“I’m concerned about the division in America, that’s the biggest issue, but obviously this is not healthy for the Republican Party,” lamented Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.). “This is bad for the country and bad for the party.”…

But privately Republicans said many in the GOP are trying to paper over the conflict ahead of the Jan. 5 Georgia runoffs, when Republicans need huge voter turnout margins to counter what appears to be strong Democratic early voting. Within the party, the bitterness is very real.

“It’s infighting we don’t need before a very significant runoff election. All of this should have waited until after the runoff, polls close,” said one Republican senator who is keeping their objections private for now. “There’s a lot of pressure to support the president in some manner or fashion. But … all of us are sworn to uphold the Constitution, not the presidency.”