Statement by Congressman Dan Kildee on Republican Attempts to Overturn 2020 Election

Statement

Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, issued the following statement today after President Donald J. Trump, in an audio recording, pressured a state election official into rigging the 2020 election in his favor:
"In our democracy, voters choose the president--not the candidates themselves. In the 2020 election, Joe Biden won the popular vote by over seven million votes. Every state--including Michigan--certified their election results, and the Electoral College affirmed President-elect Biden's 306-232 electoral win. President Trump's own Department of Justice has found no evidence of widespread voter fraud and neither have dozens of independent federal judges.

"Listening to the president on tape, his words are chilling and disturbing. President Trump is clearly trying to intimidate a state election official. Asking to "find' a specific number of votes does not mean you are interested in a truthful vote count. It means that President Trump wants to rig the results and tamper with an election, which is undemocratic, wrong and illegal.

"What separates America from other countries is that we are a nation of laws. If Congress overturns a legitimate election and disenfranchises millions of American voters, our country is no different than countries where unelected and autocratic dictators install themselves as leaders.

"Election officials at the state and local level, including Georgia's Secretary of State, have had the courage to abide by their oath of office, respect the rule of law and do the right thing. Now it is incumbent on Members of Congress to defend our Constitution against unprecedented attacks by the president. Every Republican Member of Congress who sows doubt about Joe Biden's legitimate victory, including efforts to reject the votes of the Electoral College, is committing acts that greatly damage the strength of our democracy."

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