U.S Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty (both R-TN) reversed course late Wednesday night and allowed Arizona’s disputed electoral votes to be counted, WJHL reported.
Just last week, the duo had pledged to contest the Electoral College results over voter fraud concerns, The Tennessee Star reported.
Blackburn tweeted, “I will vote in support of certifying the electoral college results.”
I will vote in support of certifying the electoral college results.
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) January 7, 2021
Blackburn seemed to blame the protest at the Capitol for her reversal, tweeting, “These actions at the US Capitol by protestors are truly despicable and unacceptable. While I am safe and sheltering in place, these protests are prohibiting us from doing our constitutional duty. I condemn them in the strongest possible terms. We are a nation of laws.”
These actions at the US Capitol by protestors are truly despicable and unacceptable. While I am safe and sheltering in place, these protests are prohibiting us from doing our constitutional duty. I condemn them in the strongest possible terms. We are a nation of laws.
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) January 6, 2021
Before the Capitol protest, Blackburn had tweeted, “Lots of Tennesseans in DC today to support President @realDonaldTrump. Tennessee stands with TRUMP!”
Lots of Tennesseans in DC today to support President @realDonaldTrump. Tennessee stands with TRUMP! https://t.co/6E0ozfYSn6
— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) January 6, 2021
Congress ended up certifying the Electoral College for Joe Biden in the early hours of Thursday, The Center Square reported.
Blackburn’s and Hagerty’s reversal marks a major change from their relationship with the president.
Last July, Blackburn called Trump’s Independence Day speech at the annual Salute to America celebration “one of the best” of his presidency, The Star reported.
Going back to Blackburn’s entry into the U.S. Senate race in October 2017, she built her campaign on Trump’s popularity, saying, “I believe in President Trump’s immigration ban. And I’ll fight with him every step of the way to build that wall,” The Star reported.
And in 2019, Trump endorsed Hagerty even while he was serving as ambassador to Japan, before he announced he was running, The Star reported.
“Tennessee loving Bill Hagerty, who was my Tennessee Victory Chair and is now the very outstanding Ambassador to Japan, will be running for the U.S. Senate. He is strong on crime, borders and our Second Amendment. Loves our military and our vets. Has my complete and total endorsement,” Trump wrote on Twitter Friday afternoon.
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Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.
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