US Elections: Gen. Michael Flynn Says Donald Trump Could Declare Martial Law In Undecided States

General Michael Flynn, Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, has hinted that the US president could use the military to force a “replay” of the election, saying it is “unprecedented.”

Speaking on the conservative Newsmax television network, Flynn outlined the next steps available to Trump now that the Electoral College has officially confirmed President-elect Joe Biden as the winner of the US election.

“There is no way in the world that we can move forward as a nation. [Trump] immediately, on his command, seize each of these [voting] machines, “Flynn said in apparent reference to the conspiracy theory that voting software traded Trump’s votes for Biden.

“Within the undecided states, if he wanted, he could take military capabilities, and he could put them in states and basically re-run an election in each of those states.

“I mean, it’s unprecedented. These people are talking about martial law like it’s something we’ve never done. Martial law has been instituted 64 times.

Flynn quickly added: “We have a constitutional process. We clearly have a constitutional process. That needs to be followed.”

Since his clemency, Flynn has appeared in a series of demonstrations in support of Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud.

On the steps of the Supreme Court last week, Flynn urged protesters to continue fighting for the election results to be overturned.

“At this crucial moment in our time, we must pray that truth triumphs over lies, justice triumphs over abuse and fraud, honesty triumphs over corruption,” said Flynn. “Our sacred honor triumphs over infamy.”

Bill Banks, a professor at Syracuse University who specializes in constitutional and national security law, said the idea was “absurd.”

“Aside from the fact that state and now federal investigators have found no evidence of voter fraud that would change the outcome of elections, martial law has no place in the United States without a total collapse of the mechanisms of civil government,” Banks said. to the Military Times.

Earlier this week, Flynn ridiculed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for congratulating Biden on his victory after the Electoral College vote by retweeting a post asking “American patriots” to let him know. McConnell that we disagree with his ‘President-elect Biden’ mentality. “

Flynn told Trump: “Millions and millions and millions of Patriots are behind, beside, and in front of you during this pivotal moment in American history where our own Republic is at stake. We will not fail or cower like some in the Republican Party. have shown. “

Although Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about his contacts in Russia, Trump pardoned him last month.

The president has long suggested that Flynn was a victim of the FBI investigation into Russia, an investigation that Trump believes was motivated by political bias.

The United States Congress will meet on January 6 to take the final step and reaffirm Biden’s presidential victory by accepting the Electoral College vote recount. Any objection is doomed to failure, as both houses of Congress would have to uphold the objection by majority vote, and Democrats control the House of Representatives.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell privately asked his colleagues not to object, saying they would have to reject it and that it would be “terrible,” according to people familiar with the meeting.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said any effort by his own party would be a mistake.

“I think there comes a time when you have to realize that despite your best efforts, you have not been successful,” Cornyn told reporters, saying that he hopes that anyone considering the idea of ​​an objection understands that “It would be useless and it is unnecessary.” “.

– Additional reporting AP