The results of the 2024 US presidential election will not be official on election night, as vote counting and certification can take days or weeks. In battleground states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, counting is delayed due to rules on processing mailed-in ballots. Legal challenges and provisional ballots can further slow the process. Each state has its own recount procedures, and official results must be certified by December 11. The electoral college votes are crucial, with potential legal battles expected, particularly from Trump and his allies.
Sen. Tom Cotton stated he would accept and certify the 2024 election results if they are fair and free, emphasizing that Congress lacks the constitutional authority to reject state-certified electors. Cotton, rumored to be a potential vice presidential pick for Trump, also commented on the possibility of pardoning individuals charged for their actions on Jan. 6, 2021, suggesting that minor offenses should be considered for pardons.
A witness testified that former President Donald Trump warned then-Vice President Mike Pence that certifying the election results on January 6 would be a "career killer," in a last-ditch effort to overturn the election. The witness, a White House valet, recounted Trump's direct threat to Pence, which was part of Trump's attempt to convince Pence to overturn the results. Pence and his advisers had repeatedly told Trump there was no legal basis to interfere with the electoral vote tally, and Pence ultimately disavowed Trump's theories, leading to strained relations between the two.
CNN's John Avlon argues that Rep. Elise Stefanik's statement about not certifying the 2020 election if she were in Mike Pence's position as vice president should disqualify her from becoming VP, suggesting that she is prioritizing ambition over integrity.
GOP Representative Elise Stefanik declined to commit to certifying the 2024 election results, citing concerns over constitutional processes. She defended former President Trump's claims of election fraud in 2020 and his recent comments about January 6 rioters and migrants. Stefanik criticized Democratic efforts to remove Trump from ballots and labeled them a threat to democracy. Despite being pressed, she avoided directly answering whether she would serve as Trump's vice president if asked, while expressing her support for his potential re-election.
A recording obtained by The Detroit News reveals former President Donald Trump pressuring two Michigan county officials not to certify the election results from Detroit in 2020. Trump, along with RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, urged the officials not to sign the certification and promised to provide attorneys. Despite their attempts to rescind their votes, the results were certified by the Michigan state canvassing board. Trump claimed Republicans had been cheated and falsely alleged voter fraud in Detroit. The recording adds to previous condemnation of Trump's attempt to pressure local officials and interfere with the election.
Former President Donald Trump was captured on audio pressuring election workers in Michigan not to sign papers certifying the election results. The phone call, which took place on November 17, 2020, included Trump, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, Ronna McDaniel, and two Republican members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers. Trump told the canvassers they would look "terrible" if they signed the papers to certify the election after having previously voted against certification. Trump's behavior mirrored his infamous call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, in which he pressured him to "find" additional votes.
Six Michigan Republicans who falsely claimed to be electors for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election appeared in court for preliminary examinations, as a judge considered whether criminal cases against them should proceed. One of the defendants, Aaron Van Langevelde, a former member of the Board of State Canvassers, was ordered to leave the courtroom due to concerns that he could be called as a witness. The examinations are the first serious test of the charges brought by Michigan's Attorney General Dana Nessel against the Republicans, who claimed to be electors despite Joe Biden winning the state.
Two local officials in Cochise County, Arizona, Peggy Judd and Tom Crosby, have been indicted by a grand jury for delaying the certification of the county's midterm election results in 2022. The indictment alleges that they conspired to delay the certification and interfered with the statewide canvas, committing two felonies. If the county hadn't certified the results, a Republican representative would have lost his race. Judd and Crosby are the latest Republicans to face criminal charges related to election denialism.
Two Republican supervisors in Arizona's Cochise County, Tom Crosby and Peggy Judd, are facing felony charges for refusing to meet the state's deadline for certifying the 2022 midterm election results. The delay raised concerns about the potential disruption of future elections and the disenfranchisement of voters. The office of Arizona's secretary of state called for an investigation, leading to the charges brought by the state attorney general. The judge who ordered the county board to certify the results stated that they had exceeded their lawful authority in delaying the vote.
Rep. Tom Emmer has dropped out of the House speaker race after facing opposition from within the GOP, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who cited his vote to certify the 2020 election as a reason for not supporting him. House Republicans will host another candidate forum for speaker this evening, and there is talk of allowing more candidates to come forward. The conference is taking a brief pause to determine the next steps. Emmer's bid for speaker was met with criticism from the right wing of the Republican conference due to his moderate voting record and support for certifying the election results. Former President Donald Trump has also expressed negative views about Emmer.
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy stated that he would have certified the results of the 2020 election and criticized former Vice President Mike Pence for missing an "opportunity for heroism" on January 6, 2021. Ramaswamy believes Pence should have initiated reforms before certifying the election, such as implementing single-day voting, paper ballots, and government-issued ID matching the voter file. He also expressed his desire to have Donald Trump as an adviser and mentioned Elon Musk as a potential adviser as well.
