US: Missouri senator to contest Electoral College win for Biden

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., says he will raise objections next week when Congress meets to affirm President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in election, forcing House and Senate votes that are likely to delay — but in way alter — final certification of Biden's win.

President Donald Trump has, without evidence, claimed re was widespre fraud in election. He has pushed Republican senators to pursue his unfounded charges even though Electoral College this month cemented Biden’s 306-232 victory and multiple legal efforts to challenge results have failed.

A group of Republicans in Democratic-majority House have alrey said y will object on Trump’s behalf during Jan. 6 count of electoral votes, and y h needed just a single senator to go along with m to force votes in both chambers.

Without giving specifics or evidence, Hawley said he would object because “some states, including tably Pennsylvania” did t follow ir own election laws. Lawsuits challenging Biden's victory in Pennsylvania have been unsuccessful.

“At very least, Congress should investigate allegations of voter fraud and opt measures to secure integrity of our elections,” Hawley said in a statement Wednesday.

Asked about Hawley’s anuncement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said, "I have doubt that on next Wednesday, a week from today, that Joe Biden will be confirmed by acceptance of vote of electoral college as 46th president of United States.”

When Congress convenes to certify Electoral College results, any lawmaker can object to a state’s votes on any grounds. But objection is t taken up unless it is in writing and signed by both a member of House and a member of Senate.

When re is such a request, n joint session suspends and House and Senate go into separate sessions to consider it. For objection to be sustained, both chambers must agree to it by a simple majority vote. If y disagree, original electoral votes are counted.

last time such an objection was considered was 2005, when Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio and Sen. Barbara Boxer of California, both Democrats, objected to Ohio’s electoral votes by claiming re were voting irregularities. Both chambers debated objection and rejected it. It was only second time such a vote h occurred.

As president of Senate, Vice President Mike Pence will preside over Jan. 6 session and declare winner.