Senate investigation into Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz

After multiple leading Democrats called for the two Republicans to resign, Cruz and Hawley’s challenge to President Joe Biden’s Electoral College win is now tied up in the opaque Senate Ethics Committee. And while Trump’s impeachment trial will conclude quickly, the probe into whether the two senators played a role in inciting the violent Capitol attack will unwind over an interminable timetable with little hint of where it is going.

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Seven Democratic senators filed a complaint against the two GOP senators who led the effort to object to the election results, arguing that they ‘lent legitimacy” to the cause of those who invaded the Capitol.

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The panel is led by Chair Chris Coons (D-Del.), who called for Cruz (R-Texas) and Hawley (R-Mo.) to resign, and Vice Chair James Lankford (R-Okla.), who planned to challenge the election results himself before backing away after the invasion of the Capitol.

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“Neither of us are going to talk about it at all,” Lankford said in an interview. “We don’t bring up anything on the ethics stuff at all. We don’t confirm anything and we’re pretty lockstep about that.”

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While Trump will learn his fate in a much-anticipated public vote at the conclusion of his trial, the debate over what punishment — if any — the panel recommends for Hawley, Cruz or the Democrats will grind away behind closed doors. The committee's rules keep all actions of the panel secret without approval by a majority of the committee.

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As of now, it does not appear a censure or expulsion vote would attract any GOP support.

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By design, actions on the committee are bipartisan. The committee received 251 complaints about alleged violations in 2019; none resulted in discipline.

  Politico

Like police internal investigations departments.

No one wants to sit in judgment of their colleagues in such a close-knit chamber.

In case it's them next time.

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the GOP whip, said it’s “draconian for the other side to try and take that action given senators’ First Amendment rights.” Still, he said he has great confidence in Lankford and Coons despite being put in a “very tough position” and predicted a “very fair process.”

Pretty sure inciting an attempt to overthrow an election isn't a First Amendment right.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.