Pence: Constitution ‘Constrains Me’ From Rejecting Electoral Votes

The Epoch Times ^ | January 6, 2021 | Zachary Stieber

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday said that he doesn’t believe he has the “unilateral authority” to decide between competing slates of electors.

“It is my considered judgment that my oath to support and defend the Constitution constrains me from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not,” Pence said in a statement released just before a joint session of Congress began.

As president of the Senate, Pence is presiding over the session. The purpose of the session is to count electoral votes.

Under the Electoral College system, voters choose electors. Those electors then vote, almost always for the candidate that received the most ballots in their state. Congress meets in the January after an election to tally the votes.

Typically a rote affair, this session has taken on heightened significance after seven states sent two certificates to Washington, one for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and one for President Donald Trump. Biden won the states but Trump has said he was cheated.

Trump and some Republicans argue that Pence has the “exclusive authority” to reject electoral votes for Biden and choose the ones for Trump. A lawsuit asking a court to support that view was rejected by a district judge. An appeal was dismissed, though the plaintiffs earlier Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to intervene.

[Constitution1st]

The cowardly traitor! Actions like his start wars.

[madison10]

Agreed.

[Alberta's Child]

You're absolutely right. What kind of idiot thinks the VP can unilaterally discard the electoral votes of a state?

This place has turned into a special education classroom.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Just as it constrained biden from rejecting Trump votes in 2016 and installing hillary.

And just as it constrained Al Gore from rejecting Bush slates in 2001 and installing himself. We all agree that this election was stolen from Trump, but Pence as vice-president never had the authority to choose slates of electors on his own discretion. This thing was stolen at the state level, and that's where the remedies have to be.

[greeneyes]

Well Thomas Jefferson didn’t let it constrain him-he took his authority when given the opportunity.

This is not a surprise-didn’t really expect Pence to do anything particularly helpful.

[Fury]

What kind of idiot thinks the VP can unilaterally discard the electoral votes of a state?

What? Of course he can!!!!

In bizarro world....

[Fury]

Dear VP Pence please consult Thomas Jefferson .....

No, that is not applicable. That was before the 12th Amendment was ratified. An Amendment that was specifically offered due to the Election of 1800 and that turd Aaron Burr.

[Windcatcher]

Election reform MUST be the big issue for state elections two years from now. If we are to get people to run for state office, this is the issue they need to run on.

[CincyRichieRich]

Get a rope.

[SuperLuminal]

Traitorous POS!

[Adder]

voters choose electors.

Technically untrue: States choose electors...in the manner of their choosing.

A small but important nit. If the process for choosing them is flawed or fraudulent, the electors can indeed be rejected.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Some talking head on Newsmax backs you up, too. GMTA, I guess.

I would have been fine with that, since he could have feasibly done that with Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Georgia (all GOP leges). Maybe Arizona, too. Nevada is Dem, so he would have been SOL there.

[Responsibility2nd]

The Constitution constrained him?

Whatever. Now that our government has been overthrown, that pesky Constitution will not bother him anymore.

Pence is a guilty actor in this coup d’état succeeding.

[Mashood]

Come on Mickey, run with the big dogs...

[100%FEDUP]

He’s had 2 months to say it but waits until today.

[deadrock]

where in the constitution does it say one has to engage/support fraud?

What fraud? Which court has ruled and shown proof of fraud?

The states have had 2 months to investigate and decertify in a timely manner, they did nothing because they found no fraud.

The DOJ has indicated that there is no fraud.

You and I both know that it is horseshit and there is fraud, but that is irrelevant.

[faithhopecharity]

BS and he KNOWS better!

was he bought off? must be, because he is NOT that stupid! and he has plenty of advisors too

[Widget Jr]

Nothing in the law requires accepting fraud.

[Constitution1st]

And that is where the remedy would have taken place, at the state level, had pence returned them to the states.

[Just mythoughts]

Mikey can just show up and ‘confess’ that he betrayed a nation... seems to be a trend among the many holding office these days. He is certifying FRAUD, quite a faux Christian in wolf clothing. Course as it is Written one cannot serve ‘two’ masters ... Rome was NEVER on the road to ‘salvation’ .... cough, cough, cough...