Marjorie Taylor Greene denies wanting to stop Biden’s certification
Marjorie Taylor Greene is facing 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 will be 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”.
The hearing is currently underway in Atlanta with Ms Greene giving testimony.
Closing arguments are now underway.
Rep Greene’s lawyer, Mr Bopp says section three of the 14th Amendment cannot apply to anyone anymore: “The simple argument about this is the 1872 Amnesty Act relieved the disability under Section 3 ‘of all persons whomsoever.’
In this case, Rep Greene is ‘of all persons whomsoever.’”
Adam Klasfeld at Law & Crime notes that the act was brought in to forgive former Confederates from some of the penalties of the 14th Amendment, however, a federal judge has already said that it defies “common sense” to say that it applies to future insurrections and not just the Civil War.
The Amendment is written in the future perfect tense, the Act is written in the past tense.
However, he notes that the argument did work for Rep Madison Cawthorn.
Oliver O’Connell22 April 2022 21:07
Greg Bluestein of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes that both Mr Perdue and Mr Trump are wrong to blame Governor Kemp for the challenge to Rep Greene’s place on the ballot in Georgia.
The governor has no say over the matter.
Oliver O’Connell22 April 2022 20:53
Perdue: What is happening to Greene is ‘shameful and wrong’
Georgia Republican gubernatorial candidate David Perdue has chimed in with support for Rep Greene, tweeting: “What is happening to @RepMTG is shameful and wrong!”
“I’m proud to stand with her in the fight against the establishment.”
His tweet includes former President Donald Trump’s earlier statement slamming Governor Brian Kemp and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger for possible “collusion with the Radical Left Democrats” regarding Ms Greene’s treatment.
Oliver O’Connell22 April 2022 20:47
Rep Greene is asked about the video she made at the Capitol during the riot on 6 January 2021.
“I was scared. I was very scared. I was concerned. I was shocked, shocked, shocked, absolutely shocked,” she says, adding: “It was very upsetting. I was very, very upset.”
Ms Greene claims to be a victim of the Capitol riot.
Oliver O’Connell22 April 2022 20:28
Rep Greene is now being questioned by her own counsel, Mr Bopp.
There is another delay while a technical issue is resolved.
Oliver O’Connell22 April 2022 20:08
There was an objection from Rep Greene’s counsel, who noted that he represents former President Trump.
Oliver O’Connell22 April 2022 20:04
Rep Greene answers “I do not recall” and “I don’t remember” to a series of questions about if she discussed calling for martial law with then-President Donald Trump or any members of his staff.
She is then asked if she regards the people arrested and charged in connection with the events at the Capitol on January 6 as patriots.
Ms Greene does not say no but says their arrests do not affect their patriotism, adding that some are veterans.
Oliver O’Connell22 April 2022 20:01
After a short recess, questioning resumes, and Rep Greene is shown her own campaign Facebook page which is hosting the previously played Newsmax interview clip including her saying: “This is our 1776 moment.”
Ms Greene is asked whether she authorised the post. She had previously described the video as misleading, and yet it has been on her page since 5 January 2021.
Oliver O’Connell22 April 2022 19:57
Rep Greene is asked about her own experience of January 6 and recalls remaining on the floor of the House chamber when Congress went into lockdown. She says neither she nor her staff were involved in the day’s demonstrations.
She then claims she believed Black Lives Matter and antifa has stormed the Capitol.
Counsel asks if Ms Greene knows of BLM or antifa protesters among the hundreds of people arrested after the Capitol riot, she says she does not know.
Oliver O’Connell22 April 2022 19:48
Greene forced to admit she called for Pelosi to get death penalty
Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was left scrambling to avoid committing perjury on Friday after an attorney representing voters seeking to disqualify her from this year’s election ballot confronted her with video of past statements in which she accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of “treason” and suggested the California Democrat should be executed.
Oliver O’Connell22 April 2022 19:40
