Thune Says Any Challenge To Electoral College Tally Would ‘Go Down Like A Shot Dog’

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 12: (AFP OUT)  U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a meeting on trade with governors and members of Congress at the White House on April 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Seated left is Senator John Thune(R-SD). (Photo by Chris Kleponis - Pool/Getty Images)
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) watches President Donald Trump speak during a meeting on trade with governors and members of Congress at the White House on April 12, 2018. (Photo by Chris Kleponis - Pool/Getty Images)
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Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-SD) said Monday that a desperate effort by a handful of House members in his party to challenge the Electoral College’s results reaffirming Joe Biden as the next president would “go down like a shot dog.”

“It’s just not going anywhere,” Thune told reporters on Monday, adding that he knows of no senators who have committed to back an effort by several House Republicans to challenge the Electoral College votes when Congress convenes Jan. 6 to open and count certificates from each state that contain a record of electoral votes cast this month which cemented Biden’s win.

“In the Senate it would go down like a shot dog,” Thune said. “I just don’t think it makes a lot of sense to put everybody through this when you know what the ultimate outcome is going to be.”

Thune’s comments came hours after reports that several House GOP members met privately at the White House with President Donald Trump to discuss elements of Trump’s latest election gambit — plans to challenge the Electoral College votes in at least six states.

The Oval Office meeting with Trump included loyalists like Reps. Mo Brooks (AL), Matt Gaetz (FL), Jim Jordan (OH) and Jody Hice (GA) and Rep.-elect Marjorie Greene, among others, per Bloomberg News

After the meeting, Hice tweeted that he would “lead an objection” to his state’s electors on Jan. 6.

“The courts refuse to hear the President’s legal case. We’re going to make sure the People can!” he added.

Greene tweeted on Friday that she was looking for the support of a senator to back her effort to fight for Trump who she said has always “fought for us.”

Under federal law, Congress will meet in a joint session to reaffirm Biden’s win and are permitted to object to votes from any given state, but any attempt to do so would require a member of both chambers to object in writing — and would almost certainly fail.

Assuming a member of both the Senate and House offered objections both chambers would then have to agree to it by a simple majority vote. 

Senate Majority Leader who finally faced the reality of Biden’s win last week has warned GOP senators not to advance a futile effort by any members of the House saying they would have to vote it down and it would be “terrible.”

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Notable Replies

  1. It is refreshing to know America’s best are defending Trump. :crazy_face:

  2. Why do I have the feeling that it’s just not going to be that simple? That T***p will try some last-minute desperation play that will result in an international crisis?

  3. So you’re saying there’s a chance?

    /d

  4. Just a reminder to those Republicans Senators and Congresscritters who are hell bent on trying to overthrow Joe.

    Section 3 of the 14th Amendment states: No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

  5. That this is a matter for discussion in our government is embarrassing. That the people going along with this often have some kind of legal education makes it shameful. That an erratic Supreme Court could be asked to weigh in on this stuff is frightening. Stupidity on steroids.

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