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Vice President Mike Pence, in a letter to lawmakers Wednesday, rejected President Donald Trump’s view that he could unilaterally reject electoral college votes from states won by President-elect Joe Biden when he presides over a joint session of Congress.
“My oath to support and defend the Constitution constrains me from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not,” Pence said in the letter. “My role as presiding officer is largely ceremonial.”
His letter circulated as Trump repeatedly implored him to intervene in Congress’s counting of the results during a rally at the White House Ellipse.
“Mike Pence, I hope you’re going to stand up for the good of our Constitution and for the good of our country,” Trump said. “And if you’re not, I’m going to be very disappointed in you. I will tell you right now, I’m not hearing good stories.”
In his letter, Pence made clear that lawmakers have the right to challenge votes but that he was not going to initiate the objection.
“Some believe that as Vice President, I should be able to accept or reject electoral votes unilaterally,” he said. “Others believe that electoral votes should never be challenged in a Joint Session of Congress. After a careful study of our Constitution, our laws and our history I believe neither view is correct.”
Wednesday’s joint session of Congress opened with Pence presiding, and the constitutionally required step of lawmakers counting the electoral votes is expected to take an unprecedented turn.
Republicans, pushing Trump’s false claims of widespread voter fraud, plan to challenge the duly certified results from at least three states: Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania.
The debate and votes on the objections are expected to last into Thursday. The last-ditch effort, coming 14 days before Biden’s scheduled inauguration, is doomed to fail in the Democratic-led House and GOP-led Senate.
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For anyone reading this reasonably soon after I’m posting it, turn on your TV.
Thank you. I had no idea what was happening!
For all those who thought there was no risk to indulging Trump’s lies about the election, turns out … you were not correct.
This is as bad as the rioting and looting this past summer. A real shame what we have evolved into and how we settle our differences. So much for civilized discourse. The protesting was fine, but this has gone too far. Sad
No, this is worse. The agitators should be locked up for treason.
Jeff A – there is one huge difference between today’s events and the events of this past summer. Our President caused what happened today to happen. He called for it. He incited it.
BTW, I’m proud that MP has taken the stance he did. He has no political future now, but at least he did the right thing.
I’d hesitate to call it a ‘stand’ – it was issued to provide the least amt of friction/least attn as possible, not public leadership through the govt institutions. Profiles in Courage, it seems not.
Not even sure why anyone ever thought it was even an option……
President Trump asked Pence to stand up for the good of our Constitution, and Pence should. Maybe tomorrow Pence should look into Article 25.
Tomorrow Congress needs to reconvene and certify the Electoral Vote without any debate.
For once, a smidgen of support for Mike Pence. Honor your zealous commitment to God and continue to do the right thing.
I agree with you Stephen P. He did incite this and what a horrible response he gave as well. Pathetic.