Something very unusual is taking place in the U.S. Senate a day before a joint session of Congress convenes to certify Joe Biden’s electoral victory in the 2020 presidential election, and now it seems no one seems to know exactly who will be presiding on Wednesday.
According to Roll Call:
“Iowa Sen. Charles E. Grassley, the Senate president pro tempore, says he and not Vice President Mike Pence will preside over the certification of Electoral College votes, since ‘we don’t expect him to be there.'”
NEW: Iowa Sen. Charles E. Grassley, the Senate president pro tempore, says he and not Vice President Mike Pence will preside over the certification of Electoral College votes, since “we don’t expect him to be there.”
— Roll Call (@rollcall) January 5, 2021
Interesting nugget from Senate today
Pence was in the chair presiding as they started proceedings today and cleared a procedural motion
Then it was time to set up the Jan. 6 Elec College process and the inaugural committee. Pence left the chair, and handed it over to Grassley
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 3, 2021
Several minutes later, Grassley’s office sought to clarify exactly what the senator had been trying to convey:
Grassley’s office clarifies that he was meaning to explain what would happen if Pence had to step away during Wednesday’s proceedings to count Electoral College votes. “Every indication we have is that the vice president will be there,” Grassley’s office said.
— Roll Call (@rollcall) January 5, 2021
That seems to square with what a Fox News congressional reporter found out, too:
Grassley’s office clarifies that he was meaning to explain what would happen if Pence had to step away during Wednesday’s proceedings to count Electoral College votes. “Every indication we have is that the vice president will be there,” Grassley’s office said.
— Roll Call (@rollcall) January 5, 2021
B) It was intimated to Fox…that Pence MAY not stay the entire time…especially if these sessions go deep into the night. Remember, the House and Senate break off from the Joint Session and individually debate the electoral votes if there is a challenge to an individual state.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 5, 2021
Pence is in a difficult position. As VP, he has to remain loyal to Trump, but he also has to perform his official duties in certifying the election results. But doing so could threaten his own political future and lead the MAGA faithful to brand him a traitor.
One thing is clear: We’ll just have to wait another 24 hours and see exactly what transpires during that joint session of Congress on Wednesday.
Featured Image Via C-SPAN
