Mike Pence rejects Trump’s call to overturn Biden election
PUBLISHED WED, JAN 6 20211:00 PM ESTUPDATED WED, JAN 6 20211:18 PM EST
Dan Mangan @_DANMANGAN
Vice President Mike Pence said he would refuse President Donald Trump’s demand that he try to block the confirmation of Joe Biden’s election as the next president of the United States by Congress.Pence’s statement breaking with Trump came minutes before the vice president was due to preside over a joint session of Congress, which is meeting to declare Biden the victor.The statement confirms the view of election experts: that the vice president has no power under the Constitution to refuse to accept the certification of presidential election results from individual states.As Pence released his statement, Trump was speaking at a rally outside of the White House, where he reiterated his call that the vice president undo Biden’s election.
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Pence: VP can’t accept or reject votes unilaterally
Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday said he would refuse President Donald Trump’s demand that he try to block the confirmation of Joe Biden’s election as the next president of the United States by Congress.
Pence’s said in a letter that he did not believe, as Trump has claimed, that a vice president has the uniltateral power to reject Electoral College votes for a candidate.
His dramatic break from Trump came minutes before the vice president began presiding over a joint session of Congress, which is meeting to declare Biden the victor.
“It is my considered judgement that my oath to support and defend the Constitution constrains me from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not,” Pence said in a three-page letter addressed to “Dear Colleague.”
“Given the controversy surrounding this year’s election, some approach this year’s quadrennial tradition with great expectation, and others with dismissive disdain,” Pence wrote.
“Some believe that as Vice President, I should be able to accept or reject electoral votes unilaterally. Others believe that electoral votes should never be challenged in a Joint Session of Congress.After a careful study of our Constitution, our laws, and our history, I believe neither view is correct.”
As Pence released his statement, Trump was speaking at a rally outside of the White House, where he reiterated his call that the vice president undo Biden’s election.
“Mike Pence, I hope you’re gonna stand up for the good of our Constitution and for the good of our country, and if you’re not I’m gonna be very disappointed in you, I will tell you right now,” Trump said at the rally.
“I’m not hearing good stories.” |
