The joint session of the House and Senate of the U.S. Congress on Jan. 6 was highly anticipated, and Vice President Mike Pence, the most critical figure, entered the White House on Jan. 5 for a confidential meeting with President Trump to discuss the final plan, according to The Washington Post. Trump tweeted on the 5th that Vice President Mike Pence (Mike Pence) has the right to reject fraudulently elected electoral votes, echoing statements made by his legal team ahead of the joint session of Congress on the 6th.
Trump tweeted on the 5th, “The Vice President has the authority to reject fraudulently elected electors.”
Pence will oversee the certification of the Electoral College vote as Senate president on the 6th.
Pressure is now mounting on Pence from Republicans, with at least thirteen Republican senators and dozens of House members pledging to challenge the electoral votes of designated states, meaning an hours-long debate will be triggered, culminating in a simple majority vote to decide whether to discard the electoral votes.
I know we all have our doubts about this election,” Pence told supporters in Georgia on Monday (4). I assure you that I share the concerns of millions of Americans about voting irregularities. I assure you that come Wednesday (6), we will have our moment in Congress.”
“I hope our great vice president, who stood up for us. He’s a wonderful man.” Trump said that day, “Of course, I wouldn’t like him as much if he didn’t come through.”
Does the vice president have the power to override electoral votes?
There have been questions out there about what powers the vice president actually has, as legal experts have differing opinions. Some believe that the vice president serves primarily in a ceremonial capacity. However, the Trump team and Trump supporters believe that Pence has the power to reject fraudulently elected electoral votes in a joint session of Congress on the 6th.
Since the Nov. 3 election, Trump and his team have said they have found voter fraud, irregularities and unconstitutional changes to laws related to mail-in voting in key states. on Dec. 14, Republican-backed electors also voted for Trump and Pence during the Electoral College vote to keep Trump’s legal challenge going.
Arizona and Pennsylvania will have challenges
The joint session of Congress begins at 1 p.m. Wednesday (6). Usually, the vice president opens the certificates of electoral votes sent by the states and hands them to the “tellers,” two people appointed by both houses of Congress to read and verify the ballots. The tellers then read the ballots in alphabetical order, beginning with Alabama.
Challenges to a state’s electoral vote count need to be submitted in writing and must be filed by at least one senator and one House member.
On Monday, Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ariz.), who is leading the challenge effort in the House, announced that he had signed an electoral vote document opposing Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
As of deadline, the senator has announced challenges to Arizona and Pennsylvania.
In addition, there is inconsistency within the Republican Party. Senior Senator Chuck Grassley (Chuck Grassley) told Roll Call on the 5th that he would chair the joint meeting on the 6th. His statement immediately triggered a shock in Washington. A White House official quickly stated to the public that Grassley’s comments were inaccurate.
A spokesman for Grassley, 87, also quickly clarified that Grassley was saying he would preside over any Senate debates and votes on challenges to the Electoral College results if Pence needed a break during the hours-long session.
Grassley was asked during a press conference call how he planned to vote Wednesday during the Electoral College vote count, according to a transcript provided to the public by Grassley’s office.
“First of all, I will – if the vice president is not there, and we don’t expect him to be there, I will preside over the Senate. Obviously, (I will) listen to the debate, but not say anything.” His office’s records show.
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