clarity on and faith in our democracy and the integrity of the Electoral College and our Constitution is protected.
Our government – Congress, the courts, and the states – must work to reach agreed-upon answers to these questions to ensure future integrity of, and faith in, our elections. Ohio has stood as a model in election administration for the 2020 Presidential Election. We did things right.
I am going to fight to make sure the American people are never in this position again. I support efforts by Senator Tim Scott to establish an Election Integrity Commission to formally investigate the missteps from this election and provide guidance for future elections as both sides of the aisle should want clarity and certainty. Undoubtedly, more legislation to safeguard our Electoral College and elections will be needed to prevent future irregularities, discrepancies, and constitutional concerns. The American people deserve it.
We can and we must right these wrongs. Like the song “America the Beautiful” suggests, we ask that “God mend thine every flaw.”
PUBLISHERS NOTE:
President Donald Trump and his allies have baselessly claimed that there was rampant voter fraud in the 2020 Presidential election.
“There’s a great human capacity for inventing things that aren’t true about elections,” said Frank LaRose, a Republican who serves as Ohio’s secretary of state. “The conspiracy theories and rumors and all those things run rampant. For some reason, elections breed that type of mythology.”
Election officials in every state have not reported any major voting issues. Each of the 60 election related lawsuit filed, contesting election processes by either Trump or his supports all failed, and none have proven widespread problems.
The Supreme Court on Friday turned aside a Texas lawsuit that sought to derail the presidential election results from four battleground states, despite pressure on the justices from President Donald Trump on social media.
“Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections,” according to the unsigned court order. “All other pending motions are dismissed as moot.”
A second paragraph from Justice Samuel Alito that was joined by Justice Clarence Thomas stated: “In my view, we do not have discretion to deny the filing of a bill of complaint in a case that falls within our original jurisdiction. See Arizona v. California, 589 U. S. ___ (Feb. 24, 2020) (Thomas, J., dissenting). I would therefore grant the motion to file the bill of complaint but would not grant other relief, and I express no view on any other issue.”
More than half of the Republicans in the U.S. House — 126, with 20 added on Friday after they were left out earlier by a “clerical error” — had signed on to back a brief put forth earlier this week by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton sued to invalidate the voting results of Michigan, Georgia, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
From Ohio, the signers included Republican Congressmen Bob Gibbs, Jim Jordan, Bill Johnson, Bob Latta and Brad Wenstrup.
Brad Wenstrup
The new GOP signers included a member of leadership—House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California, who joined a push spearheaded by Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson.
Other Republicans added Friday included Bill Posey of Florida; Doug Collins, Jody Hice and Barry Loudermilk of Georgia; Jim Hagedorn and Pete Stauber of Minnesota; Billy Long of Missouri; Mark Walker of North Carolina; Scott DeJarlais of Tennessee; and Morgan Griffith, Carol Miller and Alex Mooney of Virginia.
Many Republicans in Congress have refused to directly state whether they believe Trump was defeated by President-elect Joe Biden on Nov. 3. Some have instead said that they support the president’s decision to challenge the election results in the courts.
Paxton alleges that officials in Michigan, Georgia, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania illegally changed voting laws, which caused voting irregularities and changed the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
Trump made similar allegations on Twitter and on Friday he told the justices what they should do.
“If the Supreme Court shows great Wisdom and Courage, the American People will win perhaps the most important case in history, and our Electoral Process will be respected again!,” he tweeted.
Trump earlier this year nominated Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the high court, shifting it to a conservative majority.
Due to the pandemic, many states lobbied voters to submit absentee ballots, so Americans could maintain safety guidelines.
The FBI, U.S. Attorney General and Department of Justice have repeatedly stated that there is no evidence of voter fraud or election irregularities. On Monday, members of the electoral college will meet in statehouses to cast their ballots, confirming Biden’s win.
Members of the U.S. Senate on Friday failed to mount a drive to back the Texas suit similar to that of the House GOP.
Sen. Susan Collins, (R-Maine), expressed doubt to reporters on Capitol Hill that the lawsuit would succeed.
