‘False Equivalency’ Or Not?
County Board Split On How To React To Capitol Attack
Editor’s Note: For an hour at its monthly meeting, Wednesday, Feb. 3, the Otsego County Board of Representatives debated two resolutions: H, condemning the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. And G, condemning both the attack on the Capitol and summer-long riots that followed George Floyd’s death.
RESOLUTION NO. G
RESOLUTION: CONDEMNING VIOLENCE IN THE UNITED STATES AND REAFFIRMING THE BOARD’S COMMITMENT TO THE RULE OF LAW, FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS, AND THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER
Introduced by Republican Reps. Ed Frazier, Dan Wilber
WHEREAS, on January 6, 2021, pursuant to the 12th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, the House of Representatives, and the Senate met at the United States Capitol for a Joint Session of Congress to count the votes of the Electoral College; and
WHEREAS, the results of the 2020 election were lawfully certified by Republican and Democratic election administrators in all fifty states; affirmed in dozens of court cases; and formalized by the vote of the Electoral College; and
WHEREAS, thousands of individuals sought to and did, in fact, interfere with the Joint Session’s solemn constitutional duty to certify the results of the 2020 Presidential election, unlawfully breached and vandalized the Capitol, injured and killed law enforcement personnel, menaced Members of Congress, the Vice President, and Congressional personnel, and engaged in other violent, deadly, destructive and seditious acts; and
WHEREAS, the United States has endured months of violent riots and protests in our cities. Violent crowds have vandalized, burned and destroyed public and private property, destroyed businesses and the livelihood of thousands of hard working Americans, vandalized Federal Courts, and other buildings and engaged in other violent, deadly, acts to include arson, murder, and assault of citizens and police officers; and
WHEREAS, some elected officials have failed to condemn these violent protests, riots and acts of insurrection, and while some have offered justification; and
WHEREAS, federal law enforcement currently report that there are continued concerns of potential future plots of domestic violent extremists nationwide; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Otsego County Board of Representatives hereby honors the lives of the deceased Capitol Police officers, all of those officers who were injured while serving this nation, and the lives of all law enforcement personnel and first responders nationwide who died due to the violent and destructive actions of domestic violent extremists; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Otsego County Board of Representatives hereby condemns the violent insurrection that occurred at the U.S. Capitol, the violent riots throughout the country, and the continuing commentary that serves to offer justifications for that which is indefensible; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Otsego County Board of Representatives reaffirms its commitment to upholding the Constitution and the rule of law and supporting free and fair elections, the right to feel safe in our homes and communities, and the peaceful transfer of power; and be it further
RESOLVED, that this resolution will be presented to Representative Antonio Delgado, Senator Charles Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and President Joseph R. Biden.
RESOLUTION NO. H
RESOLUTION: CONDEMNING THE JANUARY 6, 2021 ATTACK ON THE U.S. CAPITOL AND REAFFIRMING THE BOARD’S COMMITMENT TO THE RULE OF LAW, FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS, AND THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER
Introduced by Democratic Rep. Andrew Stammel
WHEREAS, on January 6, 2021, pursuant to the 12th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, the House of Representatives, and the Senate met at the United States Capitol for a Joint Session of Congress to count the votes of the Electoral College; and
WHEREAS, in the months preceding the Joint Session, the 2020 Presidential election results were repeatedly contested by some elected officials and voices in the media, with false statements asserting that the results were the product of widespread fraud and should not be accepted by the American people or certified by State or Federal officials; and
WHEREAS, the results of the 2020 election were lawfully certified by Republican and Democratic election administrators in all fifty states; affirmed in dozens of court cases; and formalized by the vote of the Electoral College; and
WHEREAS, a crowd of thousands of individuals sought to and did, in fact, interfere with the Joint Session’s solemn constitutional duty to certify the results of the 2020 Presidential election, unlawfully breached and vandalized the Capitol, injured and killed law enforcement personnel, menaced Members of Congress, the Vice President, and Congressional personnel, and engaged in other violent, deadly, destructive and seditious acts; and
WHEREAS, the attempts to violently overturn an election have now been condemned by elected officials in all parties. One notable condemnation came from Republican then Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell when he stated, “They failed to attempt to obstruct the Congress. This failed insurrection underscored how crucial the task before us is for our public.” Later, Leader McConnell also condemned those who instigated the insurrection, saying, “The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people, and they tried to use fear and violence”; and
WHEREAS, the violent and seditious acts of the insurrectionists and those who encourage or justify them gravely endanger the security of the United States and its institutions of Government. They threaten the integrity of the democratic system, interfere with the peaceful transfer of power, and imperil a coequal branch of Government; and
WHEREAS, on January 27, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security issued a National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin, warning that a heightened threat environment will persist for weeks in the country. It warned “ideologically- motivated violent extremists with objections to the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances fueled by false narratives, could continue to mobilize to incite or commit violence”; and
WHEREAS, it is essential in this perilous moment that every elected official at all levels of government reaffirms their commitment to supporting our Constitution, the rule of law, free and fair elections, and the peaceful transfer of power; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Otsego County Board of Representatives hereby honors the lives of the deceased Capitol Police officers; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Otsego County Board of Representatives hereby condemns the violent insurrection that occurred at the U.S. Capitol and the incitement that led up to it; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Otsego County Board of Representatives reaffirms its commitment to upholding the Constitution and the rule of law and supporting free and fair elections and the peaceful transfer of power in Otsego County and beyond; and be it further
RESOLVED that this resolution will be presented to Representative Antonio Delgado, Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, and President Joseph R. Biden.