GOP senators dismiss possible congressional challenge to Biden’s victory

WASHINGTON » Key Republican senators sent a message Wednesday to supporters of President Donald Trump who are counting on Congress to step in and reject President- elect Joe Biden’s victory: That is not going to happen.

Under federal law, Congress will meet in a Jan. 6 joint session to accept the votes of the electoral college, which formally votes Dec. 14. Any lawmaker can join with a companion from the other chamber to raise an objection to any state’s votes, prompting a debate and votes in each chamber on whether to accept the challenge.

Amid Trump’s unfounded claims of rampant fraud in key swing states, several fervent Trump supporters in the House have said they are exploring a challenge.

Rep. Mo Brooks, RAla., told Politico that he intended to make such a challenge, and several other members, including Reps. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., and Mike Kelly, R- Pa., have enthusiastically joined efforts to question Biden’s victory.

But no senator has publicly entertained joining the effort, and on Wednesday several key Republican senators dismissed the possibility that the Senate would reject electoral votes or join a House member’s challenge.

“I haven’t heard anybody in the Senate talking about that,” said Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the No. 3 GOP leader.

Asked about the possibility of a Senate challenge, Senate Majority Whip John Thune, RS.D., said to a Politico reporter, “I can’t imagine that would ever happen.”