Sen. Bill Cassidy explains decision not to challenge Joe Biden’s win

(KNOE) - U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) has released a statement regarding his decision not to challenge President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory. Multiple members of Congress, including Louisiana Republican John Kennedy, have said they plan to object to the Electoral College count on Jan. 6 when they meet to certify the election results. Biden won the Electoral College over President Donald Trump by 306 to 232.

In posts on social media, Cassidy explained why he believes challenging the Electoral College count would be a mistake. Cassidy said that a Senate committee only found isolated cases of election problems and found none that would change the results of the election. He also said President Trump’s numerous legal challenges have been rejected by the courts.

Finally, Cassidy said such a challenge would set a bad precedent for future elections, normalizing Electoral College count protests, and damage our democracy.

You can read Cassidy’s full message below.

The joint session of Congress, required by law, will convene at 12 p.m. CST. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who warned against the challenge, is expected to deliver early remarks. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is set to gavel proceedings on her side of the Capitol. Vice President Mike Pence will preside over the session. You can watch it here.

Message from Sen. Bill Cassidy regarding Electoral College:

“I have been asked regarding challenging the Electoral College count. I post this so that people can know what and why I decided.

“I voted for President Trump and supported his agenda. I have defended President Trump from attacks from the media and from fellow Senators.

“I supported President Trump’s right to challenge the election results in court. The dozens and dozens of legal challenges from President Trump’s legal team have all been rejected, many by judges appointed by President Trump. Every one of them. This is an analysis by a conservative: https://thedispatch.com/p/analyzing-trumps-legal-challenges

“Let’s be clear, there were problems in the election. The Senate Committee on Homeland Security has already held a hearing. The committee found that there were isolated incidents of fraud. The Republican chairman of the committee said, however, that although isolated incidences of fraud occurred, they would not have changed the results of the election. https://www.jsonline.com/.../electoral.../3908874001/

“Still, there should be a committee or commission investigating and addressing the problems that did occur.

“However disappointed I am with the result, the result is what it is. Conservatives must focus on defending President Trump’s Make America Great Again policies.

“I have been asked to challenge the Electoral College count January 6th. This is a bad idea. Given that Democrats control the House of Representatives, it will not change who is President. One of President Trump’s biggest supporters, Lindsey Graham, calls the challenge a “political dodge.” It may, however, damage our democracy.

“Imagine a future Republican is narrowly elected President and the Left refuses to accept the result. The Left loses court case after court case but lights up social media so a Democratic Senator can justify not seating the Republican because of allegations of voter fraud. If Democrats control the Senate and the House of Representatives, they can oppose the Electoral College count and throw the election to the (Democratic) House of Representatives to determine who is the next President. It won’t be the Republican. All because in 2021, Electoral College count protests were normalized. Some things are more important than one person.

“Many in Louisiana are concerned about the future. I too am concerned, but I have faith that if true conservatives support and defend our Constitution and enforce its rules, we will Keep America Great.”