On the 31st I wrote to both Missouri’s Senators, Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley, asking for their answer to Mitt Romney’s question. The key part of my email:
I have looked at your press releases and read the Kansas City Star to see what you have said about the election. I have yet to see a clear answer from you on this issue. Let me begin by citing your Republican colleague, Senator Mitt Romney. On Tuesday, January 26, he said:
“There is no question that the nation is divided now, and there is a lot of anger. To the people on my side who say an impeachment trial is going to inflame passions more. I say, first of all, have you gone out publicly and said that there was not widespread voter fraud and that Joe Biden is the legitimate president of the United States? If you said that, then I’m happy to listen to you talk about other things that might inflame anger and divisiveness. But if you haven’t said that, that’s really what’s at the source of the anger right now. There are many, many Republicans, almost three-quarters, who believe democracy itself has been stolen. That is a very passioned perspective. You’ve got to have that get to the rearview mirror before you talk about the next stage.”
As one of your constituents, I believe I have to right to know your answer to Senator Romney’s question: Have you gone out publicly and said that there was not widespread voter fraud and that Joe Biden is the legitimate president of the United States?
I think that’s straight forward. You will be surprised to read that Josh Hawley has yet to respond but I did receive the following from Bond:
Thank you for taking time to share your thoughts on the impeachment of President Trump.
As you know, on January 13, 2021, the House of Representatives approved an article of impeachment against President Trump for high crimes and misdemeanors. I will consider all the information presented and be sure to keep your thoughts in mind as the article of impeachment proceeds before the full Senate for consideration.
I’m not naive. I’m well aware that senators have stock replies to letters and there is no way Blunt read my email.
This response is so far off from my question that I’m left wondering if (1) this is just terrible staff work (his staff didn’t really read my email or staff didn’t prepare a response to Romney’s question), or (2) Blunt doesn’t want to answer Romney’s question. (He’s up for re-election in 2022 and agreeing with Romney makes a primary challenge more likely.)
Have you asked your Republican Senators to answer Romney’s question? What have they said?