WASHINGTON – The Republican response to President Trump’s baseless allegations of electoral fraud ranged from a broad consensus on Friday to sharp condemnation, and amid some statements endorsing the idea of a fair election without endorsing any conspiracy of election conspiracy.
“Here’s how this should work in our great country: every legal vote must be counted,” said Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Republican and majority leader in Kaneki. Wrote on Twitter Friday morning. “There should not be any illegally submitted ballots. The process must be observed on all sides. And the courts are here to enforce the law and settle disputes.
“That way the votes of Americans determine the outcome,” he added.
Mr Trump insisted at a rambling news conference on Thursday that there was no evidence missing from Mr McConnell’s statement that there was no suggestion that Democrats were rigging the election through voters and an extensive national conspiracy of the news media. Mr. Trump’s vain calls to stop the vote count in states where his initial leads have been threatened or eliminated have been explicitly rejected.
In a stinging statement, Utah Senator Mitt Romney said that while Mr. Trump is free to request requests and present valid evidence of fraud, “it is wrong to say that the election was rigged, corrupt and stolen – doing so undermines the cause of independence.” Here and around the world, it undermines the institutions at the base of the republic, and inflates reckless destructive and dangerous passions. “
As Mr. Trump and his death-stricken colleagues said the vote in Pennsylvania – where his initial lead over former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Friday – was badly corrupted, the state’s Republican senator, Patrick J. Tommy, condemned Mr. Trump’s claims.
“The president’s speech last night disturbed me a lot because he made very serious allegations without taking any evidence,” Mr Tumey said. “CBS this morning.”
He added, “I don’t know of any significant fraud, any significant wrongdoing.”
Some Republicans seem willing to defend Mr. Trump’s position without reservations.
“President Trump has won this election,” California Rep. Kevin McCarthy told Fox News host Laura Ingraham on Thursday night. “So everyone who is listening: don’t be quiet. Don’t keep quiet about this. We cannot allow this to happen before our eyes. ”
Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton claims poll observers have not been able to see the vote counts Tweeted a link Mr. Trump’s legal defense fund, among all the main characters, said, “The Democrats will try to steal this election.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis even told Fox News that if Mr. Trump was called a “reasonable” count, he would be rejected. State legislators could consider “remedies,” indicating they are against his state’s election winner. Can direct their voters to vote.
But other Republican governors were much less supportive. Lieutenant Governor of Utah and now Governor-elect, Spencer Cox, said “There’s nothing vague about how it takes a few days for all legitimate votes to be counted.” Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, who voted for Mr. Biden, called Mr. Trump’s remarks “absolutely shameful.”
Mr. Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump, too, in A superficial assistant tweet on Friday morning, Did not make fraud or election theft claims.
“Every legally cast vote should be counted. Not everyone should vote illegally. This should not be controversial, “Ms. Trump wrote. “This is not a biased statement – free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy.”
His words contradicted those of his brothers, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, both of whom have made widespread allegations of fraud. Early morning Donald Trump Jr. Tweeted a baseless claim Meaning that “Russia Coalition has never done endless evidence of voter fraud before, but surprisingly no one in the media wants to investigate it.”
Ms. Trump’s position also echoed from Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday evening, shortly after the president’s speech, which did not include conspiracy or fraud.
“I stand with President અRealDonaldTrump. We must count every LEGAL vote, “said Tariq al-Hashimi, the party’s secretary general. Mr. Pence tweeted.
Mr. Trump’s former national security adviser, John R. Bolton, who has become a Trump critic since his stern departure from the White House last summer, indirectly condemned his former boss, without naming him.
“Republicans are facing character testing,” Mr Bolton wrote on Twitter. “If all the candidates have evidence to support the claim, then they are entitled to the appropriate election law. They should definitely not lie. The first Republican president was called ‘Honest Abe’ for a reason. “
Friday’s statements include some of Mr. Trump’s defenses following a wave of Republican reactions Thursday night.
“I don’t trust Philadelphia,” newly elected South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham also told Fox News, where voters largely chose Mr. Biden to help remove Mr. Trump’s early lead. “I will stand with President Trump tonight,” he said, echoing Trump’s claims.
But many more senior Republicans criticized Mr. Trump, at least indirectly, even after Mr. Trump’s son and former campaign manager. Complain in public More Republicans weren’t moving to defend the president.
“Every vote count is at the center of democracy,” Mr Romney said. Wrote at night Before his more forceful statement on Friday.
“The President’s remarks tonight do not preclude harming our democratic process.” Tweeted Maryland, a Republican and frequent Trump critic. Larry Hogan. “No election or person is more important than our democracy.”
Some Republicans noted the absence of any specific evidence of significant malpractice.
“If a candidate believes that a state is violating election laws, he has the right to challenge it in court and present evidence in support of his claims.” Tweeted Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who reposted a message Wednesday, said, “Taking days to count the votes cast legally is not fraud. And the courts’ challenge to the votes cast after the legislative deadline is not repressive. “
Without naming Mr. Trump, Illinois representative Adam Dum Kingsinger Tweeted “If you have a legal concern about fraud, take it to court. Spreading stops led to misinformation. “
“This is going crazy,” he added.
