US federal judge dumps election lawsuit filed by Republicans against VP Mike Pence

A United States federal judge has tossed out a lawsuit filed by Republican congressman Louie Gohmert and or GOP lawmakers against Vice President Mike Pence, seeking to force Senate chairman to block certification of electoral votes in US Congress on January 6. Judge Jeremy Kerdle, who is one of Donald Trump's appointees, ruled that Gohmert's lawsuit has " standing" to establish Mike Pence has discretion over count of electoral college votes during Joint Session of Congress, of which he is a ceremonial he. 

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'Allow Pence to override Electoral Count Act'

Gohmert and a group of Arizona Republicans h sought court to uphold powers laid out in US Constitution which according to m grant Vice President exclusive authority and sole discretion in determining which electoral votes to count. lawsuit also asked court to allow Pence to override Electoral Count Act and grant him authority to determine which slates of electors should be counted and which, if any, may t be counted.  

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Earlier, Department of Justice, on behalf of Vice President Pence, h issued a request to federal judge to reject lawsuit filed by Republican lawmakers. However, request did t specify wher Pence would interfere in electoral college count on January 6. recent lawsuit was one of several filed by Trump and his allies since vember 3 election in an attempt to reverse results. Trump is still refusing to concede defeat to Joe Biden, who has 306 electoral votes, way over majority mark of 270 needed to win a presidential election in US. 

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Republican congressman Josh Hawley earlier this week said that at least 140 GOP lawmakers are planning to vote against electoral college count on January 6. "Somebody has to stand up. 74 million Americans are t going to be told ir voices don’t matter," Hawley said in a tweet. However, even if members of US Congress vote against electoral college count, it would only delay certification of Biden's win by a few hours and t terminate it.

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