Wisconsin Sen. Johnson called ‘delusional scum’ for considering challenge to election

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson’s refusal to rule out a challenge of Electoral College results in Congress led to widespread Democratic criticism on Thursday, with an incoming state representative calling the Republican “delusional scum.”

Speaking to reporters in Washington on Wednesday, Johnson did not rule out challenging the results of the Electoral College when Congress meets on Jan. 6 to formally certify the vote. Johnson also announced that the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which he chairs, would be holding a hearing next week on “irregularities” in the 2020 election.

“I would say it depends on what we found out,” Johnson said when asked if he would object to the election results. “I need more information. The American people need more information. I’m not ready to just close and slam the book on this thing and go ‘OK, let’s walk away from it.’”

Republicans who control the Wisconsin state Legislature have scheduled a similar hearing for Friday. The list of invited witnesses includes a conservative Milwaukee talk show host but not the state’s top elections official. Others scheduled to testify include two Republican members of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, but no Democrats, former conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman and a Republican attorney who filed a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn the election.

Biden won Wisconsin by nearly 21,000 votes. Trump has two pending lawsuits, one in federal court and one in state court, trying to overturn the election results in Wisconsin. Trump also wants to join a case in the U.S. Supreme Court that seeks to overturn the results in Wisconsin and three other states. The Texas attorney general behind the lawsuit, has based the case on false and unsupported allegations that have been discredited in other courts.

Francesca Hong, who was elected in November to represent a downtown Madison district, tweeted Thursday about Johnson’s comments.

“This delusional scum continues to crawl further into 45′s (expletive) instead of representing the people of WI who need survival checks and relief,” Hong tweeted. “The last time I spoke to his office, his staff assured me they would do more than provide lip service. This ain’t it.”

Hong did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the tweet. Johnson’s spokesman also did not immediately respond.

Hong wasn’t the only Democrat upset with Johnson’s comments. U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, who represents Madison in Congress, tweeted the same article with criticism of Johnson.

“Wisconsin’s biggest embarrassment continues. @SenRonJohnson’s desperate need for Donald Trump’s approval is beyond being a sycophant and bordering on being a cult follower or stalker,” Pocan said. “Either way, not a good look for a US Senator.”

Democrat Tom Nelson, who has already announced plans to run against Johnson in 2022, also tweeted on Johnson’s possible objection, calling it a “bizarre attack on the voters of Wisc.”

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers told reporters during a news conference Thursday that the Republican hearings are only eroding trust in a solid election system.

“I think the hearing that’s going to be tomorrow, it’s going to be the same old crap, frankly,” Evers said. “It’s going to be people coming in without direct knowledge, you know, giving some kind of hare-brained charge that can’t be validated. And we’re going to continue to do this. And every time we do it, every time we do something like this, as a country, as a state, as individuals, we’re taking more people out of the system. They’re going to say ‘this is crazy, I’m not going to vote anymore.’ So yeah, there’s a hell of a lot of damage going on. ”