Supporting Trump's election 'overturning', a former Republican congressman calls for the formation of a new party

Cohen, a former Republican senator from Maine and former secretary of defense under Bill Clinton, made the call on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2020, when he appeared on CNN's interview program and commented on the January 6 election reversal plan that Republican Senator Josh Hawley announced he would participate in.

William Cohen, former Republican senator, in an interview on December 31. Photo:CNN.

Cohen criticized Hawley's actions as "shameful", warning Republicans who are following the leader of US President Donald Trump.

"We have to remember that the current occupant of the White House is a circus owner, and all he wants to do is swing his whip and the elephants will jump on the chair," Cohen said. "What they have to understand is that he will continue to swing his whip whether he is in office or out of office. And each time he does, the elephants have to jump on the chair and sit still to please him and his supporters."

The former US defense secretary believes that Trump is a "heartless" person and will never be satisfied, so current Republicans will be "bribed or forced" by Trump not to run in the party's 2024 primary election.

Discussing the future of the Republican Party, Cohen noted the stark divide among lawmakers within the party, saying moderates like Sens. Mitt Romney and Susan Collins are very different from Trump allies.

"Maybe it's time to form a new party. A party that obeys the law but is also loyal to the people of this country who voted for them," Cohen commented on Republicans planning to challenge Joe Biden's victory.

Cohen's comments come just days before Congress counts the electoral college votes. Rep. Denver Riggleman said on December 31 that as many as 140 Republicans could be involved in "overturning" the election.

At a procedural congressional session on January 6, Vice President Mike Pence, who serves as President of the Senate, will open the electoral votes of each state for confirmation by members of Congress, then declare the winner of the presidential election.

Trump and his allies are planning to overturn the election results by having Republican lawmakers file written objections to electoral votes in battleground states that are accused of fraud. Trump's congressional allies plan to submit alternative slates of electors, thereby declaring Trump the winner.

The chances of success for Trump's allies are slim because Democrats control the House of Representatives, while the Republican leader in the Senate also opposes this "overturn" plan.