Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Announced Wednesday that he will object to the certification of the election results of some states on Jan. 6, a move that will force his fellow Republicans to vote to choose between rejecting President Donald Trump’s unfounded claims. of massive voter fraud in this year’s election or to deny millions of voters.
Although many members of the Republican House are expected to object to the outcome of the election campaign of several swing states during Congress’ certification of votes next week, Hawley is the first senator to commit to it. The announcement is important because the congressional rules require a written objection signed by a member and a senator to compel Congress to consider an objection.
It is highly unlikely that the objections will succeed. In order to maintain one and cast a state’s presidential vote, a majority in each chamber must vote in favor of the objection. Democrats have a majority in the House, and although Republicans have a slim majority in the Senate, a number of moderate Republicans have already said they would not vote to cast a state’s vote.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Has privately urged Republican senators not to challenge the vote because it could put some vulnerable Republicans at odds with ardent Trump supporters.
House President Nancy Pelosi, D-California, picked up Hawley’s announcement and told reporters she’s in no doubt that Joe Biden will be confirmed next Wednesday, a week from today, by accepting the Electoral College vote as the 46th President of the United States. ‘
Biden’s incoming White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, also showed no concern during a virtual briefing with reporters.
“Congress will confirm the outcome of this election as every four years,” Psaki said, adding: “It is merely a formality. It should definitely be treated that way. ‘
Despite the challenge that has shot long, Hawley’s objection could lead to a long day; Congress can debate objections to the results of each state for up to two hours before members vote.
Hawley, who is considered a possible presidential candidate in 2024, did not say by how many votes he would object, but he suggested Pennsylvania be one of them.
“I can not vote to ratify the January 6 election result without encouraging the fact that some states, particularly Pennsylvania, have not complied with their own state election laws,” Hawley said in a statement, and repeating the statement that the president has repeatedly made and rejected. repeatedly by state and federal courts.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro described Hawley’s announcement as “another unsubstantiated attempt by Trump’s state officials to undermine the will of the people.”
“The Pennsylvania election was safe, legal and fair. Our votes for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were cast,” he said. wrote in a few tweets, adding that “people need to know that any senator who makes statements about the challenge of the Pennsylvania election results is running the political theater for Donald Trump and not abiding by any facts or laws.”
In his statement, Hawley tried to portray the extraordinary move as normal, saying: “I will follow the same practice that the Democratic members of Congress have had in recent years”, referring to the 2004 and 2016 elections.
During the certification of the 2016 election results, several House Democrats tried to object to the vote in a number of states, but they were put out of action by then-Vice President Biden, who noted that no senators joined their objections .
After the election in 2004, the then Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California. and rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-Ohio, objected to the votes of Ohio, saying there was voter oppression due to long periods and missing voting machines in minority areas in the state.
Dan-Rep. Candice Miller, R-Mich., Said the allegations were ‘outraged by fantasy conspiracies’, while Bush White House press secretary Scott McClellan said:’ It’s time to move forward and not conspiracy theories. or to engage in biased politics of this nature. . ”
The measure failed in the Senate with a vote of 74-1 and in the House with a vote of 267-31.
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Viewed Hawley’s actions darkly in an interview with Andrea Mitchell, MSNBC.
“Josh Hawley and everyone who supports his effort is trying to overthrow democracy,” Murphy said. “There is no evidence that there was fraud. Sen Hawley apparently believes that if a Democrat wins the presidential race, it should by definition be illegal, even if there is no evidence of misconduct. “
Last week, Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, warned his fellow Republicans not to object on January 6th.
“I think the thing they need to remember is that it’s just going nowhere. I mean in the Senate it’s going off like a shot dog,” Thune told reporters. “I just do not think it makes sense to put everyone through this if you know what the ultimate outcome is going to be,” he added.
Trump responded shortly thereafter on Twitterto mock Thune as a ‘RINO’ – an acronym for Republican only in name – and to suggest that he ‘just let it play. South Dakota does not like weakness. He will be primary in 2022, past political career !!! ‘