Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md.-1st, is rejecting calls for his resignation for continuing to argue against accepting the Electoral College vote from Pennsylvania just hours after a mob egged on by President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol and murdered a Capitol Police officer.
Those urging Harris to resign also note that he sought to instigate a physical confrontation on the House floor early Thursday morning after getting his feelings hurt for being called a liar.
In a statement issued Thursday afternoon, Harris said he would not resign, but also compared Wednesday’s deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol by armed insurrectionists to violent protests last summer.
Harris, in his written statement, said:
“I have routinely and consistently rejected violent protests, whether in the case of yesterday, or last summer.
“Democrats are calling for unity, yet also calling for the expulsion of Members who objected in yesterday’s Electoral College count. Today, some Marylanders are even calling for my resignation, which I will not do.
“My colleagues and I held legitimate Constitutional concerns about how the November election was conducted in certain states and felt compelled to highlight those concerns during the formal vote count. We did not call for the overthrowing of an election. Joe Biden will be President on January 20th.
“Some of my colleagues, including those still in the Maryland delegation, offered objections in 2017 when counting the electoral votes for President Trump. Congress is afforded the right to count, and object, to electoral votes, which we utilized yesterday to highlight concerns we had regarding the November election.
“There was nothing treasonous or seditious about it in 2017, nor this year.”
Harris backed objections to the electoral college counts from Arizona and Pennsylvania. GOP objections to the results from four other swing states — Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin — did not get a debate or vote when those objections failed to get support from any U.S. senators.
Lawmakers had begun the debate on the objection to the Arizona count when the rioters broke out glass in doors and windows to illegally gain entry to the U.S. Capitol.
After order was restored, the debate continued and the objection was soundly rejected in both the House and Senate. As a result of the violence, several U.S. senators who had planned to join objections to one or more of five other swing states announced they would no longer support those efforts
However, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, who was the first lawmaker to call for objections to the Electoral College results, did sign on to the objection to the Pennsylvania results, leading to an early Thursday morning debate in the House.
Harris spoke animatedly in support of the objection about 25 minutes into the debate and began shouting nearly an hour later after Rep. Connor Lamb, a Pennsylvania Democrat, noted his Republican colleagues had lied during the debate.
That later prompted Rep. Morgan Griffith, a Virginia Republican to ask that Lamb’s remarks be stricken from the record. His request was denied by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said it was not made in a timely manner.
As Lamb continued to speak, saying, “The truth hurts,” shouting could be hear in the House chamber.
Journalists who witnessed the incident said Harris shouted “He called me a liar” and made gestures indicating he wanted to fight.
Rep. Colin Allred, a Texas Democrat and former NFL linebacker, was among a dozen or more members from both sides who converged in the aisle near Harris.
The (Baltimore) Sun reported that Harris, in a written statement, said: “Nothing physical ever happened, or was going to happen. Mr. Allred stepped in only to ease tensions at the end of a difficult day.”
The Sun also reported that an Allred spokesman said Allred could be heard on video of the incident asking Harris: “Are you serious, man? Haven’t you had enough violence for today?”
The overwhelming majority of those commenting on a tweet from Harris with a link to his statement — including numerous commenters who said they were First District residents — urged the congressman to resign.
Here is a sample of those comments:
Dennis Glackin says
Having “concerns” is not enough to obstruct the electoral count. It’s not like the allegations were never litigated. In the end, there was no proof of any electoral fraud, certainly not 7,000,000 votes worth. You embarrassed yourself by voting to object along with your later conduct in the House. Shame on you.
BOB KOPEC says
Mr. Andy Harris should resign. He has the same blood on his hands as the monster in the White House who incited the riot by thugs.
Robert Kopec says
Do 1 good deed in your life … resign!
You have the same blood on your hands as the liar in the White House who insited the riot.
James Francis Wilson says
Andy Harris is not worthy to wash the jock strap or former congressman Wayne Gilchrest. Harris is doing this all for what he thinks will be political gain. In two years my memories will be fresh of the mob of insurgents storming the capitol. I hope others will remember also when election time rolls around.
Francine De Sanctis says
Harris’s statement about unity might be funny if it wasn’t so pathetic. A grown man threatening physical confrontation when the truth was being heard. Harris is a liar. There were numerous recounts made in various states, and not one case of fraud or error found. The demand for overturning the election results was pure theatrics and a need to earn favor from Trump’s supporters. It is really unbecoming for a politician to act so immature. Why not go back to your day job?
Jeff Chandler says
He is certainly within his rights to lodge an objection, but under the circumstances, better judgment was called for. Rep. Harris has steadfastly upheld the Trump position 100% for four years, and he wasn’t going to change now, even in the face of an armed gang of Trumpers invading the Capitol. I would ask him to do some soul searching about why it is so necessary to be a divider instead of focusing on helping *all* of his constituents. There are certainly many Trump supporters in his district, but there is an equal number of Biden supporters. It is time to represent both sides of the district, not just one side. (By the way, Rep. Harris — your website email function is broken.)
marian murphy says
I can’t imagine why Harris would want his name, reputation and history to be associated with Cruz, Hawley and the other insurrectionists but it will forever go down together in history. I’m new to the area so I don’t know Harris’ voting record or history in the Senate but if he has done anything in the past that could possible redeem where he stands now, it won’t be enough.
Craig Fuller says
I believe Congressman Harris totally misses the point in the defense he offered in his own written statement that, “Nothing physical ever happened…”
The fact is that there is only one of the 435 Members of Congress who on a day of insurrection in the Capitol of the United States found it impossible to stay in his seat and listen to one of his colleagues. His judgment and temperament in the early hours of Thursday is what separates him from all others. When he could apologize, he didn’t. When he could say he regretted his actions, he didn’t. His defense is found in his failure to throw a punch after trying to shout down a Congressional colleague.
Mr. Harris, your constituents are better than this and demand in representing us you exhibit behavior appropriate to your office or surrender your position!
A constituent, a Republican and a voter.
Maggie says
Congressman Harris has spent too much time over the bridge and forgot about us. He focuses on lies, tearing down our democracy and encouraging murder. We deserve better. January 6th is the day Andy Harris lost his seat whether he resigns now or waits until he loses the 2022 election.
Ron Ketter says
Harris has willingly spread lies about the election. Last I checked Webster’s, someone who tells lies is a liar. The 1st district deserves better. Time for Harris to do the honorable thing and resign. Harris can borrow my copy of Webster’s to look up the definition of honorable since he seems to have forgotten what the word means.