Republican senator from Arkansas and potential 2024 contender for the party’s nomination for president, Tom Cotton released a statement on Sunday night saying he will not object to the counting of Electoral College votes in Congress next week.
Advertisement
“The Founders entrusted our elections chiefly to the states—not Congress. They entrusted the election of our president to the people, acting through the Electoral College—not Congress. And they entrusted the adjudication of election disputes to the courts—not Congress. Under the Constitution and federal law, Congress’s power is limited to counting electoral votes submitted by the states,” Cotton said in his statement.
Cotton said if Congress overturned the results of the Electoral College, it would “establish unwise precedents”.
Advertisement
“First Congress would take away the power to choose the president from the people, which would essentially end presidential elections and place that power in the hands of whichever party controls Congress,” he said. “Second, Congress would imperil the Electoral College, which gives small states like Arkansas a voice in presidential elections.”
“Thus, I will not oppose the counting of certified electoral votes on January 6,” the senator added.
Even though he will not support an objection to Biden’s victory, Cotton said he “support a commission to study the last election and propose reforms to protect the integrity of our elections.”
Advertisement
Also on Sunday another Trump ally, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said he would not object to the counting of electoral college votes. He called the movement led by Sens. Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley “a political dodge” instead of “an effective remedy.”
