Donald Trump allies plot futile effort to block Joe Biden

US President Donald Trump hosted several Republican lawmakers at the White House on Monday (US time) to discuss an ultimately futile effort to block the US Congress from affirming President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the November election.

The meeting underscored Trump’s refusal to accept the reality of his loss and his eagerness to entertain undemocratic efforts to overturn the will of the American voters. Biden will be sworn in as president on January 20.

With no credible legal options remaining and the Electoral College having confirmed Biden’s victory earlier this month, Trump is turning his attention to January 6. That’s when Congress participates in a count of the electoral votes, which Biden won 306-232.

The count, required by the Constitution, is generally a formality. But members can use the event to object to a state’s votes.

Republican Mo Brooks of Alabama said he organised Monday’s session with about a dozen House Republicans who are willing to make such an objection to challenge the results.

“President Trump is very supportive of our effort,” Brooks said in an interview.

The White House meeting was originally scheduled for about an hour, but lasted for three hours, Brooks said. Other attendees included Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, who has spent the weeks since the election promoting false claims of voter fraud.

Brooks said he also met with Vice President Mike Pence. As president of the Senate, Pence is to preside over the January 6 session and declare the winner.

Brooks said the group is making plans to challenge the election results from Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Nevada, all battleground states Biden carried. Brooks in particular has raised questions about the way state elections were conducted this year, with some having made changes to ballots and procedures during the pandemic. While the new procedures may have led to confusion in some states, state and federal officials have said there was no credible evidence of widespread fraud.

Still, Trump’s top aides and his legal team have continued to push false claims of election malfeasance.

Kevin Freking and Lisa Mascaro

source:nzherald.co.nz