Tri-City Sun

After protesters flooded Washington D.C. and some violently forced their way into the U.S. Capitol, disrupting the confirmation of President-elect Joe Biden, both conservative and liberal voices were raised in opposition to President Donald Trump’s unwavering claims that the presidency was stolen through election fraud.

Tony Daunt, Michigan Freedom Fund's executive director, called the protests at the Capitol Building “heartbreaking” in a statement posted on the organization’s website. He said that protestors were a “lawless mob.”

The statement from the Michigan Freedom Fund, self-described as “committed to the principles of limited government, transparency in government and the freedoms found in the Constitution,” called for Trump and fellow Republicans who have claimed election fraud to speak out against continued opposition to Biden’s election as president.

U.S. Rep. Andy Levin | AndyLevin.house.gov

“The president and these officials bear an outsized responsibility today to de-escalate the violence, restore order at the U.S. Capitol and to hold their supporters criminally responsible for their assault on our republic,” Daunt said, according to the Michigan Freedom Fund's website. “They must take this responsibility seriously and do so immediately.”

U.S. Rep. Andy Levin (D-Bloomfield Township) was in the Capitol during the demonstrations, according to Bridge Michigan. He sheltered in place in the office of fellow Michigan representative Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly).

"I've experienced a lot of tear gas," Levin told Bridge Michigan. "But I did not expect as a member of Congress to have people try to violently interrupt the workings of our democracy. It's a super sad day.”

U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Grand Rapids) took to Twitter to condemn the continued opposition to the November election results, demanding that Trump acknowledge former Vice President Joe Biden as president-elect.

“Unacceptable. Enough,” Meijer posted to Twitter. “Acknowledge Biden as President-Elect and end this madness. Violent rioters laid siege to the nation’s Capitol in an act of insurrection unparalleled in modern times. This is not leadership.”