Vice President Pence’s Chief of Staff said in a statement Saturday that the Vice President “welcomes” the attempt by some lawmakers to “raise objections” on Jan. 6, when Congress meets to certify the vote of the electoral college.
“Vice President Pence shares the concerns of millions of Americans about voter fraud and irregularities in the latest 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 the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring evidence to Congress and the American people on January 6,” the statement continued.
The comment is the most comprehensive comment from Pence’s office on the January 6 proceedings following a highly controversial election between President Trump
Donald Trump Trump calls Georgia Senate runoffs ‘both illegal and invalid’ in New Year’s tweets Judge Dismisses Gohmert’s Election Case Against Pence Ex-GOP Senator Proposes Forming New Party, Calls Trump ‘Ringmaster’ of Republicans MORE and president elect Joe Biden
Joe Biden Trump calls Georgia Senate runoffs ‘both illegal and invalid’ in New Year’s tweets Judge Dismisses Gohmert’s Election Case Against Pence Ex-GOP Senator Proposes Forming New Party, Calls Trump ‘Ringmaster’ of Republicans MORE.
In the roughly two months since election day, Pence has stopped explicitly repeating Trump’s language that the elections were fraudulent, instead demanding that all “legal votes” be counted. Yet he has not publicly discouraged the president’s or his allies’ attempts to challenge or reverse the election results.
His statement comes a day after a GOP lawsuit sought to give him the authority to reverse the January 6 election results. turned down for lack of standing.
Pence will chair the January 6 meeting, but his role is largely ceremonial.
Dozens of incoming and current House Republicans have declared they would challenge the Electoral College votes during Wednesday’s sitting. GOP representatives. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Matt Gaetz
Matthew (Matt) Gaetz Here are the Republicans planning to challenge the Electoral College results. Growing number of House Republicans warm to vote by proxy Florida Democrat files petition to scrap Gaetz MORE (Fla.), Louie Gohmert
Louis (Louie) Buller Gohmert Judge Dismisses Gohmert’s Election Case Against Pence That Louie Gohmert Lawsuit Arizona GOP Chairman YouTube Comments Could Undermine Republican Election Case Against Pence MORE (Texas), Paul Gosar
Paul Anthony Gosar Here Are The Republicans Who Plan To Challenge Electoral College Results Top GOP Lawmakers Calling To Remove Swalwell From House Intelligence Committee Republicans Who Did Not Join Texas Lawsuit MORE (Ariz.) And Jody I did
Jody Brownlow Hice Here are the Republicans planning to challenge the results of the Electoral College. Growing number of GOP lawmakers back Electoral College challenge The Hill’s Morning Report – Congress passes end-of-year aid COVID-19, omnibus deal MORE (Ga.) Are some of the Republicans planning to challenge the electoral college vote when Congress meets next week.
Her. Josh Hawley
Joshua (Josh) David Hawley Ex-GOP Senator Proposes Forming New Party, Calls Trump Republicans’ Ringmaster Georgia Keeps Senate Agenda in Uncertain Frustrations Flare Up As 1,000 Checks Blocked For the fourth consecutive day MORE (R-Mo.) Was the first GOP senator to indicate that he would join the effort last week. His objection, along with one House legislator, is enough to cause both houses to debate and vote in the House and Senate on the matter.
A majority in both houses would have to vote to support the objection for it to succeed.
However, the attempt is unlikely to succeed, as Democrats control the House and several GOP senators have said they would be against any objections.
Hawley, along with other Republican lawmakers, have expressed concern about the number of allegations of voter fraud following the 2020 presidential election. Trump and his allies have repeatedly asserted that the election was triggered by widespread voter fraud.
However, in addition to former US Attorney General Bill Barr, senior election officials have confirmed that there is no evidence of widespread fraud.
The move to challenge the election results next week received fresh impetus after 11 a.m. Saturday GOP senators said that they would object until there is a 10-day audit of the election results in certain states.
President-elect Biden won 306 electoral votes compared to President Trump’s 232 votes, and Biden led Trump with 7 million votes in the popular vote.
– Brett Samuels contributed