“I don’t think it’s likely to prevail given what the Supreme Court did in the Pennsylvania case, but I’m not familiar with the details of the lawsuit,” she said, according to pool reports.
Sen. Josh Hawley, (R-Mo.), told reporters that the Supreme Court could possibly find that the case has no standing.
He added that there’s not an attempt among Senate Republicans to do the same.
“My guess is it’s just nobody here sort of rounded up the troops,” he said. “Usually the way these things work on the amicus brief side… is somebody takes the lead and then says ‘I’ll write it and then I’ll get people to sign on.’ This was a pretty short fuse thing.’”
But some Senate Republicans said that the lawsuit is baseless and that states should not attempt to meddle in the affairs of other states.
“I’m never surprised by the House of Representatives,” Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee said, according to pool reports.
Earlier Friday, he appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where he questioned the legal argument underlying the Texas suit.
“I mean, our position, my position, Republicans believe that states are in charge of elections. And Texas is a big state, but I don’t know exactly why it has a right to tell four other states how to run their elections,” said Alexander.
A senior New Jersey Democrat, Rep. Bill Pascrell, chastised House Republicans who supported the Texas suit. Pascrell called for Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), to not swear in the returning and new GOP members who signed the brief into the 117th Congress.
“Simply stated, men and women who would act to tear the United States government apart cannot serve as Members of the Congress,” he said in a statement.
The most terrifying places these days are the eviction courts in Hamilton and Butler counties.
Go see them in the Butler County Government Building in Hamilton, and in Jail Building (Justice Center), Room B, 1000 Sycamore St. in Cincinnati. You will see, as I did, single mothers of small children pleading vainly for more time to find another place to stay, only to hear the magistrate issue a writ of possession enabling the marshals to put the families on the street in three or four days. The mother’s head sinks. She is hurried away from the podium by the deputy as the next case is called.
Some tenants present the court with the Centers for Disease Control eviction moratorium declaration, which purports to postpone evictions until Dec. 31. If the tenant does not send the landlord a copy of the declaration, it is considered invalid, and the eviction proceeds.
Some tenants have sought rent assistance, but the government agency refused to provide it because the landlord is requiring late fees in addition to the rent. And the eviction proceeds. Many tenants are finding out that there is no more rent assistance.
Nearly all of the evictions are for nonpayment of rent, and the pleas of tenants that partial payments of rent be accepted are declined by the landlords. The evictions proceed.
There are few lawyers representing tenants. The Legal Aid lawyers are overwhelmed, and there are few private lawyers volunteering for The Volunteer Lawyers for the Poor. A tenant going to eviction court without a lawyer is doomed.
Come the new year in January, and there will be a disaster for tenants. Governments must act now. The CDC temporary moratorium must be continued. Congress must provide additional rent assistance. The city of Cincinnati, commendably, has provided additional funding to Legal Aid to provide more tenants with lawyers. Butler County should do the same.
More emergency housing aid must be provided short term. And longer term, Congress and the Biden administration has to dramatically increase the funding for Section 8 vouchers, which enable tenants to pay 30% of their income for rent and enables them to seek housing on the private market – the landlord receiving the balance of the rent from the government. According to the 2019 American Housing Survey, more than half of all renters are paying 30% or more of their income on rent. These families are constantly living on the brink of eviction.
Now is the time for Sen. Rob Portman, Representatives Steve Chabot, Warren Davidson and Brad Wenstrup to come to the aid of their countrymen and women. First, come to eviction court and see firsthand what is happening.
These are statements from Rep. Brad Wenstrup’s Facebook Page:
August 13 at 10:45pm · The terror in Charlottesville was, with out a doubt, carried out by white supremacists. I stand with Ohio’s Second District, and the country, in condemning them in every way.
The notion of one race or religion being superior to another is both appalling and disgusting.
We fought it over 70 years ago, and we must win this war again.
I have always taken to heart the tolerance of Ralph W. Emerson, when he said, “In my walks, every man I meet is my superior in some way, and in that I learn from him.”
We must live our lives with open minds and open hearts.
August 13 at 7:29am · The hate and bigotry displayed in Charlottesville has no place in our country. We must all come together as Americans and condemn this violence.
