01/11/2021
On January 11, 2021, I called on our Republican leaders locally and in Harrisburg to condemn the President and recognize their responsibility for promoting lies against our shared democratic traditions.
FULL PRESS RELEASE BELOW:
Pipe Calls on Pennsylvania’s Republican Leaders to Disavow Trump’s Role in Insurrection
(BELLEFONTE, PA) – Five days after the insurrection that killed five Americans, including one valiant police officer in the line of duty; that endangered the life of Vice President Pence and our entire Congressional body and their staffs; that saw rioters, summoned and incited by President Trump, wreaked unprecedented violence in their attempted coup of the United States’ legislative branch; our Republican leaders locally and in Harrisburg have yet to condemn the President and recognize their responsibility for promoting lies against our shared democratic traditions.
“It is appalling that Senator Corman and Representative Benninghoff, two of the most powerful elected officials in Pennsylvania, have yet to denounce the President for his role in the horrific acts of domestic terrorism we collectively witnessed last Wednesday,” said Centre County Commissioner Chair Michael Pipe. “It is imperative that they use their positions of influence within Pennsylvania to fully condemn the main source of inciting and enticing the acts of domestic terrorism, from Washington D.C. to the recent crimes committed by white supremacists right here in Centre County. Their silence is complicity in the same violence they claim to disavow.”
Pipe goes on to question why Senator Corman sent a letter without public knowledge to US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and US House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) asking them to delay the counting of Pennsylvania’s Electoral Votes. Thankfully, the vote to reject the certification of the Pennsylvania’s 20 Electoral Votes by the US House and US Senate failed with overwhelming bipartisan support in both chambers. Yet, neither Senator Corman or Representative Benninghoff have admitted defeat and congratulated President-Elect Biden on his victory.
“Sen. Corman and Rep. Benninghoff have gone to great lengths to spread disinformation about the fairness and security of the 2020 General Election. They have propagated the myth of a stolen election by their numerous statements and letters sent to the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation, calling on them to raise objections to the certification of the Electoral Votes of Pennsylvania. There is a direct and undeniable connection between these attempts to undercut the results of Pennsylvania’s presidential election results and the violent coup attempt of January 6, 2021. Corman and Benninghoff’s cynical political tactics have led them to prioritize their personal interests above the safety of Pennsylvanians and our democracy.”
