Mr Trump has continued to falsely claim that Mr Biden wrongly won the election because of widespread electoral fraud, and has called for Republicans in Congress to work to dismiss the results. Attorney General William P. Barr has acknowledged that the Department of Justice has not uncovered any such fraud that would have altered the outcome, and the Supreme Court as well as courts in at least eight key states across the country have rejected the challenges carried out by the EU or rejected the Trump campaign, to discard the election results. These challenges have come nowhere near outperforming results in a single state.
Even so, there is a significant divide within the party. While a steady stream of House Republicans have expressed their willingness to object to the electoral votes of critical states, Hawley is the first Senator to do so. He hinted on Wednesday that other senators might soon join his efforts, telling reporters, “A number of offices have reached out to ours through staff and said, ‘We’re interested.
He launched a fundraiser on Thursday highlighting his plan. “We have to make sure that one voice means one voice in America,” read the message, which was next to a photo of Mr. Hawley and Mr. Trump. “I plan to object to the results of the electoral college on January 6, but I need your help.”
It is unclear how many – if any – of his Senate colleagues will stand by his side.
But it already creates some sort of test for Republicans and their allies who are forced to take sides and either support Mr Trump or oppose his efforts to overthrow the elections.
His announcement on Wednesday met with a clear lack of enthusiasm in many conservative circles. Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and majority leader, had stopped lawmakers objecting to the results, arguing that a challenge would force Senators to enter the file, either against Mr. Trump or against the will of voters.
At a private conference call with Senate Republicans Thursday, Senator Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania, who will retire in 2022, spoke out to demonstrate his “strong” opposition to Mr. Hawley’s plan, a spokesman for Mr. Toomey.
Mr. Hawley’s objection will force the Senate to consider his request for up to two hours, followed by a vote on Mr. Biden’s victory. With every Senate Democrat expected to confirm the election, as well as at least several Republicans, the Senate will likely confirm Mr Biden’s victory. The house, which also has to hold the same vote, is controlled by Democrats, making certification a certainty.
