According to a report from the New York Times on Tuesday, Vice President Mike Pence told President Trump Tuesday that he does not have constitutional power to block the certification of the election.
Trump insists that Pence, who is presiding over Wednesday’s joint session of Congress, has the “power to reject fraudulently chosen electors.”
Vice President Pence told President Trump on Tuesday that he did not believe he had the power to block congressional certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election, NYT reports. https://t.co/eUFADVPHYL
— The Seattle Times (@seattletimes) January 6, 2021
NYT: ‘Pence Told Trump He Did Not Believe He Had The Power’
According to the New York Times, “Pence told Trump he did not believe he had the power to block congressional certification of Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s victory in the presidential election despite Mr. Trump’s baseless insistence that he did, people briefed on the conversation said.”
This report comes in the wake of a tweet from the president on Tuesday that read, “The Vice president has the power to reject fraudulently chosen electors.”
The Vice President has the power to reject fraudulently chosen electors.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2021
NYT: Pence Expected ‘To Carry Out His Constitutional Duties On Wednesday’
On Wednesday, Congress will formally count the Electoral College votes. Debating the results would be possible with an objection from at least one lawmaker in both the House and Senate.
This is expected to happen, with over 100 Republican House members and a dozen-plus Republican senators vowing to do precisely that.
The Times reported, “When the results from all of the states have been considered, Mr. Pence, who as vice president also serves as presiding officer of the Senate, will be called on to read out the Electoral College votes for each candidate, formalizing Mr. Biden’s victory.”
“Mr. Pence has spent hours with parliamentarians and lawyers in recent days,” the Times noted.
“His allies said they expect him to carry out his constitutional duties on Wednesday.”
Pence Said to Have Told Trump He Lacks Power to Change Election Result – The New York Times https://t.co/puos1H1PV4
— John Bresnahan (@bresreports) January 6, 2021
“If Mr. Pence were for some reason unable or unwilling to carry out his role as president of the Senate, that role would fall to Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, the chamber’s longest-serving Republican member.”
Trump Calls NYT Report ‘Fake News’
Late Tuesday, President Trump released a statement calling the New York Times report “fake news” and said that he and Pence were in “total agreement” regarding Pence’s power to object to electors.
“The New York Times report regarding comments Vice President Pence supposedly made to me today is fake news. He never said that,” Trump said in a statement.
“The Vice President and I are in total agreement that the Vice President has the power to act.”
Trump said that the election was “corrupt in contested states, and in particular it was not in accordance with the Constitution in that they made large scale changes to election rules and regulations as dictated by local judges and politicians, not by state legislators.”
#NEW: President Trump releases statement regarding his communication w/ VP Pence & potential actions regarding election certification. pic.twitter.com/rrBFW00IgG
— Jenn Pellegrino OAN ?? (@JennPellegrino) January 6, 2021
“This means that it was illegal,” the President added.
Trump said Pence has “several options under the U.S. Constitution. He can decertify the results or send them back to the states for change and certification,” Trump said.
“He can also decertify the illegal and corrupt results and send them to the House of Representatives for the one vote for one state tabulation,” the President added.
A spokesman for Pence declined to comment when requested by Fox News.