KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After the violence at the U.S. Capitol died down, lawmakers continued their work, certifying Joe Biden's presidential win.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, and Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, still objected to the certification after rioters forced their way into the Capitol building, staying true to their intentions leading into the day.
Both senators spoke out against the violence.
"Violence is not how you achieve change," Hawley said. "Violence is not how you achieve something better. Our constitution was built and put into place so that there would be, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, no appeal from ballots to bullets, which is what we saw unfortunately attempted tonight."
"The violence and mob rule which occurred at the U.S. Capitol today and across the country are unacceptable, and I condemn them at the highest level," Marshall said.
Critics are now pointing the finger at Hawley and other lawmakers for what happened at the Capitol.
Sam Panettiere, a lobbyist who has worked for former Sen. Kit Bond and on the 2008 McCain campaign, said it was disappointing.
"They knowingly misled Americans into believing that the election was illegitimate and even more so, and this is why we had so many gathering there yesterday, that there could have been something done yesterday to overturn a certified election," Panettiere said.
Though the Jackson County Republican Party Committee chair also condemned the violence, he said he doesn't believe what happened will set the Republican Party back.
"I don't think so," David Lightner said. "I think that President Trump, in the last four years, has accomplished more than just about anyone has in a four-year term or in any administration such as that."
Panettiere said that while the Republican Party had made great strides, Missouri's party could go down one of two paths.
"You have a workhorse such as Senator Blunt who has continuously delivered conservative reforms, solved problems for Missourians and Americans, focused on governing. And then I think you see a show pony like Senator Hawley placing his ambitions over what's right for Missouri and the country," Panettiere said.
Hawley issued a new statement on Thursday, doubling down and denying any responsibility for what happened.
"I will never apologize for giving voice to the millions of Missourians and Americans who have concerns about the integrity of our elections. That's my job, and I will keep doing it," Hawley said.
Marshall and many other lawmakers are now calling for a peaceful transition of power on Jan. 20.
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