Even though GOP lawmakers are being censured in several states for voting to impeach or convict former President Donald Trump, Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who along with other state leaders came under fire after the November presidential election, says it's important for elected officials to continue to vote their conscience.
"Certainly this has been a very tough time for us here in Georgia but also for us in America and certainly as a party," Duncan, a Republican, said on CNN's "New Day." "I think a majority of Americans are ready for us to use this as a pivot point to move on ... this is truly a time for us to move on, to really double down on the policies that got us here as a party and look at opportunities for us to improve conversations."
He added that there is now a "vacuum in leadership" inside his party, but he does believe that there will be "some folks to step up and fill that vacuum and help lead us into the future."
He also criticized Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., who told "The Jay Weber Show" on WISN Monday that the violence on Jan. 6 at the Capitol "didn't seem like an armed insurrection."
"I couldn't disagree more with that perspective and conversations like that are not healthy for the GOP," said Duncan. "They don't match reality. And, you know, I walked away from those events being as disappointed as I've ever been in the direction."
Duncan further discussed the investigation by a Fulton County prosecutor in connection with a phone call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger but said his own office did not have a lot to do with that interaction.
"We'll work with the investigation for sure," he said. "But I am, once again, disappointed with the way that conversation went ... I just think it was inappropriate."
Meanwhile, former Sen. David Perdue has filed paperwork to run against Sen. Raphael Warnock, R-Ga., who defeated Kelly Loeffler in the recent runoff race. Duncan said he would encourage Perdue to "stay focused on the conservative policies" that have helped him win races before.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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