Texas Democrats Joaquin and Julián Castro call for Cruz to step down

Democratic Texas politicians and twin brothers Rep. Joaquin Castro and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro have called for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to resign following the violent riot that occurred at the Capitol on Wednesday.

Cruz was among the GOP lawmakers who objected to Congress affirming the electoral victory of President-elect Joe Biden, objections that came as a pro-Trump mob laid siege to the Capitol in protest of Biden’s victory.

“He has conducted himself shamelessly, and I think he has done this because he believes it’s the only way, the only chance that he has to win the Republican nomination for president,” Joaquin Castro told The Texas Tribune on Wednesday.

Both Castros tweeted Wednesday that Cruz “should resign from the United States Senate immediately.”

.@tedcruz should resign from the United States Senate immediately. https://t.co/O1D5K6Gt0k

— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) January 6, 2021

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) was among the Democrats who echoed their sentiments on Thursday, calling for both Cruz and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) to resign.

Soon after the joint session in Congress began, pro-Trump rioters stormed into the Capitol, causing widespread damage and forcing lawmakers and staffers to barricade themselves or evacuate. Four people were confirmed dead following the incident, and more than 60 people were arrested.

Once the Capitol had been secured, many Democratic lawmakers laid blame for the breach on lawmakers who have opposed the results of the presidential election, saying they had spread misinformation that ultimately incited the rioters to action.

Lawmakers have also made calls to impeach President Trump or for Vice President Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment in order to remove him from office.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) became the first Republican lawmaker to join in the calls for Trump’s removal on Thursday.

“Here’s the truth. The president caused this. The president is unfit and the president is unwell. And the president now must relinquish control of the executive branch voluntarily or involuntarily,” Kinzinger said in a video message posted to Twitter.