Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski
Lisa Ann Murkowski McConnell Spreads Procedures For Second Senate Trial Against Trump Republicans Warn Democrats Against Impeaching Trump Pressure Growing On Trump To Leave MORE (Alaska) responded “absolutely, unequivocally” when asked if she was considering joining the Democratic party.
Liz Ruskin, a public radio reporter in Alaska, asked Murkowski if she intended to become a Democrat amid speculation about her identity with the Republican Party.
“No. No. Absolutely, unequivocally not, ”Murkowski replied.
Much speculation about it @lisamurkowski go Democrat.
I asked: Are you considering joining the Democratic majority?
Murkowski: No. No. Absolutely, unequivocally not.
– Liz Ruskin-AK public radio reporter (@lruskin) January 9, 2021
Rumors that Murkowski was changing sides started when she said that “if the Republican party has become nothing more than Trump’s party, I honestly wonder if this is the party for me.”
Murkowski is the first Republican senator to call on Trump to resign since the attacks on the Capitol on Wednesday, when Trump called the rioters “special” people and continued to push through his allegations of electoral fraud.
Her. Ben Sasse
Ben Sasse McConnell Circulates Proceedings For Second Senate Trial Over Trump Impeachment Dershowitz Says He Would Defend Trump Again In Impeachment Trial Pressure Grows On Trump To Leave MORE (R-Neb.) Has indicated that he could support the impeachment if it gets through the House and depending on why the National Guard was not deployed during the riot.
This is not the first time Murkowski has gone against her Republican colleagues; the most notable time Murkowski went against the GOP and Trump was during the confirmation of the Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh
Brett Michael Kavanaugh Murkowski becomes the first GOP senator to call on Trump to resign 50-50 Senate opens the door to solutions that last longer than Trump’s moment of violence For conservative judges, belief in ‘religious freedom’ trumps public health MORE when she just voted “present”.
Trump has previously threatened to back Murkowski’s main challenger if she is due for re-election in 2022. Murkowski has been a Senator from Alaska since 2002.
There are increasing calls from people on both sides of the aisle for Trump to be removed from office; However, Vice President Pence has already said he does not support the use of the 25th Amendment to remove Trump.