Rep. Garamendi’s Statement on Insurrection at U.S. Capitol and Vote to Certify the 2020 Presidential Election
Washington, DC—Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) issued the following statement after voting to certify the lawful results of the 2020 Presidential election shortly after the U.S. Capitol was cleared of rioters that violently stormed the building:
"History will remember what transpired today at the U.S. Capitol," Garamendi said. "An armed mob, emboldened by the sitting President who continues to lie about the results of a lawful election, launched a violent insurrection at the Capitol with the intent of stopping the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as President and Vice President. Tragically, these events left four dead and others injured.
"This blatant attack on our democratic process did not succeed, and when Capitol Police cleared out this violent mob, Members returned to fulfill their obligation to certify the results of a lawful election," Garamendi continued. "Today's vote was neither about supporting nor opposing a particular candidate, it was about fulfilling our hallowed responsibility as elected officials to certify the results of a Presidential election and the Electoral College vote. There will be a transfer of power on January 20th, when Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will become President and Vice President of the United States. That is what our Constitution required us to do here today, and it is a task we fulfilled despite the attempts of an armed mob to undermine our sacred democratic process.
"Democracy is fragile - it is all of our responsibility to protect it. Americans have upheld this responsibility through more than two centuries of challenges and adversity. Today, and every day moving forward, we must continue this work," Garamendi concluded.