Rep. Andy Harris Won't Resign As Democrats Call For Him To Step Down Following Alleged Scuffle On House Floor During Election Certification Vote
WASHINGTON (WJZ) -- A Maryland delegate and the Maryland Democratic Party are calling for the removal of Rep. Andy Harris after he was reportedly involved in a scuffle on the House floor as Congress debated over the certification of election results overnight.
Del. Eric Luedtke, a Democrat who represents District 14, tweeted early Thursday:
"Every Maryland leader who cares about the Constitution - Democrats and Republicans both - should come together to remove Andy Harris from office at the earliest opportunity," Luedtke said. "His support for overthrowing a legitimate democratic election demonstrates that he is unfit to serve."
The Maryland Democratic Party also called for his removal:
Congress returned to session around 8 p.m. Wednesday, just hours after a violent mob of Pro-Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol while lawmakers were inside. They decided they would continue to work to affirm the Electoral College votes that would officially name the next U.S. president.
While Democratic Rep. Conor Lamb of Pennsylvania spoke, Rep. Harris -- a Republican -- reportedly got into an argument with Democratic Rep. Colin Allred from Texas.
Multiple witnesses say it almost got physical and the two had to be separated. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi asked for order before dismissing the two congressmen.
You can hear the scuffle in the background of this video.
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Rep. Harris joined the small group of GOP lawmakers in objecting to Biden's victory Wednesday.
On Tuesday, he said he was objecting to the counting of electoral votes from certain states where there are "lingering, serious and uninvestigated concerns with how elections in these states were conducted in November."
"I am shocked that judges have not ordered investigations when legitimate concerns have been raised in lawsuits," his statement said in part. "If there is nothing to hide, why not allow thorough transparent investigations? Who would be against that? I hope that's answered in tomorrow's debate."
Harris has represented Maryland's 1st district since 2011. He released a statement Thursday addressing calls for his resignation- something he says he will not do.
"I have routinely and consistently rejected violent protests, whether in the case of yesterday, or last summer. Democrats are calling for unity, yet also calling for the expulsion of Members who objected in yesterday's Electoral College count. Today, some Marylanders are even calling for my resignation, which I will not do. My colleagues and I held legitimate Constitutional concerns about how the November election was conducted in certain states and felt compelled to highlight those concerns during the formal vote count. We did not call for the overthrowing of an election. Joe Biden will be President on January 20th. Some of my colleagues, including those still in the Maryland delegation, offered objections in 2017 when counting the electoral votes for President Trump. Congress is afforded the right to count, and object, to electoral votes, which we utilized yesterday to highlight concerns we had regarding the November election. There was nothing treasonous or seditious about it in 2017, nor this year."
