President Trump on Tuesday showed no signs of slowing down his push to overturn the presidential election, despite having no evidence to back up his allegations of widespread voter fraud. His most recent Twitter declaration was that Vice President Mike Pence has the power to reject “fraudulently chosen electors” during Wednesday’s Electoral College certification. The claim was quickly shot down, with several folks pointing out that Pence’s role in overseeing the process is largely ceremonial.
What Trump says below is, of course, not true.
The ‘power’ he’s describing has never been used by any VP in American history.
The ONLY “power” actually given to the @VP in law — 3 USC 18 — is to “preserve order” in the joint session. https://t.co/dSp9PvqBiT
— Steven Portnoy (@stevenportnoy) January 5, 2021
Some critics went even further, suggesting that not only is Trump’s understanding of the limits placed upon the vice president’s electoral count authority set in an 1887 law incorrect, but also that his words were akin to “an authoritarian despot” trying to hold on to power.
Let’s be clear: days after pressuring an election official to “find” more votes for him, the US president is directly calling on his vice president to try to overturn the results of a democratic election in order to maintain power like an authoritarian despot. This is insane. https://t.co/Fdwi3YJ6x7
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) January 5, 2021
Add Comment