Trump accused Democrats of ‘trying to steal an election’, but provided no evidence (File)
Washington:
As President Donald Trump collapsed over the results of the US presidential election, some of his Republican colleagues in Congress have hinted that he should tone down his rhetoric.
Three days after the election, votes are still being counted in the tightly fought battlefield states of Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia and North Carolina. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has a growing lead over Trump, a Republican, who could bring him victory.
Amid repeated and unsubstantiated allegations of Trump’s electoral fraud, Senator Roy Blunt, a member of the Republican leadership, told reporters that “at some point” the White House will need to be able to bring these allegations to the courts. courts and present evidence.
“I also don’t think it’s unreasonable for … Biden to take the unofficial result and do whatever he thinks he needs to do,” Blunt added.
The unofficial result could come as early as Friday, with Biden planning an address to the nation in the evening.
Throughout his campaign, Biden has said he will work to heal the deep political divisions that plague the United States. This work could be hampered if Trump convinces at least part of the country that Biden’s victory was illegitimate.
Some 30% of Republicans agree with Trump’s claim he won the election, although a bipartisan majority of Americans do not, according to a Reuters / Ipsos poll released Thursday.
Trump said in a White House statement Thursday: “If you count the legal votes, I win easily.” Without presenting any evidence, he accused Democrats of “trying to steal an election.”
Some high profile Republicans have expressed support for the president’s claims. House of Representatives Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told Fox News: “President Trump won this election. So everyone listening is not silent.”
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, a staunch supporter of Trump, told Fox News he was prepared to donate $ 500,000 to Trump’s legal efforts in several states.
The Republican National Committee aims to raise at least $ 60 million to help fund Trump’s legal battles, sources told Reuters.
But other Republicans in Congress weren’t so excited about a never-ending battle and its consequences for America if it became clear that Biden had won the election fair and square.
Ohio Senator Rob Portman, whom Trump won on Tuesday, echoed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in calling for ballots to be counted according to the laws of each state.
“I hope we can reach a final resolution as soon as possible,” he said in a statement.
Senator Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential candidate, knows the agony that can accompany defeat. But he lambasted Trump for claiming the election was stolen.
“It hurts the cause of freedom here and in the world … and recklessly ignites destructive and dangerous passions,” Romney said on Twitter.
(Except for the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
