Page 5 - Turmoil in America: The 2020 Election

Following Trump’s orders, Sec-
retary of State Mike Pompeo refused “There will be a smooth
to meet with Biden. Moreover, when transition to a second Trump
questioned by reporters, Pompeo sug- administration.” 41
gested that he agreed with Trump’s —Mike Pompeo, US secretary of state
belief that the election was stolen and
that the court challenges then under
way would ultimately result in Trump remaining in offi ce for a sec-
ond term. “There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump
administration,” Pompeo told reporters a week after the election.
41

Challenge to the Electoral College
As Trump blocked the transition, and as the judges assigned to
the election challenges continually dismissed the president’s ef-
forts to overturn the outcome, Trump’s focus turned to a much
different strategy. After the Electoral College certifi ed Biden’s win
on December 14, under federal law one more step was neces-
sary for the outcome of the election to be declared fi nal. Mem-
bers of the House and Senate were scheduled to meet in the
US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in a joint session of Congress to
conduct a formal count and acceptance of the Electoral College
vote. Presiding over this special session of Congress would be
the vice president.
In past years this session of Congress has been little more
than a ceremonial event. At no time in the nation’s history has
Congress rejected the count of the Electoral College. In fact, in
2017 Biden, as vice president, presided over the joint session to
accept Trump’s victory in the Electoral College. But as the 2021
special session of Congress approached, Trump called for his
allies in Congress to object to the vote of the Electoral College
and ultimately to reject the outcome. Moreover, he called on Vice
President Mike Pence to use his authority, while presiding over
the joint session, to reject the Electoral College vote.
Fourteen current and incoming Republican members of the
Senate said they would object to the Electoral College count. But

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