Former vice presidential candidate and former Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, did not hold back on Sunday when he blasted fellow Republicans who are supporting President Donal Trump's attempt to subvert the 2020 election.
So far, 12 senators have signed on to the effort to overturn the election. The group is being led by Texas GOP Senator Ted Cruz, who is pushing forward despite stern warnings from Kentucky Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell not to do so.
In a statement published by a local Milwaukee news outlet, Ryan said:
"All our basic rights and freedoms flow from a fidelity to the Constitution and rule of law."
He castigated his party for abandoning conservative principals in their attempt to subvert the constitution.
"This principle is not only fundamentally American but a central tenet on conservatism."
"Under our system, voters determine the president, and this self-governance cannot sustain itself if the whims of Congress replace the will of the people."
"I urge members to consider the precedent that it would set."
He went on to outline how a vote to reject the Electoral College will in turn be a rejection of democracy.
"Efforts to reject the votes of the Electoral College and sow doubt about Joe Biden's victory strike at the foundation of our republic."
"It is difficult to conceive of a more anti-democratic and anti-conservative act than a federal intervention to overturn the results of state-certified elections and disenfranchise millions of Americans. The fact that this effort will fail does not mean it not do significant damage to American democracy."
"The Trump campaign had ample opportunity to challenge election results, and those efforts failed from lack of evidence. The legal process was exhausted, and the results were decisively confirmed."
"The Department of Justice, too, found no basis for overturning the result. If states wish to reform their processes for future elections, that is their prerogative."
"But Joe Biden's victory is entirely legitimate."
Many agreed with Paul Ryan.
Others were frustrated that it took Ryan this long to speak out.
And many took a more cynical approach.
Once Joe Biden is sworn in, the GOP will likely have to do some deep soul-searching.
@thesinkingcanoe/Instagram
@arianagrande/Instagram