A joint session of the U.S. Congress resumed late Wednesday (Jan. 6) after being interrupted for several hours by a violent confrontation. Senator Hawley of Missouri condemned the violence at the Capitol and reiterated that he will still challenge the Pennsylvania Electoral College vote.
A joint session of the U.S. Congress resumed late Wednesday (Jan. 6) after being interrupted for several hours by violent clashes. Sen. Hawley of Missouri condemned the violence at the Capitol, but reiterated that he would still challenge the Pennsylvania Electoral College vote.
Josh Hawley (R-Miss.) is the first Republican senator in the Senate to announce he will challenge the Electoral College on the floor of Congress. Sen. Josh Hawley still plans to oppose the Pennsylvania election results tonight, according to his office.
Hawley’s office said, “Senator Hawley spoke during the debate on the Arizona (election results) challenge when he will oppose Pennsylvania (election results) once Congress returns to a joint session.”
The unfinished Arizona debate continues after Congress returns to a joint session.
Hawley: Dissent and concern in a legitimate process
During the Arizona debate, Hawley began by thanking Capitol Hill police, the National Guard, the Metropolitan Police and others who came to the Capitol, praising them for risking their lives to protect everyone who works here.
Regarding violence, he said, last year was a bad year for America, with many acts of violence against law enforcement. “We saw it (violence) today at the U.S. Capitol. Violence is not the way you achieve change in this country, in the United States of America. Violence is not the way you achieve better.”
Hawley then emphasized the importance of disagreeing with and discussing the election results on the floor of Congress.
“That’s why I indicated to my colleagues that what we’re doing here tonight is actually very important, because for those who are concerned about the integrity of our elections, those who are concerned about what happened in November, this is the appropriate means by which those objections and concerns should be heard in a legitimate place. This is the forum that the law provides for us and to register (explore) these issues. Not through violence, not through ballots or bullets, but in this lawful process.” He said.
He went on to say, “For those who say that today is just a formality, an antique ritual that has been going on for centuries, I can’t say that I would agree or that our forefathers implied that. I actually think that what we do, the opportunity to disagree is very important, because the place to disagree is the place where opinions are heard and addressed, debated and ultimately resolved. To (resolve) it peacefully by that lawful means, without violence, without assault, without bullets.”
Hawley questions constitutionality of Pennsylvania mail-in ballots
Hawley also told senators on the Senate floor, “Pennsylvania is a state that I have been concerned about, and the opposition I will raise (to the state’s election results). Millions of Americans are concerned about the integrity of our elections.”
Speaking about Pennsylvania, Hawley said the Pennsylvania Constitution has been interpreted for more than a century and spells out that mail-in voting is not allowed unless there are also very narrow provisions in the law, however, last year, Pennsylvania elected (government) officials passed a brand new law that allows for universal mail-in voting, ignoring how Pennsylvania’s Constitution provides for it.
He went on to say that when the people of Pennsylvania tried to go to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for a hearing on the matter, they were denied on the grounds of procedural (non-compliance), timeliness and violation of the Supreme Court’s own precedent. Therefore, (the court) never heard the merits of the case and never defended the constitutionality of the statute.
“I’m not actually aware of any court that agrees with the constitutionality of it (the new statute). It’s a statute from the last (November) election, where there were over 2.5 million mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania. That’s my opinion, and that’s the venue for the debate. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has not yet heard this case. There is no other court in the state that could hear this case. So this (Congress) is the appropriate venue to raise these issues, and that’s why I’m here today to raise them.” He said.
I hope this body (Congress) doesn’t miss the opportunity to take affirmative action to address the concerns of thousands of Americans,” Hawley said. Say to millions of Americans tonight that there should never be violence, that violence will not be tolerated, that those who engage in violence will be prosecuted, but that this body (Congress) will act to address the concerns of all Americans across the country. We do need an investigation into the violations, the fraud.”
Recent Comments