THE USA’s highest court has ordered that four battleground States respond to allegations of running an unconstitutional presidential election.
Legal action brought by the State of Texas against Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin has been docketed by the Supreme Court, giving the defendants until 7am Friday, December 11 (AEST), to respond.
Early news reports have indicated a number of other US States have already joined Texas in its Supreme Court bid including Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, South Dakota and Missouri.
DILUTED
A member of President Trump’s legal team, Jay Sekulow said the case was filed by Texas attorney-general Ken Paxton.
“He has asserted that because the way the elections were handled in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, it effectively diluted the value of the voters in his State,” Mr Sekulow said.
“What’s interesting is that we had a big hurdle yesterday,” he said.
“You want to make sure the case gets docketed – and the case has been docketed.
“The States now have to file a response by tomorrow at 3pm [Washington DC time].
“I expect to have significant action on this case – possibly determinative action – as early as Friday.”
A member of Mr Sekulow’s team Prof Harry Hutchins, an academic at George Mason University of Law, said it was a serious case.
“It strikes me first that the United States Supreme Court is taking this case seriously and it is demanding a serious response from the four defendant States,” Prof Hutchins said.
“I also think to the extent that the other States were willing to join the Texas case, that this will add some additional weight.
“But people should keep in mind that the bill of complaint by Texas has a prayer for relief that is, indeed, outcome determinative.”
BIG ONE
He said the action sought “a declaration by the Supreme Court that the 2020 Presidential Election in defendant States was in violation of the electors’ clause and the 14th Amendment of the Constitution”.
If upheld, 62 electoral votes would be impacted and would drop Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden below the 270 electoral college votes required for victory.
President Donald Trump has described the Texas challenge as “the big one”.
In a series of social media posts he said there was “massive evidence of widespread fraud in the four States mentioned in the Texas suit”.
“We will be intervening in the Texas case. This is the big one,” President Trump wrote.
In another posting he said: “The case that everyone has been waiting for is the State’s case with Texas and numerous others joining.
“It is very strong. All criteria met. How can you have a presidency when a vast majority think the election was rigged.” PC
STOP PRESS – 3pm, December 10: 17 States have now joined the Supreme Court legal suit brought by Texas.
