U.S. Senators, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, released statements following Wednesday’s Electoral College votes and the violent protest that broke out at the nations’ Capitol. Ernst says she served proudly in the military alongside brave men and women devoted to defending America, our freedoms and our values. “We fought to uphold the right to peaceful protest. Sadly,” Ernst says, “what I witnessed today in the U.S. Capitol was a complete betrayal of those sacred ideals. What started as a protest turned into anarchy.” Grassley says the violence that was displayed should not “disrupt or intimidate” legislators as they perform their constitutional duties. “The Constitution and our laws give Congress few options and limited authorities when it comes to certifying presidential election results,” Grassley says. “Congress has no role in conducting elections or adjudicating election disputes, only receiving and formally counting the electoral votes cast in each state.” He clarifies that if there is an objection to a state’s electoral certification, those results are thrown out, not allocated to another candidate. Ernst adds the election outcome in Iowa’s second Congressional district is an example of allowing the voice of each state be heard. “I have been consistently clear that Mariannette Miller-Meeks won. Though the margin was close, Iowans spoke and elected Congresswoman Miller-Meeks and a bipartisan panel in Iowa certified the results.” Ernst adds, it is not her job to overturn the will of the voters. Both Grassley and Ernst have also called for more investigation of the 2020 election through the formation of a bipartisan committee to look into illegal votes and rule changes and to restore faith in the election process.
