Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley turn up for the inauguration they tried to STOP: 'Treason caucus' Republicans sit with other senators despite leading vote to stop Electoral College certification
The leaders of the so-called 'treason caucus,' Sens. Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley, both showed up Wednesday to President Joe Biden's inauguration.
Hawley and Cruz joined the House GOP effort to challenge Electoral College votes during the January 6 session that was interrupted by the violent MAGA riot.
They contested votes in Arizona and Pennsylvania, delaying the certification for hours - and giving now ex-President Donald Trump's election fraud claims more weight.
Sen. Josh Hawley, one of the ringleaders of the so-called 'treason caucus,' showed up to President Joe Biden's inauguration despite trying to prevent Biden from collecting all of his Electoral College votes
Sen. Ted Cruz (right) also appeared at President Joe Biden's inauguration, after signing onto challenges of Electoral College votes in Pennsylvania and Arizona
Trump's claims - that he had been robbed a second term due to widespread voter fraud - motivated the violent insurrection, in which five people were killed in the incident's immediate aftermath, including a Capitol Police officer.
Even after the mob was cleared and the certification resumed, Hawley still challenged Pennsylvania's Electoral College votes going to Biden, which extended debate an additional two hours, late into the night.
Only a majority vote was needed to kill the challenge.
In both cases Cruz and Hawley voted with the minority to toss out the votes in Arizona and Pennsylvania.
Overall, they were joined by six other Republican senators and 139 Republican House members who wanted to overturn the election results.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy was among this group of Republicans.
McCarthy also attended inauguration and attended church with the Bidens Wednesday morning.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell also went to church.
Before the riot, he had gone on the Senate floor to encourage his members not to challenge the Electoral College votes, pointing out that Biden had clearly won and the election wasn't even close.
Sen. Marco Rubio, who didn't support the Electoral College challenges, skipped inauguration anyway, tweeting that he was working to quickly get Biden's nominee for Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines, through the process.
During his inaugural address, Biden went after those who lied about the election, calling them 'lies told for power and for profit.'
He dedicated his speech to American unity.
'We must end this uncivil war,' Biden said, during one of the speech's most powerful moments.
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