Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) echoed former President Donald Trump’s controversial call for the “termination” of parts of the Constitution.
Denouncing the “unprecedented fraud” he claims ravaged the 2020 election, Gosar, who describes himself as a “constitutional conservative” in his Twitter bio, said in a since-deleted tweet that such an extraordinary situation warrants an “unprecedented cure.”
MCCONNELL SLAMS TRUMP 2024 BID AFTER CALL FOR ‘TERMINATION’ OF RULES IN CONSTITUTION
“I support and agree with the former President. Unprecedented fraud requires unprecedented cure,” Gosar wrote in the tweet alongside a screenshot of Trump’s Truth Social post.
Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Arizona, endorses Donald Trump’s call for “termination” of constitutional provisions to rescind the 2020 election after the former president was legitimately defeated. pic.twitter.com/cM2tiBR0tg
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) December 7, 2022
A spokesperson for Gosar quickly defended the congressman as a stalwart defender of the Constitution and argued that anyone suggesting otherwise was “acting in bad faith or are low IQ people.”
“No one in Congress has fought for Constitutional values more than Congressman Gosar. He is known as a strict constitutionalist for good reason. He has a decade of votes proving that. President Trump has reissued his statement to clarify what he meant,” the spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.
“Those who claim either Trump or Congressman Gosar don’t believe in the Constitution are acting in bad faith or are low IQ people unable to comprehend our language and our actions,” the spokesperson continued.
Democratic lawmaker John Garamendi (CA) denounced Gosar’s remark, saying in a tweet, “These are unconscionable statements that seek to damage our country.”
Fellow Democratic Rep. Don Beyer (VA) said Gosar, as a lawmaker, is betraying his oath to the Constitution.
Like all of us who serve in Congress, Paul Gosar swore an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” Gosar is plainly betraying that oath. https://t.co/0FqQHSAb4K
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) December 7, 2022
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell (CA) used Gosar’s tweet to slam Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who has threatened to remove Swalwell from the House Intelligence Committee over his onetime relationship to an alleged Chinese spy. McCarthy has indicated Gosar could receive his committee assignments back next year after he was booted from them over a violent animated video he posted online that was directed toward Democrats.
Kevin McCarthy wants to kick me off the Intelligence Committee and put Paul Gosar back on his committees. Paul Gosar wants to terminate the Constitution. pic.twitter.com/fXcDCxxezT
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) December 7, 2022
A member of the conservative Freedom Caucus, Gosar has been a staunch supporter of Trump and his policies. He has also trafficked in unfounded claims that fraud deprived Trump of victory in 2020.
“A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution,” the former president wrote Saturday as he floated the notion of an election redo.
Trump drew widespread backlash from Democrats and some Republicans for his “termination” remarks.
The former president later sought to clarify his comments, claiming that he never said the Constitution should be terminated.
“The Fake News is actually trying to convince the American People that I said I wanted to ‘terminate’ the Constitution. This is simply more DISINFORMATION & LIES, just like RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA, and all of their other HOAXES & SCAMS,” Trump said in a follow-up post.
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A number of Republicans, such as Sen. Mitt Romney (UT), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY), and Senate Minority Whip John Thune (SD), were critical of Trump’s comments.
Trump debuted his 2024 presidential campaign last month, something Gosar appeared to welcome.
