GOP senator says efforts to challenge Biden's win in Congress are "not going anywhere"
From CNN's Ted Barrett, Manu Raju and Daniella Diaz
Senate Majority Whip John Thune said that Joe Biden is President-elect once he crosses 270 electoral votes and says efforts to challenge the results in Congress are “not going anywhere.” He said “it’s time for everybody to move on” after today.
Moments ago, Biden won electoral votes to officially clinch the presidency after California’s electors awarded him the state’s 55 electoral votes.
"Now that the electoral college has acted, are you prepared to call Biden President-elect?" CNN asked Thune today.
"Well I mean, once somebody gets 270, I understand they're ruling right now, but I think that's the process we have, yes," he replied.
Here's how the rest of the exchange went:
Q: You have no doubts?
Thune: "As soon as he crosses the 270 vote threshold, I mean there are still a couple of, I guess, last steps in the process, but in my view that's how in this country we decide presidential elections, that's our Constitution, and I believe in following the Constitution."
Q: Challenge electoral votes?
Thune: "It's their prerogative, it's allowed for in the Constitution, but it's not going anywhere. It's an opportunity for people to vent and protest, but in the end we have a clear way of determining a president, those steps have been adhered to, they've been followed, either the House can choose to do that, (inaudible)."
