Harris: Election Debate Surrounded ‘Legitimate Constitutional Concerns’

Maryland Congressman Andy Harris (R- Md.), who represents the Eastern Shore, said Thursday that he and his colleagues who disputed the Electoral College count “held legitimate Constitutional concerns about how the November election was conducted in certain states and felt compelled to highlight those concerns during the formal vote count.”

“We did not call for the overthrowing of an election,” Harris added in a statement Thursday. “Joe Biden will be President on January 20^th.  Some of my colleagues, including those still in the Maryland delegation, offered objections in 2017 when counting the electoral votes for President Trump.  Congress is afforded the right to count, and object, to electoral votes, which we utilized yesterday to highlight concerns we had regarding the November election.  There was nothing treasonous or seditious about it in 2017, nor this year.”  

Harris also spoke against the violence that broke out Wednesday when a crowd invaded the Capitol building.

Harris’ full statement follows:

“I have routinely and consistently rejected violent protests, whether in the case of yesterday, or last summer.  Democrats are calling for unity, yet also calling for the expulsion of Members who objected in yesterday’s Electoral College count.  Today, some Marylanders are even calling for my resignation, which I will not do.  My colleagues and I held legitimate Constitutional concerns about how the November election was conducted in certain states and felt compelled to highlight those concerns during the formal vote count.  We did not call for the overthrowing of an election.  Joe Biden will be President on January 20^th.  Some of my colleagues, including those still in the Maryland delegation, offered objections in 2017 when counting the electoral votes for President Trump.  Congress is afforded the right to count, and object, to electoral votes, which we utilized yesterday to highlight concerns we had regarding the November election.  There was nothing treasonous or seditious about it in 2017, nor this year.”