Pence set to chair congressional constituency tally

Vice President Pence is expected to chair the Electoral College vote tally on Wednesday.

Pence’s presence was thrown into momentary confusion on Tuesday when the roll call reported that Sen. Chuck grassleyChuck Grassley Questions and Answers on COVID-19 Relief Package Republicans Wait to See What Trump Does on Relief Package Growing number of lawmakers deny early access to COVID-19 PLUS vaccine (R-Iowa) said he would chair because “we’re not expecting him [Pence] be there.”

The suggestion sent shockwaves through Washington, which is bracing for a full-scale effort by dozens of Congressional Republicans to challenge the election results, causing brief chaos as reporters questioned whether Pence was was withdrawn from the joint session.

Although Pence’s role is ceremonial, it is under public pressure President TrumpDonald Trump’s prosecutor says the census tally to determine seats in Congress won’t be done until February Trump for Georgia’s second round dominated by personal grievances Trump at the Georgia rally says he hopes Pence “ will come for us ” MORE to use his position to challenge the president-elect Joe bidenJoe Biden’s lawyer says census tally to determine seats in Congress won’t be done until February Trump for Georgia run-off dominated by personal grievances Trump at Georgia rally says he hopes Pence ‘will come for us ” MOREvictory. Trump, speaking in Georgia on Monday evening, said he hoped Pence “would come in our place,” without specifying what action he hopes the vice president will take.

But a White House official was quick to say Grassley’s initial comments were not accurate.

And a spokesperson for the 87-year-old GOP Senator quickly made it clear that Grassley was saying that if Pence needed a break during the hour-long session, he would chair any Senate debate and vote on disputes over the results. of the electoral college.

“On a weekly press call with agriculture reporters, @ChuckGrassley discussed his role as interim president presiding over the Senate tomorrow in the constituency certification debate scheduled when @VP is not in attendance. tweeted.

According to a transcript provided by Grassley’s office, he was questioned during a press call on Wednesday about how he planned to vote during the Electoral College count.

“Well, first of all, I’ll be – if the vice president isn’t here and we don’t expect him to be there, I’ll be chairing the Senate. And obviously, listening to the debate with nothing say, “Grassley said, according to his office transcript.

A Grassley spokesperson later added that the senator “has every hope that the vice president will be on the hill on Wednesday”.

If Pence skipped Wednesday’s session, he wouldn’t be the first vice president to do so. In 1969, Vice-President Hubert Humphrey refused to chair the joint session.

Brett Samuels contributed.