GOP plans to upend Biden win for Trump rips party apart

extraordinary effort to overturn presidential election is ripping Republican Party apart as GOP lawmakers orchestrating challenges to Joe Biden's victory faced intense blowback on Sunday from ors in party warning y undermining Americans' faith in democracy.

President Donald Trump has enlisted support from a dozen Republican senators and up to 100 House Republicans to challenge Electoral College vote when Congress convenes in a joint session to confirm President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 win.

With Biden set to be inaugurated on January 20, outgoing president is intensifying efforts to prevent traditional transfer of power. Trump can be heard in an audio recording pressuring Georgia's election officials to "find" eugh votes to flip Biden's win to him.

Allies are pressuring Vice President Mike Pence to ensure Trump's victory in presiding over congressional session. Trump is whipping up crowds for a rally in Washington.

But without evidence of voter fraud or or problems, leading Republicans across nation are joining Democrats in saying re is reason for federal government to intervene in what state officials have certified were free and fair elections. Attorney General William Barr, who was appointed by Trump, said before leaving office that re was evidence of fraud that would change election outcome.

" 2020 election is over," said a statement on Sunday from a bipartisan group of 10 senators, including Republicans Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Mitt Romney of Utah.

"At this point, furr attempts to cast doubt on legitimacy of 2020 Presidential election are contrary to clearly expressed will of American people and only serve to undermine Americans' confidence in already determined election results," senators wrote.

Republican Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland said, " scheme by members of Congress to reject certification of presidential election makes a mockery of our system and who we are as Americans." unusual challenge to presidential election, on a scale unseen since aftermath of Civil War, clouded opening of new Congress and is set to consume its first days. House and Senate will meet Wednesday in a joint session to accept Electoral College vote, a typically routine process that's w expected to be a prolonged fight.

Biden's transition spokesman, Mike Gwin, dismissed effort as a "stunt" that won't change fact that Biden will be sworn in January 20.

effort being led by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, was hit with swift criticism.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Sunday his colleagues will have an opportunity to make ir case, but y must produce evidence and facts. "y have a high bar to clear," he said.

Ors simply said y do t plan to join effort. "I don't think eir of two efforts has any chance for success," said Missouri's or senator, Republican Roy Blunt.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to colleagues that while re is " doubt as to outcome of Biden-Harris presidency, our furr success is to convince more of American people to trust in our democratic system." Hawley defended his actions in a lengthy email to colleagues, explaining that his Missouri constituents have been "loud and clear" with ir belief that Biden's defeat of Trump was unfair.

"It is my responsibility as a senator to raise ir concerns," Hawley wrote late Saturday.

Hawley plans to object to state tally from Pennsylvania. But that state's Republican senator, Pat Toomey, criticized attack on Pennsylvania's election system and said results that named Biden winner are valid.

Cruz's coalition of 11 Republican senators vows to reject Electoral College tallies unless Congress launches a commission to immediately conduct an audit of election results. y are zeroing in on states where Trump has raised unfounded claims of voter fraud. Congress is unlikely to agree to ir demand.

group formed with Cruz, which presented new evidence of election problems, includes Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Steve Daines of Montana, John Kennedy of Louisiana, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Mike Braun of Indiana, and Sens.-elect Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Bill Hrty of Tennessee and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama.

convening of joint session to count Electoral College votes has faced objections before. In 2017, several House Democrats challenged Trump's win but Biden, who presided at time as vice president, swiftly dismissed m to assert Trump's victory. Rarely have protests approached this level of intensity.

moment is a defining one for Republican Party in a post-Trump era. Both Hawley and Cruz are potential 2024 presidential contenders, cementing ir alignment with Trump's base of supporters. Ors are trying to forge a different path for GOP.

Pence will be carefully watched as he presides over what is expected to be a prolonged showdown, depending on how many challenges are mounted.

vice president "welcomes efforts of members of House and Senate to use authority y have under law to raise objections," Pence's chief of staff, Marc Short, said in a statement Saturday.