# Should there be consequences for the Sedition Caucus? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 6, 2021, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814 "2021-01-06T16:45:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814/1 "2021-01-06T16:45:38Z")
It’s early on Jan 6 - but let’s assume that House and Senate Republicans go through with their threat to object to the slate of electors from several swing states, on the basis of no evidence. When the dust settles, and both House and Senate are in Democratic majorities, should Pelosi and Schumer take action against those who voted to obstruct the election? Basically, they participated in a failed coup attempt. Personally, I think they should be expelled, but that seems unlikely. But perhaps they should be stripped of all committee assignments? Censured? Have their staff budgets cut? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814/2 "2021-01-06T16:54:35Z")
I’ll go with “expelled.” ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814/3 "2021-01-06T17:23:46Z")
What they have done and say they are going to do are awful. They are smashing democratic norms. They are undermining democratic processes. They also aren’t violating any actual rules or laws. What they’re doing simply isn’t a coup. Expelling members of the minority party for taking positions the majority party doesn’t like would itself be a smashing of democratic norms and an undermining of democratic processes. Cutting their staff budgets wouldn’t be in the same league, but that kind of retaliation would also be a _terrible_ precedent. As to stripping them of committee assignments or similar measures, I’m not familiar enough with the inner workings of Congress, but I _think_ that’s up to their caucus, not the Speaker or Majority Leader. And, again, I think that sort of retaliation is antithetical to the very norms and institutions it would supposedly be in defense of. A vote of censure seems like a more reasonable reaction. But, as a practical political matter, I’m not convinced it’s the best course of action. I’m not arguing against it, I’m just saying I’m unsure. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814/4 "2021-01-06T18:25:35Z")
> [@gdave](#): > > . They are undermining democratic processes. There’s a very fine line between “undermining democratic processes” and sedition. I think they crossed it. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814/5 "2021-01-06T18:27:59Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > I’ll go with “expelled.” I agree. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814/6 "2021-01-06T18:55:22Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > There’s a very fine line between “undermining democratic processes” and sedition. I think they crossed it. > [@18 U.S.C. § 2384](#): > > If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both. Formally objecting to a slate of electors isn’t sedition. Is there an actual statute, or an actual Congressional rule of conduct, that they are violating? If so, what is it? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814/7 "2021-01-06T19:01:35Z")
By law sedition involves military action, not just objecting to the democratic process through words. Now, if they invited militias to physically try to overthrow the government by convincing them that there was rampant fraud that would probably count, but I hope it never goes beyond some grumpy crowds in DC on the roads. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814/8 "2021-01-06T19:02:16Z")
They’re objecting to the slate of electors entirely without evidence and with no alternative electors presented, solely for the purpose of substituting their preferred candidate for the one chosen by the states. That’s a violation of their oath to uphold the Constitution. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814/9 "2021-01-06T19:03:14Z")
I’d like to think: vote them out. Cruz was pressured by Beto, right? And Texas is slowly leaning blue. Maybe he’ll be ex-senator Cruz after his next election? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814/10 "2021-01-06T19:10:03Z")
Trump’s Insurrectionists have broken through the barriers and past the police, and are entering the Capitol. There are injuries and reportedly blood on the steps of the Capitol. Trump openly called for this great betrayal of the Democratic process, and he should get full blame for what is currently happening. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814/11 "2021-01-06T19:17:06Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > They’re objecting to the slate of electors entirely without evidence and with no alternative electors presented, solely for the purpose of substituting their preferred candidate for the one chosen by the states. That’s a violation of their oath to uphold the Constitution. What section of the Constitution requires them to have evidence and present an alternative slate of electors in order to object to a slate of electors? Again, I’m not defending their actions, which are atrocious, but they’re not committing any crime or violating any actual Congressional rules that I can see. Please correct me if I’m wrong. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814/12 "2021-01-06T19:24:34Z")
Where are you seeing this? I’m seeing reports from multiple outlets (as of 14:23 Eastern) that protesters have overrun barriers on the Capitol grounds, the Capitol is on lockdown, and two buildings are being evacuated, but I haven’t seen any reports that the Capitol itself has been breached, nor any reports of “blood on the steps.” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814/13 "2021-01-06T19:26:00Z")
NBC News. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814/14 "2021-01-06T19:28:55Z")
Basically, that can not happen. What can happen is they could be kept off all committees and given a broom closet as their office, with a yearly budget of $1.52- dont spend it all in one place, now! ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814/15 "2021-01-06T19:30:40Z")
Yeah, never mind, I’m watching footage of “protesters” inside the building right now. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814/16 "2021-01-06T19:31:01Z")
> [@gdave](#): > > Where are you seeing this? > > I’m seeing reports from multiple outlets (as of 14:23 Eastern) that protesters have overrun barriers on the Capitol grounds, the Capitol is on lockdown, and two buildings are being evacuated, but I haven’t seen any reports that the Capitol itself has been breached, nor any reports of “blood on the steps.” - Live video on CNN of protestors in Statuary Hall. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814/17 "2021-01-06T19:32:48Z")
Open insurrection should be awarded with 20 year terms behind barred doors. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814/18 "2021-01-06T19:34:11Z")
Why the fuckity fuck are they being allowed into the House chamber?? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814/19 "2021-01-06T19:36:21Z")
Which elected reps are carrying on Open insurrection? They have a absolute legal right to object. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814/20 "2021-01-06T20:58:00Z")
When they reconvene, McConnell needs to tell his caucus that if they object to the count, they will be expelled by the Senate. No way crazy House Reps can be controlled, but McConnell should be able to control the much smaller number of treasonous Senators. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-consequences-for-the-sedition-caucus/929814.md?page=2)