US Senator Todd Young, Republican of Ind., in his rebuke of former President Donald Trump, has put principles above party.
His announcement that he would not support Trump in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination came after Trump appeared at a CNN town hall in which he appeared hesitant to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions in his aggression against Ukraine.
Young cited Trump’s lack of commitment to support Ukraine as one of the reasons he would not support Trump in the 2024 primary.
This is not the first time that Young has been willing to break ranks with his party over the actions of Mr. trump
IN THE MORNING On January 6, 2021, as members of Congress met to count the electoral votes, Young confronted Trump supporters who urged him not to certify the votes based on the belief that widespread voter fraud had helped Trump the election.
Young replied: “My opinion doesn’t matter. And you know what, when it comes to the law, our opinions don’t matter, the law does. I share this belief that President Trump should remain President. I share that belief, but the law matters. I swore under God, under God!”
Later that day, the US Capitol was attacked by Trump supporters. Five people lost their lives, 138 police were injured and four more committed suicide in the following months.
In the early hours of the morning after the attack, Congress voted to confirm the Electoral College vote that Democrat Joe Biden had won.
Young’s Hoosier Sen. Mike Braun had initially planned to challenge Arizona’s results, saying “the results of the Electoral College should not diminish the need to continue a thorough investigation into irregularities and credible allegations of fraud.” .
BUT AFTER THE ATTACK that killed one protester and injured nearly 150 police officers, Braun changed his mind and said he would “vote to put this ugly day behind us.”
In a statement, Young said, “As Congress convenes to formally receive Electoral College votes, I will uphold my constitutional duty and certify the will of the states as presented. The people voted and Col Electoral Legislation Congress must fulfill its role in turn.
“Like many of my patriotic constituents and colleagues, I too wish the results of this election had been different. I strongly supported President Trump and his agenda for the past four years,” Young said in a statement on the certification of the Electoral College. “I campaigned hard for him. But in taking this office, I took a solemn and inviolable oath.”
We may not all agree with Senator Young’s views, but he has shown himself to be trustworthy in swearing allegiance to the American people above loyalty to a party or a president.
The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, May 23
