Yahoo News Trump news: Proud Boys to march on DC for Trump as Cruz leads 12 Republican election challenge
The US Congress dealt Donald Trump a humiliating blow, voting in his final weeks in office to override his veto of a sweeping defence bill - the first time lawmakers have done so during his presidency
(AFP)Ted Cruz will lead 12 GOP senators who are still trying to overturn the presidential election for Donald Trump.
Mr Cruz is part of a group of 11 senators who say they will demand an ‘emergency audit’ of the election result in Congress before they certify the electoral college, which was won by Mr Biden.
The group of Republicans say they will object to the 6 January certification of Joe Biden’s win unless there is an emergency 10-day audit of the results by an election commission.
Mr Cruz is being joined by Ron Johnson, James Lankford, Steve Daines, John Kennedy, Marsha Blackburn, Mike Braun, as well as Senators.-elect Cynthia Lummis, Roger Marshall, Bill Hagerty, and Tommy Tuberville.
The group’s effort is separate from Senator Josh Hawley, who is also trying to challenge the election results.
It is unlikely to make any real difference to the election results as a majority of members on the House and Senate will almost certainly certify the result and send Mr Biden to the White House.
Later, Mike Mike Pence “welcomed” the senators’ attempts to overturn the election.
"Vice President Pence shares the concerns of millions of Americans about voter fraud and irregularities in the last election," said Mr Pence’s chief of staff Marc Short.
“The Vice President welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress and the American people on 6 January.”
Earlier a federal judge in Texas has thrown out a lawsuit filed by Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas, alongside several Arizona Republicans, that seeks to force vice president Mike Pence to help overturn the president’s election next week when Congress is due to meet to count the Electoral College votes.
It comes after the Senate delivered a double rebuke to US president Donald Trump after overriding his veto of a sweeping defence bill for the first time and rejecting his demand for US$2,000 Covid-19 stimulus cheques.
The GOP has dealt Mr Trump a series of blows in the final weeks of his presidency, and is now divided over his election defeat challenge. Congress is expected to confirm the Electoral College results next week in a joint session, which will become a defining moment for the Republican Party.
