Editorial: Stewart and Owens Should Resign
(Design by Taylor Maguire | Daily Utah Chronicle)
January 15, 2021
On Jan. 6, pro-Trump extremists stormed the U.S. Capitol in an effort to stop the electoral vote count that certified Joe Biden as president-elect. At the rally earlier that day, President Trump and members of his inner circle incited the violence with fraudulent, inflammatory rhetoric. The president’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, said, “Let’s have trial by combat.” Addressing Republican members of Congress who did not back Trump’s election fraud conspiracy, Donald Trump, Jr. said, “We’re coming for you.” In his own speech, President Trump told his extremist supporters, “You will never take back our country with weakness.”
Within minutes of the president’s rally, a violent mob — participants in which had plans to murder members of Congress — invaded and looted the Capitol Building while shouting, “Hang Mike Pence,” and wielding zip ties to seemingly restrain members of Congress. Five people died as a result of this domestic terrorist attack.
After Capitol Police finally regained control of the building, 147 Republicans — led by Sens. Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz — still voted against certifying the results of our presidential election, further perpetuating the lies that have fueled Trump’s war on American democracy for years and that culminated in the violence at the Capitol. Sadly, two members of Utah’s congressional delegation, Reps. Chris Stewart and Burgess Owens, were among those who voted to overturn the election on the basis of pro-Trump election conspiracy theories.
Importantly, though, not all of Utah’s federal representatives sided with Trump in the wake of the Capitol attack, despite their common membership in the Republican Party. The division between Trump loyalists and principled conservatives within the GOP has widened over the last four years and that tension came to a head during the Congressional vote to confirm December’s electoral vote.
This party split was especially clear in the Utah delegation last week. Sen. Mitt Romney has been critical of Trump since 2016, and often endures harassment from Trump loyalists for standing up against the president’s wrongdoings. As anticipated, Romney voted to confirm Biden’s electoral college win. So did Sen. Mike Lee, who led the Utah arm of Trump’s 2020 campaign. Both senators also condemned the fatal riot at the Capitol. Conversely, Stewart and Owens aided the sedition effort to keep Trump in the White House despite his loss of both the popular vote and the electoral college. Their divisive votes were based on fallacy and fraud and put the United States near the brink of falling victim to an authoritarian ruler.
National reporting on last week’s events has, understandably, focused on Trump’s role in inciting the insurrectionist attack on Congress — but we cannot allow Stewart and Owens to fly under the radar as we identify participants in this attempted coup and mete out consequences. Everyone who contributed to this act of domestic terrorism must be held accountable.
So far, Trump has been suspended from Twitter, cut off from a host of business relationships and impeached by the House of Representatives for his actions. For Stewart and Owens’s part, they must resign immediately, not least because they chose to ignore Utahns’ values when they voted to overturn the results of a presidential election. While their resignations cannot make up for the damage they have already done, it would signal that Utah expects total integrity from our members of Congress and make way for principled leaders who will put country before party.
Stewart and Owens did not destroy federal property or fly Confederate flags at the Capitol last week, but they outwardly confirmed the lies that led Trump loyalists to attack our most important governmental body, our leaders and our democracy. To assert that the election was fraudulent is to implicitly verify the Jan. 6 attack as justified. As such, these two representatives have broken Utahns’ trust in favor of an unconditionally loyal brand of Trumpism.
American politics have become increasingly partisan and divisive since Trump’s election in 2016. We need unity in this country, but seditionist members of Congress deserve to be held accountable for the damage their words and actions have inflicted on our democracy. We can only find unity after delivering accountability. Seditionists like Stewart and Owens do not represent us and we do not want them representing our state in Congress.
The Daily Utah Chronicle Editorial Board is a group of senior opinion journalists who rely on research and debate to write staff editorials. Editorials represent the majority view of the editorial board and are written separate from the newsroom.
Mike J • Jan 23, 2021 at 3:02 pm
I agree with Sean Masservy. Furthermore, this editorial assumes that all Utahn’s are not okay with Owens and Burgess. But there is a reason that they are in office right now. The danger within the rift between left and right was not created by extreme politicians either. It was created by artificial intelligence that shows us all more of what it thinks we want to see. Facebook, Google and other big tech companies should be more regulated. Finally, much of the violence at the capitol was incited by Antifa and BLM supporters disguised as Trump supporters which is a surprisingly common tactic among communist revolutionaries. The push from BLM and Antifa members was quickly followed by many actual Trump supporters in mob-mentality.
Susan M • Jan 19, 2021 at 8:44 pm
Well said. It was an act of cynicism and contempt for our democracy, and wholly dishonorable to the oath they took to defend the Constitution of the United States. I’m appalled and ashamed Stewart is my representative.
(BTW, Stewart is only my rep because of inequitable gerrymandering. If Democrats are 40% of the electorate, we should have at least ONE representative from Utah. But no, Republicans’ thirst for power and control permeates all levels of government.)
JOHN E HEDBERG • Jan 19, 2021 at 8:04 pm
Is this kind of divisive political dialogue really helpful at a time when the country is trying so hard to heal? With Love,
Sean Messervy • Jan 19, 2021 at 12:25 pm
Calling election fraud evidence a conspiracy theory is a lie. For those wanting a second opinion, we voted for Owens because he is part of a patriotic group. A few of those deaths happened during the speeches prior, not part of the riot (which was mostly peaceful). If you were to treat both sides fairly, every democrat should have resigned over not denouncing the violence during the BLM protests that did far more damage to federal buildings and lead to far more deaths.
To assert the election was fraudulent is to listen to evidence that has been gathered. Show us proof that there wasn’t widespread fraud and the peace may resume. But when poll watchers can’t see, when thousands of ballots didn’t have creases, when a voting system (Dominion) has shown over the past decade it has major susceptibilities to abuse, these do not make us think the voting system is secure and accurate.
Lynn Averett • Jan 19, 2021 at 11:54 am
When will this hypocrisy and insanity end? The recent Capitol riot was beyond madness as has been the months of rioting/looting throughout the country. All violence and destruction must be condemned and perpetrators punished. Don’t listen to pampered and out of touch athletes/celebrities; don’t get your news via social media; don’t rely on cable/network talking heads or political cartoonists as they are only concerned with ratings and inciting. Rather, hold elected representatives accountable. They must condemn all violence and destruction, not just what aides them politically. Martin Luther King said, “We need leaders not in love with money but in love with justice. Not in love with publicly but in love with humanity.” It doesn’t appear that we currently have any leaders and career politicians are not the answer…look at the damage they have done to the country. The current mindset of blaming others and cancel culture does nothing but divide. Term limits are needed. Two terms for the senate and six terms for congress (maximum of 12 years). Term limits are also needed for mayors and district attorneys. We all must do better and be better.
Lauren • Jan 19, 2021 at 11:23 am
I agree that Burgess Owens and Chris Stewart should resign. Our representatives should act for all peoples and upholding the constitution; not fanatics of radical opinions. Representatives should be equipped to differentiate between the two principles and failing to do so should have consequences.