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A coalition of GOP Senators and Elected Senators, led by Senator Ted Cruz, will oppose certification of the presidential election results on January 6 when a joint session of Congress meets next week, unless ‘There is a 10-day emergency audit of the results by an electoral commission.
Cruz – with Sense. Ron Johnson, R-Wis .; James Lankford, R-Okla .; Steve Daines, R-Mont .; John Kennedy, R-La .; Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., And Mike Braun, R-Ind.; as well as Cynthia Lummis, elected from the Sens. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas; Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., And Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. – claim that the election “included unprecedented allegations of electoral fraud and illegal conduct”.
Their effort is separate from that announced by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Who said this week that he would oppose what he said was the failure of some states – notably Pennsylvania – to follow their own electoral laws.
HAWLEY SAYS HE WILL OPPOSE ELECTORAL COLLEGE CERTIFICATION OF VICTORY SUBMITTED ON JAN. 6
“Election fraud posed a persistent challenge in our elections, although its scale and scope are disputed. Whatever the extent, the allegations of fraud and irregularities in the 2020 election outweigh any in our lives.” , say lawmakers in a statement.
A source close to the effort told Fox News that it was Cruz who orchestrated the effort, working with other senators to organize the push against certification and call for the electoral commission days before the joint session. of Congress.
Lawmakers claim there is a precedent of Democrats opposing election results in 1969, 2001, 2005 and 2019: “And, in 1969 and 2005, a Democratic senator joined with a Democratic MP in forcing votes in both chambers on the acceptance or not the presidential voters are questioned ”, they say.
Senators and elected senators call on Congress to appoint an electoral commission to conduct a 10-day emergency audit of election results in states where the results are contested. They cite as precedent the 1877 between Samuel Hayes and Rutherford Hayes, where there were allegations of fraud in several states.
“In 1877, Congress did not ignore these allegations, and the media did not simply dismiss those who raised them as radicals trying to undermine democracy,” lawmakers say. “Instead, Congress appointed an electoral commission – made up of five Senators, five House Members and five Supreme Court Justices – to review and resolve the contested returns.”
“We must follow this precedent. Namely, Congress should immediately appoint an electoral commission, with full investigative and investigative authority, to conduct a 10-day emergency audit of election results in the contested states. Once completed, each state assess the findings of the commission and could convene a special legislative session to certify a change in their vote, if necessary, ”they say.
Without it, they will vote against certification.
“Accordingly, we intend to vote on January 6 to reject voters from contested states as not being ‘properly donated’ and ‘legally certified’ (the legal requirement), unless and until that this 10-day emergency audit be completed, ”they say in the statement.
It’s unclear whether they will rally more Republicans to their cause, and lawmakers note that most Democrats and some Republicans will vote to certify the results, but say an audit would increase public confidence in the process.
“These are issues worthy of Congress, and entrusted to us to defend. We do not take this action lightly. We are not acting to thwart the democratic process, but rather to protect it,” they say. “And each of us should act together to ensure that elections are held legally under the Constitution and do all in our power to restore faith in our democracy.”
The senators’ new effort marks a major victory for President Trump’s efforts to challenge the election results. Trump has repeatedly claimed to have beaten Biden, who toppled a number of Red states, including Georgia and Arizona, to overcome the 270 Electoral College votes needed to secure the White House.
Trump’s campaign launched a number of legal challenges, while Trump himself urged states with Republican governors and legislatures to overturn Biden’s victories – as he alleges widespread electoral fraud tipped the scales in favor of Biden.
Senate GOP leaders oppose efforts to challenge Biden’s victory, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell acknowledging the former vice president’s victory and urging Senate Republicans behind closed doors not to not contest the election results.
But if GOP senators object, with a similar effort on the part of House Republicans, the joint session of Congress would be dissolved and the House and Senate would then meet separately for two hours to debate the electoral vote of a contested state.
Each organ would then vote to accept or reject that state’s electoral list. Then the House and the Senate meet again in joint session.
In the House, at least 10 new House GOP freshmen will support Rep. Mo Brooks’ efforts to oppose certification of presidential election results on January 6.
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The last time this happened (and only the second time in US history) was in January 2005, after President George W. Bush’s short re-election over Democratic challenger Senator John. Kerry from Massachusetts. A Senate Democrat – Senator Barbara Boxer of California – and a House Democrat – Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones – objected. In 2017, a handful of House Democrats opposed Trump’s victory over Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, but no Senate Democrats joined them.
A state’s electoral list would only be rejected if the House and Senate vote to do so – which is unlikely given the Democratic majority in the House and the push by GOP Senate leaders to certify.
Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser, Jason Donner, Marisa Schultz and Tyler Olson contributed to this report.
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