A new proposal was introduced in the House that would block a series of individuals involved in affronts against the democratic process in 2020, including Donald Trump himself, from entering the U.S. Capitol.
The measure, a concurrent resolution that if passed in the House would evidently also be angled for approval by the Senate, has two Democrats onboard, including Reps. Nikema Williams (Ga.) and Eric Swalwell (Calif.). Williams is the chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia, where Democrats have recently seen some critical victories, with Raphael Warnock winning a full term of six years to represent the state in the U.S. Senate. His win meant that Democrats actually expanded their hold on the Senate, despite predictions of doom and gloom for the party’s chances in the elections held last year. Besides Trump, others targeted by the resolution from Swalwell and Williams include Steve Bannon, Mark Meadows, Dan Scavino, Peter Navarro, Jeffrey Clark, John Eastman, Kenneth Chesebro, and Rudy Giuliani, all of whom were closely aligned with the then-president as he fought the 2020 results.
The measure, which was referred to the House Administration Committee, says: “The Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, and the United States Capitol Police shall take such actions as may be necessary to prohibit President Donald John Trump, Steve Bannon, Mark Meadows, Dan Scavino, Peter Navarro, Jeffrey Clark, John Eastman, Kenneth Cheseboro, and Rudy Giuliani from entering the United States Capitol.” It also outlines some of the seriousness of what’s at stake here and what has already happened, referencing the several police officers whose deaths have been connected to the attack on the Capitol waged in 2021 by rampaging supporters of Donald Trump, in association with which new arrests continue.
The current Republican majority in the House suggests passing the resolution from Williams and Swalwell is, of course, unlikely, although Trump already responded in predictably furious terms. Trump’s statement, breathlessly reshared by the conservative publication The Daily Caller, contained what can only be described as a demented fairy tale about Swalwell. In short, Trump claimed Swalwell fell in love with a woman working on behalf of Chinese intelligence, whose efforts supposedly produced significant benefits for Chinese officials. While it’s true that Swalwell was, years ago, among those this woman targeted, it’s simply unclear there’s any evidence they were romantically involved, just like it’s unclear there’s any evidence — at all — that there was any information breach associated with his involvement with the woman. Evidence indicates he distanced himself after alerted by authorities about the woman’s background, and she’s apparently not in the U.S.
