Photo: J. Scott Applewhite / POOL / EFE
Photo: J. Scott Applewhite / POOL / EFE
Vice President Mike Pence refused to have authority to oppose the certification of the Electoral College vote, which confirmed the triumph of Joe Biden .
“I have reflected that my oath to support and defend the Constitution limits me to claim unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which ones should not, ” said Pence in a letter sent to Congress.
The vice president acknowledged the anger that the electoral process has generated.
“Given the controversy surrounding this year’s election, some approach the quadrennial tradition this year with great anticipation, others with disdain, ”Pence wrote in a letter sent to Congress. “Some believe that, as vice president, you should be able to accept or reject electoral votes unilaterally. Others believe that electoral votes should never be questioned in a joint session of Congress. ”
– Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) January 6, 2021
The Republican was under pressure from the president Donald Trump , who still this morning at a rally in Washington, DC, said that he hoped Pence would “do the right thing,” and that “he would never give up. ”Nor would I recognize Biden.
President Trump: “We will never give up. We will never concede. It doesn’t happen. You don’t concede when there’s theft involved.”
Full video here: https://t.co/pWnpPgDrRQ pic.twitter .com / qFRN0r8Uja
– CSPAN (@cspan)
January 6, 2021
Congress began joint session with its two houses, where a group of more than 80 representatives and some 13 Senators challenge the election results , but they require the majority to open an investigation.