Congressional Democrats are continuing to hammer their Republican colleagues for holding off on publicly congratulating President-elect Joe Biden. And some are arguing Republicans’ actions are helping authoritarian leaders abroad.
During a speech on the Senate floor, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) slammed his Republican colleagues for not congratulating Biden on winning the election.
While he noted that leaders from U.S. allies such as United Kingdom, France, and Germany have offered their congratulations, he also pointed to the comments of the leaders of nations who have not done so yet.
Specifically, he pointed to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo‘s claim that “there will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration.”
Van Hollen said, “Here at home, [Pompeo’s] undermining faith” in American democracy.
He continued:
“Who has refused so far to congratulate the next President of the United States Joe Biden? Vladimir Putin, President Xi, the leader of North Korea. What President Trump is doing and what our Republican colleagues are doing by their silence is aiding and abetting these authoritarian leaders.”
He added, “These guys are smiling. You’re an authoritarian leader you want nothing more than to see democracy fail, to see that model fail.”
Watch the video below:
Sen. Van Hollen: "Who has refused so far to congratulate the next President… Vladimir Putin, Pres. Xi, the leader of North Korea. What Pres. Trump is doing and what our Republican colleagues are doing by their silence is aiding and abetting these authoritarian leaders." pic.twitter.com/rumJF9nIiR
— The Hill (@thehill) November 12, 2020
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) previously slammed Pompeo for his comments. He said, “Look at reality. Secretary Pompeo, Joe Biden has won.”
“He’s won the election. Now move on. Let’s bring this country together and get things done. We have a COVID crisis raging. We don’t have time for these kinds of games,” he added.
He also took aim at Trump and Republicans for alleging that there was widespread voter fraud in the election, “Make no mistake, there has been no evidence of any significant or widespread voter fraud.”
“Joe Biden won this election fair and square, the margins of his victory are growing by the day […] As history prepares to write the final few sentences on the Trump presidency, it will surely note how this president and his Republican allies here in Congress treated our democracy on his way out the door.”
Congressional Republicans have argued that it is too early to declare a winner of the presidential election. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said, “Until the Electoral College votes, anyone who’s running for office can exhaust concerns about counting in any court of appropriate jurisdiction.”
“That’s not unusual. It should not be alarming,” he added.
Additionally, he suggested, “We ought to quit all the hand wringing and not act like this is extraordinary. We’re going to get through this period.”
