The first congressman to endorse Donald Trump for president said he has no evidence to back Trump’s claim that millions of people voted illegally in the 2016 election.
Speaking to CNN’s Chris Cuomo on Wednesday, Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) was asked about President Trump’s announcement that he would initiate an investigation of voter fraud in the 2016 presidential election. On Tuesday, Trump re-upped his claim, this time in a meeting with congressional leaders, that 3-5 million votes cast by “illegals” had cost him the popular vote.
When Cuomo pressed Collins for “a shred of proof” to support Trump’s claims, Collins admitted he had none.
“No, I don’t,” he responded when Cuomo asked if he had proof to support Trump’s seeming rationale for the investigation. “That’s his opinion, but I’ll again say there are illegal votes cast and if we can tighten down we should do it.”
“People have provided him facts. This isn’t something I’m focused on in the least,” Collins said later, when pressed again.
Collins was initially defensive of Trump’s claims of illegal voting, echoing a call from Rep. Steve King (R-IA) on Tuesday to crack down on motor voter laws and voter ID requirements.
“We have states where illegal immigrants can get a license and automatically be signed up to vote,” Collins said. “We should have American citizens voting and know who is walking into the voting booth, and I would support anything we do to make sure that our elections are secure that it’s only citizens voting, and if we do an investigation and sounds like we’re going to I’m all in support of that.”
Watch below, via CNN:
