Republican Senator Tom Cotton, a longtime supporter of President Trump, broke up with some of his GOP colleagues in the House and Senate, saying he would not dispute the outcome of the Electoral College when Congress convenes this week. to certify.
Cotton said that the attempt of sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Josh Hawley of Missouri in the Senate and Representative Mo Brooks of Alabama in the House would set an “unwise precedent” and exceed their authority under the U.S. Constitution.
“The founders entrusted our election mainly to the states – not to Congress. They entrusted the election of our president to the people by acting through the Electoral College – not through Congress. And they have entrusted the ruling of election disputes to the courts – not Congress, “Cotton (R-Ark.) Said in a statement Sunday.
“Under the Constitution and federal law, the power of Congress is limited to the counting of votes cast by the states,” he continued. “If Congress were to predict to reverse the results of the Electoral College, it would not only exceed power, but also set unwise precedents.”
A joint session of Congress will be convened Wednesday to confirm the results that President-elect Joe Biden gave 306 election votes to Trump’s 232.
If the outcome of the Electoral College is challenged to change the election to Trump, the power of the people to elect the president will be removed and the power placed in the “hands of whatever party controls Congress,” Cotton said. said.
Due to concerns about election irregularities due to “relaxed standards” for voting in the poll, Cotton said he would support the appointment of a congressional commission to investigate the election, as Cruz and his group of Republicans called for. ‘to protect the integrity of our election. ”
He said he was “grateful” for what Trump has accomplished during his four years in the White House, but “objecting to certified election votes will not give him a second term – it will be the Democrats who run our system. further wants to defend, encourage. of the constitutional government. ”