Senator Tom Cotton Rejects GOP Efforts On January 6: Would ‘Establish Unwise Precedents,’ ‘Embolden Democrats’ Who Want To Destroy Constitution

On Sunday, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) criticized an upcoming attempt by some members of the GOP to reject certain electors, saying that Congress does not have the authority to overturn the results of the election and doing so would “establish unwise precedents.”

“I share the concerns of many Arkansans about irregularities in the presidential election, especially in states that rushed through election-law changes to relax standards for voting-by-mail,” Cotton said in a statement late on Sunday evening after being sworn into the new Congress. “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. And after Republicans win in Georgia, the Senate should also hold more hearings on these matters. All Americans deserve to have confidence in the elections that undergird our free government.”

Cotton noted that Congress does not have the power to overturn the election results and that he will not support attempts to stop the certification of the Electoral College votes on Wednesday because it could “embolden Democrats” who want to destroy the Constitution.