Vice President Pence is expected to preside over Congress’s counting of the Electoral College vote on Wednesday.
Pence’s attendance was thrown into momentary confusion on Tuesday when Roll Call reported that Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said he would preside because “we don’t expect him [Pence] to be there.”
The suggestion sent shock waves through Washington, which is gearing up for a high-profile effort by dozens of congressional Republicans to challenge the election results, stirring up brief chaos as reporters grappled with whether Pence had pulled out of the joint session.
Though Pence’s role is ceremonial, he’s under public pressure from President Trump to use his position to challenge President-elect Joe Biden’s win. Trump, speaking in Georgia on Monday night, said he hoped Pence “comes through for us,” without specifying what steps he hopes the vice president would take.
But a White House official quickly said Grassley’s initial comments were not accurate.
And a spokesperson for the 87-year-old GOP senator quickly clarified that Grassley was saying that if Pence needs a break during the hours-long session, he would preside over any Senate debate and votes on challenges to the Electoral College results.
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NEW: Pence expected to preside over Congress's Electoral College count https://t.co/GCAO0pOu9U pic.twitter.com/kniMhpW3t1
— The Hill (@thehill) January 5, 2021
President Trump: "I hope Mike Pence comes through for us, I have to tell you. I hope that our great Vice President, our great Vice President, comes through for us. He's a great guy. Of course, if he doesn't come through, I won't like him quite as much." pic.twitter.com/1eYA5bva7M
— The Hill (@thehill) January 5, 2021There are people responding to this tweet and arguing and showing why it's not true – as if Trump cares about any of that and isn't just some mentally unstable old man trying to pressure Mike Pence to violate the Constitution. https://t.co/pyXmN7uBgN
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) January 5, 2021
RIP, Pence.#ETTD https://t.co/NSQCXIsNwY
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) January 5, 2021
Poor Pence have hyperventilate in fear of him silly sad career be over now when him face with task of either do him Constitutional duty or do what The Donald want instead. Either way, him life be ruin just like every person who get in bed with The Donald is be ruin. Is deserved.
— Rogue Melaniađ¸đ¸đ¸ (@RogueFirstLady) January 5, 2021
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