Oaths of Trump’s backers questioned
Before they take office, elected officials swear to uphold the U.S. Constitution. Butwhathappenswhen they are accusedofdoing the opposite?
As someRepublicans continuedtoback PresidentDonald Trump’sdoomedeffffffffffffort to overturn the election, critics — including President-elect Joe Biden — accused them of violating their oaths and instead pledging allegiance to Trump.
The oaths, which rarely attractmuch attention, have becomeacommonsubject in the fifinal days of the Trump presidency, being invoked by members of both parties as they met Wednesday to affiffirmBiden’s win and a violentmob of Trumpsupporters stormed theU.S. Capitol.
“TheyalsosworeonaBible to uphold the Constitution, and that’s where they really are stepping outside and being in derelictionof duty,” said formerNewJersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, a Republican who served as EPA administrator during former President GeorgeW. Bush’s administration.
The oaths vary slightly between government bodies, but elected offifficials generally swear to defend the Constitution. TheU. S. Senate websitesaysitscurrentoathis linked to the 1860s, “drafted by CivilWar-eramembers of Congress intent on ensnaring traitors.”
Alaska Sen. LisaMurkowski, a Republican, vowed to honor the oath she took and affiffirmthe results of thepresidential electionwhileurging colleagues to do the same. RepublicanSen. ToddYoung, ofIndiana, wasseeninavideo posted to social media telling Trump supporters outside a Senate offiffice building that he took an oath to the Constitution under God and asked, “Do we still take that seriously in this country?”