Vice President Pence’s chief of staff said in a statement on Saturday that the vice president “welcomes” the effort of some lawmakers to “raise objections” on January 6, when Congress will meet to certify the Electoral College vote. .
“Vice President Pence shares the concerns of millions of Americans about fraud and electoral irregularities in the last election,” Marc Short, Pence’s chief of staff, said in a statement to The Hill.
“The vice president welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use their authority under the law to raise objections and present evidence to Congress and the American people on January 6,” the statement continued. .
The comment is the most extensive observation that Pence’s office made in the January 6 proceedings, after a highly contentious election between President Trump
Donald Trump Trump calls the second round of the Georgia Senate ‘both illegal and invalid’ in New Year’s tweets. Judge rejects Gohmert’s electoral process against Pence Former Republican Party senator suggests forming a new party, calls Trump the ‘master’ of Republicans MORE and president-elect Joe Biden
Joe BidenTrump calls the second round of the Georgia Senate ‘both illegal and invalid’ in New Year’s tweets. Judge rejects Gohmert’s electoral process against Pence Former Republican Party senator suggests forming a new party, calls Trump the ‘master’ of Republicans MORE.
In the nearly two months since election day, Pence has explicitly stopped echoing Trump’s language that the election was fraudulent, instead he asked for all “legal votes” to be counted. Still, he did not publicly discourage the efforts of the president or his allies to contest or overturn the election results.
His statement came a day after a Republican lawsuit that sought to give him the authority to overturn the January 6 election results. fired for lack of foot.
Pence will chair the January 6 meeting, but his role is largely ceremonial.
Dozens of new and current Republicans in the House have indicated they would challenge the Electoral College vote during Wednesday’s meeting. GOP representatives Andy Biggs (Arizona), Matt Gaetz
Matthew (Matt) GaetzHere are the Republicans who plan to challenge the results of the Growing Electoral College number of Republicans in the House willing to vote by proxy from the Florida Democratic files petition to oust Gaetz MORE (Florida), Louie Gohmert
Louis (Louie) Buller GohmertJudge rejects Gohmert’s electoral process against Pence That Louie Gohmert’s process Comments from the Arizona government president on YouTube could undermine the Republican electoral process against Pence MORE (Texas), Paul Gosar
Paul Anthony GosarHere are the Republicans who plan to challenge the results of the Electoral College. Leading Republican Party lawmakers call for Swalwell to be removed from the House Republican Intelligence Committee who did not sign the Texas lawsuit MORE (Ariz.) And Jody Hice
Jody Brownlow HiceHere are the Republicans who plan to challenge the results of the Electoral College Increasing number of Republican lawmakers support the challenge of the Electoral College (Georgia) are some of the Republicans who plan to challenge the Electoral College vote when Congress meets next week.
Sen. Josh Hawley
Joshua (Josh) David Hawley Former GOP senator suggests forming a new party, calls Trump the ‘boss’ of Republicans Georgia keeps the Senate agenda in limbo Frustrations increase when $ 1,000 checks blocked for the fourth consecutive day MORE (R-Mo.) He was the first Republican senator to indicate that he would join the effort last week. His objection, along with a House legislator, is sufficient to ensure that both chambers have to debate and vote in the House and Senate on the matter.
The majority in both chambers would have to vote to support the objection for it to succeed.
However, the effort is unlikely to be successful, as Democrats control the House, and several Republican senators said they would oppose any objection.
Hawley, along with other Republican lawmakers, raised concerns about the number of allegations of electoral fraud after the 2020 presidential election. Trump and his allies have repeatedly claimed that the election was conducted through widespread electoral fraud.
However, senior election officials, in addition to former US Attorney General Bill Barr, confirmed that there is no evidence of widespread fraud.
The move to challenge next week’s election results gained momentum on Saturday after 11 Republican Senators said that they would object until there is a 10-day audit of election results in certain states.
President-elect Biden won 306 electoral votes compared to President Trump’s 232, and Biden led Trump by 7 million votes in the popular vote.
– Brett Samuels contributed