When Democratic Governor John Fetterman objected to the lawsuit on Tuesday – insisting that Brewster be sworn in – the state’s Republican Party took the rare step of wresting control of the proceedings from it.
The intense sequence began when Republican Senator Ryan Omint made a proposal not to seat Brewster until “such time that the Senate had the opportunity to further consider the contest petition.”
When Fetterman refused to acknowledge the proposal, he accused Aument, “It is your duty to properly present a motion before this body. If you continue to refuse to perform your duties, the Senate will proceed to replace you with the interim president.”
Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempor Jake Corman, a Republican, approached Fitterman at the front of the room before addressing the body as the new president.
When Corman began speaking, Democratic Senator Anthony Williams gave a fiery response, declaring out loud: “Mr. President, I totally object to that.”
You are breaking the Constitution and the laws of the Commonwealth and violating the oath of office that I have already held. Nothing on this day is appropriate; nothing. We are not going to give up and back down because you got exs on this side of the aisle, ”said Williams. This is about Pennsylvania, not the Democrats or the Republicans. ”
“This is not just about winning, it’s about protecting our democracy. That’s what it is.”
Williams can then be heard shouting, “We will not take part in this farce,” as the Republican majority began a roll call to formally remove Fetterman from the presidency.
Even as the suggestion passed, Faitherman continued to stand at the podium as he looked down at Corman before eventually leaving the room when new members – with the exception of Brewster – were sworn in.
“It’s simply unethical and undemocratic to leave the region without a vote just because the Republicans don’t like the election result. The voters, not the politicians in Harrisburg, decided this election, and Senator Brewster is the legitimate winner,” Wolf said. .
“All ballots have been counted and approved, and the results are accurate. Senator Brewster has received the most votes in this race and must be sworn in as Senator for the 45th Circuit. There is no precedent, and there is no legal justification, for failing to do so.” “.
The state’s Republican case for not sitting Brewster is based on a lawsuit filed by his opponent, Nicole Zicarelli. It is seeking to reverse its electoral loss by removing some ballot cards in Allegheny County that did not include handwritten dates on their external advertising envelopes.
Matthew Haverstick, Zicarelli’s attorney, celebrated the Republican Party’s efforts on Tuesday, telling CNN in a statement that he was confident of their lawsuit.
CNN contacted Brewster for comment.
It is unclear how long the state’s Republican Party plans to keep the seat blank.
“We understand that this issue needs to be resolved quickly, while ensuring that voters are properly represented in the 45th District of the Senate,” Corman said in a press release before the swearing-in ceremony.
This story was updated with additional information Tuesday.
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