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Trump has continued to falsely claim that Biden unfairly won the election due to widespread election fraud and has demanded that Republicans in Congress work to overturn the results. Attorney General William P. Barr has acknowledged that the Justice Department has not discovered any fraud that would have changed the outcome and that the Supreme Court, as well as the courts in at least eight key states across the country, have refused or rejected. the challenges launched by the Trump Campaign in an attempt to dismiss the election results. Those challenges haven’t come close to nullifying results in a single state.
There is still a substantial break in the match. While a steady stream of House Republicans has announced their willingness to oppose electoral votes from critical states, Hawley is the first senator to do so. He hinted on Wednesday that other senators could soon join his effort, telling reporters that “various offices have contacted ours through staff and said, ‘We are interested.’
On Thursday, he released a fundraising speech highlighting his plan. “We must make sure that one vote means one vote in America,” read the message, which was placed alongside a photo of Hawley and Trump. “I plan to object to the results of the Electoral College on January 6, but I need your help.”
It’s unclear how many, if any, of his Senate colleagues will join his side.
But it is already creating a kind of test for Republicans and their allies, who are forced to take sides and back Trump or reject his efforts to roll back the election.
His announcement Wednesday was met with a distinct lack of enthusiasm in many conservative circles. Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican and Majority Leader, had dissuaded lawmakers from opposing the results, arguing that a challenge would force senators to declare officially either defying Trump or rejecting the will of the voters.
And in a private conference call Thursday with Senate Republicans, Pennsylvania Sen. Patrick J. Toomey, who will retire in 2022, spoke to make clear his “strong” disagreement with Hawley’s plan, a Toomey spokesperson confirmed. .
Hawley’s objection will force the Senate to debate his claim for up to two hours, followed by a vote on Biden’s victory. Given that all Senate Democrats are expected to certify the election, along with at least several Republicans, the Senate is likely to affirm Biden’s victory. The House, which must also cast the same vote, is controlled by Democrats, making certification a certainty.
