TRUMP IN COURT
SCOTUS scuttles Tex. bid to flip elex
The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a challenge to Presidentelect Joe Biden’s election wins in four crucial swing states, leaving President Trump virtually out of legal options ahead of Monday’s meeting of the Electoral College.
A partial-page order said the motion by the state of Texas to file a complaint alleging “significant and unconstitutional irregularities” in each state’s vote count “is denied for lack of standing under Article 3 of the Constitution.”
“Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another state conducts its elections,” the order said.
“All other pending motions are denied as moot.”
Justice Samuel Alito and Justice Clarence Thomas both dissented.
“In my view, we do not have discretion to deny the filing of a bill of complaint in a case that calls within our original jurisdiction,” Alito wrote.
“I would therefore grant the motion to file the bill of complaint but would not grant other relief, and I express no view on any other issue.”
The three justices appointed by Trump — Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett — did not join in the dissent.
Trump expressed his dismay at the decision, tweeting: “The Supreme Court really let us down. No Wisdom, No Courage!”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, filed the motion on Tuesday to sue Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin, which Trump won in 2016 but which flipped for Biden last month.
Republican attorneys general in 16 other states sought to join the case, as did Trump and 127 GOP House members, including Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who signed on Friday.
Biden is set to receive 306 Electoral College votes Monday, more than the 270 needed to win and the same number Trump scored in 2016.
Earlier this month, Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) announced plans to challenge the tally when Congress convenes on Jan. 6 to count the electoral votes and certify the winner.
On C-SPAN this week, Brooks — who claimed that “millions” of votes were cast illegally — said he had “no clue” if any senator would join him in the effort, which is all but certain to fail but would force Republicans to side with or against Trump.
“I can either surrender or fight to protect the integrity of our system,” he said. “I’m choosing to fight.”