Democrats sue to keep 3 incumbent Republicans off 2022 ballot for alleged insurrection roles

Democratic Party activists in Wisconsin on Thursday filed a lawsuit in federal court demanding that Wisconsin Republicans Sen. Ron Johnson and Reps. Tom Tiffany and Scott Fitzgerald be barred from the 2022 ballot for highlighting abnormalities in the 2020 election process and their alleged attempts to interfere with the congressional certification of the results.

The plaintiffs allege the Republicans "used their public positions of authority to illegally foment an atmosphere meant to intimidate and pressure Vice President [Mike] Pence and Congress to take actions inconsistent with the facts and with their duties under the Electoral Count Act and the U.S. Constitution," according to a report from the Epoch Times.

Pence drew ire from President Donald Trump's supporters when he declined to back his running mate's efforts to challenge the 2020 electoral certification process which culminated in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and congressional certification of now-President Joe Biden's victory.

The Democratic activists further assert that the Republicans' alleged actions make them ineligible for office under the 14th Amendment. Johnson derided the suit as "total nonsense."

Johnson faces reelection this year in a state that broke for Trump in 2016, but voted for Biden in 2020.

The Republican, in an emailed statement, said Democrats were using the events of Jan. 6 as a "political cudgel" to "file a frivolous lawsuit."

Johnson has been outspoken about government corruption and the media coverage of the 2020 election cycle. He appeared as a guest on "Just the News — Not Noise" on Wednesday discussing the Service Service's claims not to possess Hunter Biden's travel records, despite evidence from his laptop that they did.

The agency ultimately provided him with 250 pages nearly covered with black redactions. Johnson derided the Secret Service as being "completely arrogant" and asked why the agency didn't retain the records.

"So I can only come to two conclusions; I can make two assumptions. Either it's complete incompetence, or corruption. Take your pick. Either way, there's not a good explanation," he said.