UPDATE! Congress Certifies Biden; Sen. Ted Cruz leads GOP challenge to Biden’s Electoral College certification; VP Pence says he can’t block Congress from certifying Electoral College results, and related stories

By admin On Jan 7, 2021

Sen. Ted Cruz leads GOP challenge to Biden’s Electoral College certification:

Sen. Ted Cruz on Wednesday joined, and then largely led the charge on, an objection to the congressional counting of Arizona’s 11 Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden — touching off up to two hours of debate in each chamber.

Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) entered the objection during the start of a joint session of Congress that’s mandated by federal law ahead of Inauguration Day on Jan. 20.

“We as a member of the House of Representatives and a United States Senator object to the counting of electoral votes of the state of Arizona on the grounds they were not under all of the known circumstances regularly given,” Gosar said.

When Vice President Mike Pence, who’s presiding over the proceeding as president of the Senate, asked if Gosar’s objection was joined by a senator, Cruz (R-Texas) spoke up.

“Yes it is,” he said.

The remark led to applause and a standing ovation by many Republican lawmakers in the joint session.

During subsequent debate on the Senate floor, Cruz gave an impassioned plea, saying, “We are gathered at a time when democracy is in crisis.” —>READ MORE HERE

VP Pence says he can’t block Congress from certifying Electoral College results:

Vice President Mike Pence said he doesn’t have unilateral power to block congressional certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election.

“I do not believe that the founders of our country intended to invest in the vice president with the unilateral authority to decide which electoral votes should be counted during the joint session of Congress,” Pence said in a letter released Wednesday.

“I took an oath to support and defend the constitution,” he said.

Pence’s letter rebuffs appeals from President Trump to intercede on his behalf.

The vice president’s office released the letter just moments before the US Senate convened to debate and ratify Biden’s electoral college win.

“It is my considered judgment that my oath to support and defend the Constitution constrains me from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral vote should be counted and which should not.” —>READ MORE HERE

Follow links below to related stories and opinions:

+++++UPDATE: Biden’s Electoral College victory certified — hours after Capitol chaos+++++

Republicans object to Arizona’s results

Jim Jordan lays out case for GOP objections to Electoral College results

Full List: 77 Representatives, 13 Senators Pledge To Object To Electoral Votes

Ted Cruz’s full electoral vote speech

Trump’s biggest allies — including Ted Cruz, and Kellyanne Conway, and Mike Pence — are condemning the Capitol riots

Pro-Trump Protests at Statehouses Mostly Peaceful on Violent Day at US Capitol

DC Mayor Told Federal Law Enforcement To Stand Down Day Before Violent US Capitol Riot

++Facial recognition firm claims Antifa infiltrated Trump protesters who stormed Capitol++

President Donald Trump: ‘But go home and go home in peace’

Woman shot at U.S. Capitol has died