U.S. SUPREME COURT REJECTS TEXAS LAWSUIT CONTESTING ELECTION RESULTS

  

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a lawsuit from Texas challenging the election results in four battleground states that President Donald Trump lost in November.

On Friday, the court issued a brief unsigned ruling saying Texas lacked standing to bring the case forward.  The order read, “Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections.”

The decision leaves Trump with few options ahead of the scheduled meeting Monday of the Electoral College, where each state’s delegates will cast their ballots for Trump or President-elect Joe Biden.

Trump endorsed the efforts of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to have the electoral votes of Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin blocked.  Paxton argued the four states made changes to election procedures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that were illegal and not in accordance with their state legislatures, thereby raising questions about the legitimacy of the election results.

However, the four battleground states condemned Texas’ lawsuit, with Pennsylvania calling it an effort to “overthrow the votes of the American people.”  U.S. Attorney General William Barr and other election officials have discredited claims of widespread voter fraud.

After the lawsuit was filed, several dozen states either voiced their support of or opposition to the measure.  Meanwhile, over 125 members of the U.S. House indicated favor of the matter, which proved to be divisive among Republicans.

Following the court’s decision, Texas Republican Party Chair Allen West said it “establishes a precedent that says states can violate the U.S. Constitution and not be held accountable.”  He went on to say, “Perhaps law-abiding states should bond together and form a union of states that will abide by the Constitution.”