One of President Donald Trumpâs attorneys is refuting his suggestion that Vice President Mike Pence can reject electors to the Electoral College when Congress meets to certify the electoral vote count on January 6.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump took to Twitter to claim, âThe Vice President has the power to reject fraudulently chosen electors.â
However, Jay Sekulow, who has served as a member of the presidentâs legal team, said during his podcast, âSome have speculated that the vice president could simply say, âIâm not going to accept these electors,â that he has the authority to do that under the Constitution.â
âI actually donât think thatâs what the Constitution has in mind,â he continued.
Finally, he added, âIf that were the case, any vice president could refuse any election.â
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Sekulow also described Penceâs role overseeing the January 6 proceedings as âa ministerial procedural function.â
Pence is supposed to preside over the hearings and announce the winner of the Electoral College vote on Wednesday, a role that is largely ceremonial. He also does not have the authority to alter the outcome of the election on his own.
During a rally in Georgia, on Monday night, Trump addressed Penceâs role as he said, âI hope Mike Pence comes through for us, I have to tell you.â
âHeâs a great guy. Of course, if he doesnât come through, I wonât like him quite as much,â he added.
Trump continued to claim that Pence will âhave a lot to say aboutâ the election. He added, âAnd you know one thing with him, youâre going to get straight shots. Heâs going to call it straight.â
Although President-elect Joe Biden won the presidential election, Trump has refused to concede and has made baseless allegations that widespread fraud tilted the results in Bidenâs favor.
