Seven senators are calling on the Ethics Committee to investigate a phone conversation between Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and former President Donald Trump.
MSNBCās Andrea Mitchell asked Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) if the Ethics Committee is launching an investigation into the matter or something he thinks should happen.
āTheyāve been asked to. The letter has been received. Seven senators signed that letter and as best I can tell theyāre in the initial process of reviewing whether to open the matter and go forward with a full and formal investigation,ā Whitehouse said.
Watch his response below:
Tuberville spoke with Trump while former Vice President Mike Pence was being evacuated during the riots at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, as IJR reported.
āI said, āMr. President, they just took the vice president out, Iāve got to go,'ā Tuberville told reporters.
On the same day, Trump tweeted, āMike Pence didnāt have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify. USA demands the truth!ā
On Wednesday, senators were shown a video of the rioters flooding the halls of the Capitol yelling āHang Mike Pence!ā as IJR reported.
Pence is seen being led to safety. On Jan. 6, Pence also wrote a letter to Congress saying he does not have āunilateral authorityā to reject Electoral College votes.
He added, āSome believe that as Vice President, I should be able to accept or reject electoral votes unilaterally. Others believe that electoral votes should never be challenged in a Joint Session of Congress. After a careful study of our Constitution, our laws, and our history, I believe neither view is correct.ā
Pence later attended President Joe Bidenās inauguration and applauded Vice President Kamala Harris.