Congressman Mike Garcia has voted to object to the Electoral College results after a day of riots in Washington D.C., with hundreds storming the United States Capitol.
With additional protection in place on the Congressional floor due to violence in the surrounding area, Garcia voted in favor of two motions attempting to throw out electoral votes from swing states alleging fraud.
“Americans have a right to free and fair elections. We must remember, the Presidency belongs not to Congress, it belongs to the American people. However, when threats of fraud arise regarding the results of the election, per the laws written in the Constitution, America’s elected Congressional Representatives must ensure that any uncertainty is resolved,” said Garcia in a statement Thursday. “My objection to the electoral votes of two states was not in an attempt to overturn the results of the election, it was to fulfill my duty to protect the rights of the men and women of California’s 25th District who elected me to serve them and stand up for their rights.”
After examining the evidence, which Garcia has not provided publicly, the congressman said he believes that there were constitutional missteps by multiple states according to Article 2, Section 1, Clause 2, and Article 1, Section 4 of the United States Constitution.
The former of the two referenced sections pertains to rules around how states appoint electors to the Electoral College and the latter grants the authority to determine the times, places and manner for holding elections for Senators and Representatives to each states’ respective legislature.
“The Constitution makes it clear, only state legislatures can set state election law. States, like the two states I objected to, violated the law when officials outside of the state legislature changed state election laws without the state legislature’s approval,” Garcia said. “My vote was not about politics, but about protecting the rights of the American people that are granted in the Constitution.”
See Related: Congressman Mike Garcia Calls For Protesters To ‘Immediately Cease’ After Storming Capitol Building
During floor discussion of the vote on Wednesday, hundreds of pro-Trump supporters charged at the Capitol, breaking down barriers, windows and doors.
The U.S. Capitol was locked down for several hours, with the mayor of Washington D.C. enacting a 6 p.m. curfew in efforts to break-up the violent crowd.
Garcia called for an end of the riot on Twitter calling it “tragic to our nation’s integrity.”
“What is happening in the Capitol today is unacceptable and tragic to our nation’s Integrity. I call for those engaged in storming Congress to immediately cease your operations,” Garcia said on Twitter. “Allow our Constitutional processes to proceed and allow our security guards and our staff to go home safely to their families.”
The House reconvened later Wednesday evening, into Thursday morning, voting on two separate motions on the Electoral College vote.
Both motions were rejected, with President-Elect Joe Biden confirmed by Congress.
“Let me be clear, the Constitutionally-mandated election process has run its course,” said Garcia. “Joe Biden is the next President of the United States and I congratulate both President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their win. It is time that we move forward and unite for the sake of California and all of America. I look forward to continuing to work on behalf of California’s 25th District. I promise to work hard to bring assured security to our nation.”
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