Republican senator to raise objections as Congress meets to affirm Joe Biden’s victory

A REPUBLICAN SENATOR said he will raise objections next week when the U.S. Congress meets to affirm President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the election, forcing House and Senate votes that are likely to delay, but they will in no way alter the final certification of Biden’s victory. .

President Donald Trump, without evidence, claimed that there was widespread fraud in the elections.

He has lobbied Republican senators to pursue their offices despite the Electoral College consolidating Biden’s 306-232 victory this month and multiple legal efforts to challenge the results have failed.

A group of Republicans in the Democratic-majority House have already said they will oppose on Trump’s behalf during the Jan. 6 electoral vote recount, and had only needed a single senator to accompany them to force votes in both houses.

Without giving details or proof, Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, said he would object because “some states, including Pennsylvania in particular,” did not follow their own election laws.

Lawsuits challenging Biden’s victory in Pennsylvania have been unsuccessful.

“At the very least, Congress should investigate allegations of voter fraud and take steps to ensure the integrity of our elections,” Hawley said in a statement.

He also criticized the way Facebook and Twitter handled election-related content, characterizing it as an effort to help Biden.

Biden’s transition spokeswoman Jen Psaki dismissed Hawley’s move as “antics” that will have nothing to do with Biden taking office on January 20.

“The American people spoke strongly in this election and 81 million people have voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” Ms. Psaki said in a call with reporters.

She added: “Congress will certify the election results as they do every four years.”