Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., will not be joining some of his fellow congressional Republicans in challenging the Electoral College outcome when Congress convenes in a joint session this Wednesday to certify the results of the presidential election.
"I share the concerns of many Arkansans about irregularities in the presidential election, ... [and] I also share their disappointment with the election results. I therefore support a commission to study the last election and propose reforms to protect the integrity of our elections," Cotton said in a statement released Sunday.
However, he said, "Under the Constitution and federal law, Congress's power is limited to counting electoral votes submitted by the states."
The Arkansas Republican then outlined three reasons why objecting to Electoral College results indicating Joe Biden as the winner of the election would go beyond Congress' power and set bad precedents.
"First, Congress would take away the power to choose the president from the people, which would essentially end presidential elections and place that power in the hands of whichever party controls Congress.
"Second, Congress would imperil the Electoral College, which gives small states like Arkansas a voice in presidential elections," which could eventually lead to Democrats effectively getting rid of the Electoral College, and "Third, Congress would take another big step toward federalizing election law, another longstanding Democratic priority that Republicans have consistently opposed."
Twelve Senate Republicans and dozens of House Republicans have backed the plan to challenge the electoral results, despite numerous courts having rejected legal challenges by President Donald Trump's campaign and supporters.
Prominent Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and former House Speaker Paul Ryan, have publicly opposed the move, but backers claim Congress must hold jurisdiction over the issue, according to The Hill.
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