Today in Michigan, state police “per the Governor’s office,” refused to let GOP electors get inside the Capitol building to cast their votes.“The Electors are already here, they’ve been checked in,” said the officer.
The Michigan State police officer said “The Capitol is closed unless you have an office here, or if you are taking part in the Electoral College process.”
“We are electors. We are here to take part in the electoral process,” replied the electors. “Not all of the electors are inside.”
“The Electors are already here, they’ve been checked in.” Michigan State Police are blocking access to the Capitol, preventing the GOP Electors from getting inside #Michigan #ElectoralCollege #ElectoralCollegeVote pic.twitter.com/GzTK5gGCJ1
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) December 14, 2020
“The Capitol is closed,” said the Michigan State Police officer.
In a second video, an elector approaches the officer with a folder in his hand. He explains to the officer that GOP electors are “also on the Governor’s certificate of ascertainment.” The officer interrupted him and said “I’m not going to get into a political debate.”
“It’s the official sealed document, the certificate of ascertainment has also the GOP electors, they are here. They are trying to do their constitutional duty and their constitutional duty requires them to be at the Senate chamber today at 2pm. They are here,” said the GOP elector.
https://twitter.com/BGOnTheScene/status/1338572018523000836
The officer still refused to let them enter, providing no reason. “You’d have to ask the Governor’s office,” said the officer.
“We have a copy of paperwork that was prepared as Electors under their constitutional duty. Can I speak to the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate,” asked the elector. The officer said “He’s in the meeting right now with the Electoral College.”
All of this comes as Republican electors in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Nevada casted electoral votes for President Donald Trump, an effort that could lead to an eventual contested election scenario.
When Arizona is reached, a sitting U.S. Representative, likely Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL), who has already indicated he will do this, is able to object. If a sitting U.S. Senator agrees, with experts suggesting Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), or Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) are all likely candidates, then the objection has met the “legal minimum requirement” and will be noted.
At this point, the U.S. Senate will break off from the joint session to deliberate on the objection and determine whether to accept the slate from Arizona. The Senate, which will ostensibly still be held by a Republican majority on January 6, can then choose along party lines not to accept the electoral slate from Arizona.
Meanwhile, the House, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), will accept the original electors from Arizona. Pence would then serve as the tie breaking vote, refusing to accept the original Arizona electors.
This process could continue for every contested state, until neither President Trump nor Joe Biden have secured the requisite number of electoral votes.
This would lead to the election being decided by the Republican delegation in the House, led by 27 states who have sent Republicans to the House of Representatives. The Senate would then pick the Vice President, and assuming it votes along party lines, Mike Pence would retain the role.