STUART, Fla. — A growing number of Republican lawmakers have joined President Donald Trump's extraordinary effort to overturn the election, pledging to reject the results when Congress meets this week to count the Electoral College votes and certify President-elect Joe Biden's win.
U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., who represents Florida's 18th District, has joined that list.
𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟲𝘁𝗵!
— Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) January 3, 2021
A Thread ⬇️
It’s clear that Congress only intends to act when it will hurt President Trump, and I will not go along with this farce. Therefore, in the absence of a Congressional investigation into fraud in the 2020 Presidential election, I will oppose certifying the results.
— Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) January 3, 2021
/end thread
Mast, whose district includes Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Stuart and Jupiter, spoke Monday with WPTV anchor Michael Williams about why he is taking this stance.
"The goal is to not disenfranchise millions of Americans, to make sure that people know on both sides of the aisle, or anywhere, that it was a free, fair, honest election, and what we're looking at with the Electoral College and individual states being certified by the House of Representatives and the Senate, that is part of that process that strengthens that process," Mast said.
Multiple court cases filed by the Trump campaign team have been tossed and former Attorney General William Barr said there was no evidence of widespread election fraud.
Nancy Pelosi was narrowly reelected Sunday as speaker of the House, giving her the reins of Democrats' slender House majority as Biden sets a challenging course of producing legislation to tackle the pandemic, revive the economy and address other party priorities.
Biden's inauguration is scheduled for Jan. 20.
