On January 6, 2021, our elected Representatives met in Washington D.C. to certify the electoral votes of the 2020 election. In past elections, the process has been a ceremonial procedure affirming the electoral votes of each state after being certified by each state.
Instead of this process, the Lansdowne community witnessed with horror as a violent mob conducted an assault on the democratic processes of the United States. Armed groups of vigilantes assaulted Washington D. C. Police Officers, scaled the walls of the Capitol building, and disrupted the proceedings of the official electoral count—breaking into Congressional Chambers and into the offices of our elected representatives. Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, including Vice President Michael Pence, were forced to flee from the onslaught. Tear gas was deployed in the Capitol building and one person was killed from gunfire in the melee.
The Lansdowne community witnessed Donald Trump incite an insurrection to subvert the Constitution and void the results of a free and fair election in violation of his oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States.
In the words of Senator Mitt Romney, “What happened today was an insurrection, incited by the President of the United States. Those who choose to continue to support his dangerous gambit by objecting to the results of a legitimate, democratic election will forever be seen as being complicit in an unprecedented attack against our democracy. They will be remembered for their role in this shameful episode in American history.” Through his words and actions, the current President Donald J. Trump continues to foment insurrection and violence by advancing the erroneous claim that the 2020 election was a “stolen” and “fraudulent election.”
What happened today was an assault on our local elections officials--Republican and Democrat--who worked to ensure a fair and free voting process.
What happened today was a tear in the social fabric of the United States and a fundamental shift in understanding about the peaceful transfer of power established by John Adams in 1800, who when he lost the election to Thomas Jefferson left the office peacefully.
Never would any of us believe that an individual in the Office of the President of the United States would abuse their position to encourage followers to attack members of another Branch of Government simply for fulfilling their Constitutional responsibilities.
Every elected representative in the United States from President of the United States to United States Senator to Mayor to Borough Councilmember swears an oath to support the Constitution of the United States.
In our roles as elected representatives, we the members of Lansdowne Borough Council and Mayor Campuzano denounce this attack on our fellow elected representatives and on the democratic processes of the United States by the President of the United States.
Furthermore, on January 6, 2021, Lansdowne Borough Council voted unanimously to urge our Representative, Mary Gay Scanlon, to draft or cosign Articles of Impeachment. And also, Lansdowne Borough Council voted unanimously to urge the Vice President to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Donald Trump from the Office of the President.
As John Adams wrote in the Constitution of Massachusetts, we need a “Government of laws, not men.”
Signed,
Mayor Anthony Campuzano President Benjamin Hover
Vice President Magda Byrne President Pro Tempore Janet English
Councilmember Michael Schleigh Councilmember Wardell Holt
Councilmember Tangela James