Jackie Walorski, Indiana Congresswoman, Is Killed in Car Crash

 According to her office, Republican Indiana representative Jackie Walorski was killed in an automobile accident on Wednesday in her district. She was 58.



According to a statement from her office, the Elkhart County Sheriff's Office informed Ms. Walorski's spouse Dean Swihart of her passing. The statement read, "She has come home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. "Please remember her family in your prayers."

According to the Elkhart County sheriff, Ms. Walorski was traveling with two assistants who were also murdered when a passenger car and a sport utility vehicle hit head-on: Zachery Potts, 27, her district director, and Emma Thomson, 28, her communications director. Also slain was the driver of the approaching vehicle.

 

Tim Cummings, Ms. Walorski's chief of staff, described the aides as "the model of public servants who sincerely cared about the work they accomplished on behalf of the citizens of Indiana's Second Congressional District."

During the summer break from the House, representatives frequently visit their home districts to speak with voters.

Representative Steve Scalise, a Republican from Louisiana, said, "Jackie was a key member of our conference, serving as a member of my deputy whip team for several years." "Jackie and her employees lost their lives protecting her constituents. Both they and our country will miss their service.

The flags at the Capitol were ordered to fly at half-staff by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who praised Ms. Walorski for being "admired by colleagues on both sides of the aisle for her personal generosity." In honor of Ms. Walorski, the White House announced that the flags would be flown at half-staff on Wednesday and Thursday.

She was admired by members of both parties for her work on the House Ways and Means Committee, the president of the United States stated in a statement. "We may have represented different parties and disagreed on many subjects.

Ms. Walorski, a moderate who was first elected to Congress in 2012, was also the leading Republican on the House Ethics Committee. She was one of the 147 Republicans who voted last year to invalidate the results of the 2020 election.

"I share the worries of many Hoosiers about irregularities in the manner some states conducted the 2020 presidential election," Ms. Walorski said in a statement defending her stance.

A year ago, she also voted against President Donald J. Trump's impeachment. Trump gave his support to her bid for reelection in 2022.



She visited the Bella Vita Pregnancy Center in Knox, Indiana, a nonprofit that assists women with unwanted pregnancies, on Tuesday. Ms. Walorski was vehemently opposed to abortion.

Representative Kevin Brady, a Republican from Texas, noted that her Midwestern qualities of diligence, fairness, and politeness served as an example for the other members.

Ms. Walorski worked as a television reporter in South Bend, Indiana, for four years as a missionary in Romania, and she served three terms in the Indiana State House before being elected to the U.S. Congress. 

 

Walorski Statement on Objection to Contested Electors 

 “The integrity of our elections – and the faith the American people have that their votes are fully and fairly counted – is a cornerstone of our democracy. I share the concerns of many Hoosiers about irregularities in the way some states conducted the 2020 presidential election. 

“That is why I strongly support the creation of an Electoral Commission to conduct an emergency audit of presidential election returns before Inauguration Day. This thorough and transparent examination would help restore confidence in our electoral system and provide individual states a remedy if fraud or misconduct are confirmed to have affected the results. However, if Congress cannot reach a bipartisan agreement to take this commonsense step, I plan to vote to formally object to certain electors from contested states. 

“Regardless of the outcome of this or any election, members of both parties have a responsibility to work together to ensure our elections are free, fair, and secure. Restoring the American people’s trust in our democratic institutions must be among our top priorities in the 117th Congress.”