A leftist watchdog group is asking the Office of Congressional Ethics to open an investigation into Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., for his role in the challenge to the Electoral College’s certification.
In a letter, the Campaign for Accountability claimed Brooks’s speech on the House floor last Wednesday “incited violence” since it took place before a pro-Trump rally moved toward the U.S. Capitol building.
In his speech, Brooks said: “Today is the day American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass. Our ancestors sacrificed their blood, their sweat, their tears, their fortunes and sometimes their lives to give us, their descendants, an America that is the greatest nation in world history.”
The group said it is “hardly surprising” that a rogue group of individuals responded to these comments by storming the Capitol.
“In light of these inflammatory calls for violent action, it is hardly surprising that listeners responded by descending on the U.S. Capitol and began to riot—using force to storm the building and prevent the Congress from carrying out its duty to count the Electoral College votes,” the letter states.
The leftists go on to accuse Brooks of potentially violating laws against incitement to riot, encouraging others to riot, and aiding and abetting incitement of a riot.
They also claim Brooks may have “conspired with others, including President Donald Trump, to use force” to prevent or delay the Electoral College’s certification.
The House must investigate Brooks, the group said, because Brooks’s actions have disgraced the chamber.
“There can be no action that brings greater discredit to the House of Representatives than a member of Congress—who has sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution—inciting an angry mob to violently protest against the legitimate results of a democratic election,” the watchdog wrote.
Brooks challenged the Electoral College’s results due to concerns about voting irregularities, calling the 2020 presidential election “the worst election theft in the history of the United States.”
