BUFFALO, N.Y. — Prior to Donald Trump supporters storming the Capitol building in protest of the affirmation of Joe Biden's electoral college victory, Republican Congressman Chris Jacobs announced he would object to the electors in states where he felt there were valid concerns about the integrity of the presidential election.

"The two states that I objected to, I believe violated the Constitution because outside the legislative process there was changes very close to Election Day of how elections would be conducted and some of them very significant changes," Jacobs said.

Jacobs is now facing serious criticism from people who believe he helped propagate an environment that led to Wednesday's violence. Some, including the head of New York State's Democratic Party, are calling for his resignation.

The Buffalo News editorial board called him a coward.

"I think saying I'm cowardly, the easier route for me would have been to not have voted this way," Jacobs said. "I just felt it was incumbent on my role now as a member of Congress."

In contrast, neighboring Republican Tom Reed symbolically crossed the aisle Wednesday evening and spoke out against the insurgency and in favor of affirming the Biden victory.

"Now is the time for us as American citizens to come together and become united as one nation to confront the problems that face and solve these problems together and recommit to Democracy," Reed said.

He said he wouldn't judge colleagues who believed objecting was the right thing to do for Democracy. However, without naming names, he said it was despicable for anybody to make the decision because it was politically expedient.

"I can tell you, prior to the vote yesterday, I had had conversations with members of the House and senators where I know, they looked me in the eye and they indicated me that they were purely doing this out of political motivation and that is wrong to me and we need to stop that," Reed said.

Both Republicans were in agreement in condemning the actions of those that overtook the halls of Congress. Reed called it "one of the most disheartening moments" of his life.

"People are responsible for their actions," Jacobs said. "These people decided to take really, frankly, dumb actions and dangerous actions and unfortunately there was deadly consequences."

They said democracy was carried out Wednesday night and Thursday morning and they are committed to the orderly transition of power later this month.