U.S. Representative Ted Budd of North Carolina's 13th District is among a group of Republican members of Congress who say they'll challenge the results of the presidential election when convening Wednesday in a move that is being slammed by politicians on both sides of the aisle.
At least three other North Carolina GOP representatives say they'll join Budd — David Rouzer, Madison Cawthorn, and Richard Hudson.
In an interview before Christmas with Spectrum News, Budd said he wants to speak up for those who say irregularities call the vote into question.
“I don't think we should deny or ignore millions of Americans who see foul play and really want it dealt with,” he said then.
Budd's office did not respond to an interview request for this story.
Various courts have denied the Trump campaign's efforts for them to intervene, citing a lack of evidence of fraud.
The effort by Budd and his colleagues seems unlikely to succeed. All 50 states have certified their elections, giving president-elect Joe Biden the victory. Congress' power in tabulating the electoral college vote is largely ceremonial, and even if members had the power to overturn the results, the challengers don't appear to have enough votes in either chamber to win.
Nevertheless, the move has received bipartisan rebukes. Democrats have called using tally to overturn what courts have found to be a fair election undemocratic, un-American, and even seditious.
Republican opponents say they don't want to set a precedent of Congress deciding the vote, and not the people.