Eleven U.S. Senators from the Republican Party make a final effort next week to prevent Joe Biden from becoming president by protesting the latest Senate voter count. The group, led by former presidential candidate Ted Cruz, plans to vote against the election results on January 6.
The election count is usually a ceremonial procedure in the Senate.
Eleven say they will not accept the vote of voters from states contested by President Trump. They want Congress to set up a commission to investigate the election results. According to US media, this is an almost certainly symbolic move that will have little effect.
The split within the party
Within the Republican Party there is a dispute over the protest of Cruz and his cohorts. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell called on members of his party to respect the result.
President Trump had been claiming since November 3, Election Day, that the vote count was rigged and subsequent votes rigged. Several judges have described these allegations as unproven. Justice Minister Barr, who has since left, said there was no issue of fraud in the elections.
Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on January 20.
