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Mike Pence has said that he welcomes an attempt by Republican senators to reverse the US elections.
Ted Cruz is one of 12 Republican senators who say they are preparing to challenge the election results in a joint session of Congress next week.
The Texas representative leads a group of 11 politicians who say they will not certify the election results unless there is a 10-day “emergency audit” of the results, in support of Donald Trump. Separately, Josh Hawley from Missouri plans his own challenge.
The outgoing president has refused to concede the election and has made a number of false and discredited claims about electoral fraud in battle states.
These false claims have been rejected by judges across the country, and Trump and his supporters have not provided any evidence to back up their many discredited claims. The election results have been ratified by every state, and the former chief of the federal government’s cybersecurity unit described it as the “safest” poll in US history.
“Vice President Pence shares the concerns of millions of Americans about voter fraud and irregularities in the last elections,” Pence Chief of Staff Marc Short said in a statement hours after Cruz announced his group’s intentions.
“The Vice President appreciates the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and present evidence before Congress and the American people on January 6.”
Cruz will be joined by Ron Johnson, James Lankford, Steve Daines, John Kennedy, Marsha Blackburn, Mike Braun, as well as Senators-elect Cynthia Lummis, Roger Marshall, Bill Hagerty and Tommy Tuberville.
Together, the 11 senators claimed, without providing new evidence, that the elections “included unprecedented accusations of electoral fraud and illegal conduct.” Trump tweeted approvingly in response, writing: “Our country will love you for it! #StopTheSteal ”.
Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate of the United States will meet in joint session on January 6 in the House of the House.
Pence will preside in his role as president of the Senate and the leaders of both parties will appoint legislators from both houses to act as “scrutineers.”
Mr. Pence will open each state’s electoral vote certificates and they will be delivered to the tellers.
Any objection to the vote must be in writing and supported by at least one member of the House and Senate.
Debate on any objection is limited to two hours and a majority vote is required in each chamber to uphold the objection and reject the votes of the state.
If unsuccessful, the objection is resolved and the electoral votes are counted as cast.
Cruz has become an outspoken Trump supporter, despite their public confrontations since 2016. Trump infamously questioned the attractiveness of Cruz’s wife, Heidi, on Twitter, and even once asked if the senator’s father was involved in the Kennedy assassination.
Up to 140 House Republicans are also expected to oppose the election results. It is unlikely to make any difference to the outcome, as Joe Biden’s victory is almost guaranteed to be certified by majorities in the Democratic House and the Republican Senate.
Observers say the move is the first effort by potential 2024 Republican presidential candidates to position themselves and win Trump’s approval, should he decide not to run again for the White House.
Pennsylvania Republican Senator Pat Toomey has criticized his fellow Republicans. “The senators justify their intention noting that there have been many allegations of fraud. But accusations of fraud by a losing campaign cannot justify the reversal of an election, “Toomey said.
Senator Mitt Romney was equally displeased, saying in a statement: “The heinous ruse of turning down voters may increase the political ambition of some, but it threatens our democratic republic dangerously.
“The power of Congress to reject voters is reserved for the most extreme and unusual circumstances. These are far from it. More Americans participated in this election than ever before, and made their decision.
“President Trump’s attorneys presented his case in dozens of courts; in all cases they failed. The Justice Department found insufficient evidence of wrongdoing to annul the election.
“The Presidential Voter Fraud Commission was dissolved without finding such evidence.”
Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska also said she would vote to support the 2020 election results, adding: “The courts and state legislatures have done their duty to hear the legal charges and have found nothing to justify annulment. From the results.
“I urge my colleagues from both parties to recognize this and join me in maintaining confidence in the electoral college and our elections.”
