Bost continues to defend Trump, refuses interview about link between challenging election results and Jan. 6 insurrection
Congressman Mike Bost addresses the crowd with President Donald J. Trump, during the Murphysboro campaign rally, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, at the Southern Illinois Airport. (Isabel Miller | @IsabelMillerDE)
January 18, 2021
Republican Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12) continues to defend President Trump and refused to be interviewed about links between Trump’s false election fraud claims and the riots at the Capitol on Jan. 6.
Last week, the Daily Egyptian reported contacting Bost over a dozen times, but he declined to comment or answer additional questions regarding his decision not to certify the electoral college votes of Arizona or Pennsylvania, or his decision to vote against impeaching Trump.
(See more: Bost stands by Trump, opposes election results and impeachment).
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Eventually his press secretary said he would be willing to answer questions only in writing. The questions and his answers are below:
The DE’s Questions:
- What was his experience at the Capitol on Wednesday?
- Does Representative Bost still support President Trump after the Riots?
- Why did Representative Bost object to the certification of the election results in Arizona and Pennsylvania?
- Why did Representative Bost sign on to the brief supporting the Texas Lawsuit challenging the election results?
- Does Representative Bost see a link between challenging the validity of the election results and the riots that occurred Wednesday?
- What would Representative Bost like to say to his constituents who are still reeling from Wednesday’s attack on democracy?
Bost’s Responses:
“On Wednesday, I had gone back to my office after votes and was watching the debates on the House Floor on my television. Around 1:00pm I stepped outside to see what was happening across the street at the Capitol.
All of a sudden, I overheard Capitol Police officers shouting about needing reinforcements over a nearby officer’s radio followed by what sounded like a riot grenade. My staff and I went back into our office and stayed there until the Capitol police gave us an all clear to leave. Once it was safe, members returned to the House floor to carry out our constitutional duty of certifying electoral college votes.
The Constitution is very clear: state legislatures set the rules for states in conducting their elections. However, in both Pennsylvania and Arizona, election laws were changed by entities that were not their state legislators.
I voted to object to the electoral votes of both of these states not because of claims of fraud – that is something that is decided by the states and the courts and not Congress – but because, in my belief, they failed to meet that constitutional standard. This was also why I signed the Texas amicus brief.
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What happened at the Capitol last Wednesday was unacceptable and un-American and those that broke into and ransacked the Capitol will be held accountable for their actions.
In order to truly heal our nation, we need to turn down the temperature and tone down the rhetoric. The Electoral College votes have been certified and we will have a new president sworn in on January 20th.
Both President Trump and congressional leaders are committed to a peaceful transfer of power next week, and we must continue working to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible.”
A petition to recall Bost from office had 2,224 signatures as of publication.
(See more: Recall IL12 Congressman Mike Bost).
Editor-in-Chief Kallie Cox can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @KallieECox.
To stay up to date with all your southern Illinois news, follow the Daily Egyptian on Facebook and Twitter.
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Tony Williams • Jan 21, 2021 at 9:34 am
This DE again begins the semester by a good feature asking questions which the Southern dare not do. Ex-Marine Bost is reluctant to hold town hall meetings with his constituents even before the pandemic. Is this the mark of a good Representative? Perhaps the State democratic Party should give more support to their candidate in the next election than they did in the last. Remember the Illinois branch of the IEA-NEA endorsed him. So much for Faculty Unions!?
Mark Czmyrid • Jan 20, 2021 at 12:12 pm
Mike boss needs to get back to doing what he used to do he used to be for the people and all the people that he represented now that Trump is gone he needs to get back to working for his constituents otherwise in 2022 Michael boss will be up for re-election and he’ll have a challenger held a strong Challenger he’ll have an SIU grad and a SIU grad will defeat him Saluki Pride Saluki Pride the key is to remember sports fans when you go to your elected office you represent the people you don’t represent your party remember that sports fans Saluki Pride coming on stronger and stronger and it’s time that we as fellow Saluki graduates it’s time for all of us to elect great salukis because we could make a difference welcome to the revolution the women revolution women are coming and they’re women are growing and I’ll tell you what any politician that any that’s just put it this way any elected official that doesn’t understand how things go I suggest they read the book past the play that was written about Kenny Kenneth j gray and I suggest they take a course for the Paul Simon public policy institute because Paul Simon had it best you work with all people not just Republicans or democrats you work with the entire so Mike Bost now that you’re commander-in-chief has left and gone back to his golden toilet seat at palace in miralago Florida on beer Lagos States at Palm Beach Florida it’s time you for you to representative boss to go back to what you used to do care about your constituents okay stop being the poster child or the poster politician of the Republican party or more importantly Donald Trump Donald Trump is gone and Donald Trump will never be president again so it’s time to represent the good people of southern Illinois the Carbondale murphysboro area the good people of all those great communities in southern Illinois Saluki Pride coming on stronger and stronger SIU and volunteer Pride Johnny Logan all right so let’s get back let’s support our schools okay have a great day everybody I’m proud to be a Saluki and I’m proud to be a volunteer graduate of both great great schools but you know what find me a Walmart that I’ll get her elected to any position she wants to run for why because it’s dive it’s time SIU salukis and Johnny Logan volunteers they know what to call to get things done all right everybody stand and be proud be proud of your school and be proud of your community God I love I loved by years living in Sutherland Carbondale Illinois paid a lot of taxes in the great state of Illinois wouldn’t have had it any other way Saluki pride and volunteer Pride I’m proud to say I graduated from both both great schools
Laurie Blakely • Jan 18, 2021 at 6:14 pm
Huge holes in his argument! He says it was Unconstitutional that the states changed election procedures, however, the Supreme Court basically ruled that this argument has no merit: “ Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections,” according to the unsigned court order. “All other pending motions are dismissed as moot.” So, Bost says the Courts decide and then he doesn’t accept the Supreme Court’s decision? So, he continues to perpetrate lies and continues to question the election like a true traitor. https://georgiarecorder.com/2020/12/11/u-s-supreme-court-rejects-texas-suit-that-tried-to-overturn-election-results/
Michael Zipfel • Jan 18, 2021 at 3:32 pm
Unfortunately, there will be more violence and bloodshed before this sad chapter in our country comes to an end. All of this is because of one person and his enablers who incited this insurrection. Mike Bost is one of those enablers!
Man up Mike, RESIGN NOW!!
Angel • Jan 18, 2021 at 3:20 pm
Before you reply on here ask yourself this first ? Have you ever worked as a poll judge? I have, comments like this is an insult to all those that work hard to make sure the process is done thoroughly and fairly. We don’t just let people walk up and vote, we compare signatures we check addresses etc. The county officials when you apply to get a ballot, make sure you follow all laws, if you apply on line you must put in your drivers license number or a state ID number or you must go in person and fill out to have the ballot mailed to your home. It isn’t like you can just go in and fill out any kind of information and automatically get a ballot sent to your home. Over 62 cases some of them with Republican appointed judges some with Democratic appointed judges found no cause. It went to the Supreme Court which is Republican controlled with three of trumps own appointed judges and they said there was no cause.
Therefore Bost you continue to participate in the spreading of lies And signing that letter, now put any blood that falls due to the seizure at the capital and any further accumulate with our soldiers, their blood falls on your hands and every other politician who backed these lies. As a parent of military personnel, it is shameful that we now must spend time praying for our son‘s ,daughters, wives, and husbands to be protected from American terrorist on American soil!! You sir are a disgrace to the flag you serve and its servicemen who protect our country!!