Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) is knocking his fellow Republican colleagues who may seek to challenge the Electoral College votes in January.
The Republican lawmaker told CNN of planned efforts from some Republican Congress members to challenge the election results, “It’s their prerogative, it’s allowed for in the Constitution, but it’s not going anywhere.”
“It’s an opportunity for people to vent and protest, but in the end we have a clear way of determining a president, those steps have been adhered to, they’ve been followed,” Thune added.
Thune was also pressed on if he will call Joe Biden the president-elect now that the Electoral College affirmed on Monday that Biden won enough electoral votes to win the White House.
“Well I mean, once somebody gets 270, I understand they’re ruling right now, but I think that’s the process we have, yes,” Thune responded.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) recently weighed in on the threat from some Republicans to protest the Electoral College vote, as IJR previously reported.
“This is madness,” Romney said last week, adding, “We have a process, recounts are appropriate, going to the court is [appropriate and] pursuing every legal avenue is appropriate, but trying to get electors not to do what the people voted to do is madness.”
Romney also expressed that he believes challenging the Electoral College vote would be rejected.
Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Alaska) previously confirmed to The Hill that he plans to challenge the Electoral College vote in Congress on Jan. 6.
“I’m doing this because in my judgment this is the worst election theft in the history of the United States,” he told The Hill. “And if there was a way to determine the Electoral College outcome using only lawful votes cast by eligible American citizens, then Donald Trump won the Electoral College.”
On Jan. 6, 2021, the House of Representatives and the Senate will hold a joint session to count the electoral votes. If one candidate receives at least 270 electoral votes, the vice president will announce the results. At the joint session, members of Congress can challenge the Electoral College votes, according to the Congressional Research Service. The inauguration of the president is set for Jan. 20, 2021.