Ted Cruz calls election objection ‘right thing to do,’ condemns violence

The Texas senator condemned the violence that erupted in the U.S. Capitol, but called his objection to the Electoral College results “the right thing to do.”

By Associated Press

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz is defending his objection to the Electoral College results as “the right thing to do.”

The Texas senator condemned the violence that erupted as supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol in an extraordinary attack over the election outcome.

Cruz led the first challenge to Joe Biden’s defeat of President Donald Trump by objecting to Arizona’s results. He sought to have Congress launch a commission to investigate the election. His effort was roundly defeated in the House and Senate.

Cruz said he was confident the country will have a “peaceful and orderly transition of power.” Biden is set to be inaugurated Jan. 20.

Earlier in the day, Trump, who had encouraged his supporters to march on the Capitol to protest lawmakers’ actions, posted to Twitter, “These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long.”

Twitter later locked Trump out of his accounted and deleted the tweet, which ended, “Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!”