Congressman and Former Navy Fighter Pilot Mike Garcia Releases Statement
“There is a constitutional inference that the federal legislature (i.e. Congress) is a natural final check for the actions or integrity of the processes at the state legislative levels. Our entire federal republic is based on a system of checks and balances.
“While I am a federalist, I do believe there is enough evidence of compromised processes and break downs in election integrity by certain state legislatures that do in fact warrant a closer examination. We need a full forensic audit of several states to ensure all Americans have confidence in our elections.
“The events leading up to and the events in the wake of the 2020 election were some of the most divisive and polarizing moments in our Nation’s brief history. As we reach the final step in a constitutional process to certify the Presidential election, I have decided to vote to reject some of the states’ electoral votes.
“This decision is not one that I take lightly. I have examined all available evidence in several states currently being disputed, and I have digested the constitutional arguments from both sides of this discussion. We are clearly in the midst of a constitutional collision.
“In at least six consequential swing states, state election laws were fundamentally altered by bureaucrats outside of the state legislatures and in contravention of the explicit power granted to those state legislatures by the Federal Constitution.
“This is in violation of the Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 and Article 1, section 4 of the Federal Constitution and the processes set forth for directing the selection of electors and managing elections. There is no grey area in this regard.
“In this case, the respective state legislatures and attorneys general have failed the nation by allowing such porous and compromised processes and so much doubt to prevail and be left unchecked.
“These doubts now fall in the lap of Congress to adjudicate. The dereliction of duty by 6 states was a disservice to both Presidential candidates. And it was an affront on our entire national pride and our founding documents.
“I have no blind loyalties to any individuals or political parties. My intent of objecting is not to change the outcome of the election. Fraud needs to be eradicated and is unacceptable regardless of whether it affects the outcome of the election.
“I serve and fight for the Constitution. In this case, this means ensuring the integrity of our processes and ensuring that the elections of officials within our Federal Republic remain unassailable and pure. Where there is doubt in the process or in the integrity thereof, we as elected officials and representatives at all levels of government have a moral imperative and, in fact, a constitutional and legal obligation, to demand that we slow down and examine exactly what happened. We must have assurances of election security, and in the end, we may see there was no fraud or at least not enough fraud to affect the outcome. This is also good to know. Right now, we know nothing.
“The vote on 6 January is not about Trump versus Biden or left versus right. It is about seeking assured security. Assured security not only for the last election but more importantly for future elections. Assured security in knowing that not only will every legitimate vote be counted, but also that every illegitimate and fraudulent vote will NOT be counted.
“Just as we have invested time ensuring foreign actors do not mettle in our elections, it is just as important to ensure we have trust and legitimacy in our systems within our own borders.”
Mike Garcia believes in a strong national defense and is a pro-business, pro-taxpayer, political outsider with nearly 20 years of service to this country as one of the first Super Hornet strike fighter pilots in the Navy and is a highly decorated US Naval Officer. Garcia is a first-generation American whose father immigrated to the US in 1959 and has lived in the 25th district for nearly all of his life. Garcia lives in Santa Clarita with his wife and two sons. He was elected to Congress on May 12, 2020, winning a Special Election with 55% and becoming the first California Republican to flip a Democrat seat since 1998. The 25th district encompasses the cities of Santa Clarita, Simi Valley, Palmdale, Lancaster and the northern part of the San Fernando Valley. The median income is $76,866 and the ethnic breakdown is 45.8% White, 8% Black, 7.7% Asian and 35.3% Hispanic.
I have never had occasion to question the patriotism of an elected official. Representative Mike Garcia’s military service not withstanding, his plan to object to the state-certified electoral votes of some states causes me to do so.
Garcia explained: “I do believe there is enough evidence of compromised processes and break downs in election integrity by certain state legislatures that do in fact warrant a closer examination”.
If election fraud is so widespread, why is it that after multiple recounts and state audits, and 60+ (lost) lawsuits there has been no evidence presented of fraud indicating a “breakdown in election integrity”? Allegations? Lots. Evidence? None. Barr’s Justice Department also found no evidence of fraud threatening the integrity of the election. Secretaries of State in several states have been playing whack-a-mole debunking myths. Going to court would have been the ideal time to bring forth evidence!
There was a motion January 3 to not seat the congressional representatives from those states. Congressman Garcia voted to seat those representatives that were elected on the same ballots with the same procedures and checks that Garcia wants to object to for the presidential race, revealing the breathtaking scope of Garcia’s hypocrisy.
To claim that the intent is only to ask questions and get an investigation of the election is baloney. Recounts, audits, and lawsuits provided ample opportunity for that. President Trump has not conceded, and has been making great efforts to spread disinformation and to pressure state officials to fix the election for him.
The clauses of the Constitution Garcia quotes as a basis for getting involved say that the state Legislatures shall define how the electors are selected. All of the states have certified that their slates of electors have been properly chosen. That is the end of the story. There is no role for Congress to get in the middle and invalidate a state’s certified electors.
Either Garcia truly believes the nattering nabobs of nonsense narrating conspiracy theories, in which case he is more feebleminded than I think he is, or he is being disingenuous and is willfully tearing at the foundation of our democracy that lies at the heart of what it means to be an American: the election of our government. If it were to be Congress’ prerogative to override the states certified electoral votes, then a party that controlled both the House and Senate could select the President without regard to the voters. Not the actions of an American patriot.
I have never had occasion to question the patriotism of an elected official. Representative Mike Garcia’s military service not withstanding, his plan to object to the state-certified electoral votes of some states causes me to do so.
Garcia explained: “I do believe there is enough evidence of compromised processes and break downs in election integrity by certain state legislatures that do in fact warrant a closer examination”.
If election fraud is so widespread, why is it that after multiple recounts and state audits, and 60+ (lost) lawsuits there has been no evidence presented of fraud indicating a “breakdown in election integrity”? Allegations? Lots. Evidence? None. Barr’s Justice Department also found no evidence of fraud threatening the integrity of the election. Secretaries of State in several states have been playing whack-a-mole debunking myths. Going to court would have been the ideal time to bring forth evidence!
There was a motion January 3 to not seat the congressional representatives from those states. Congressman Garcia voted to seat those representatives that were elected on the same ballots with the same procedures and checks that Garcia wants to object to for the presidential race, revealing the breathtaking scope of Garcia’s hypocrisy.
To claim that the intent is only to ask questions and get an investigation of the election is baloney. Recounts, audits, and lawsuits provided ample opportunity for that. President Trump has not conceded, and has been making great efforts to spread disinformation and to pressure state officials to fix the election for him.
The clauses of the Constitution Garcia quotes as a basis for getting involved say that the state Legislatures shall define how the electors are selected. All of the states have certified that their slates of electors have been properly chosen. That is the end of the story. There is no role for Congress to get in the middle and invalidate a state’s certified electors.
Either Garcia truly believes the nattering nabobs of nonsense narrating conspiracy theories, in which case he is more feebleminded than I think he is, or he is being disingenuous and is willfully tearing at the foundation of our democracy that lies at the heart of what it means to be an American: the election of our government. If it were to be Congress’ prerogative to override the states certified electoral votes, then a party that controlled both the House and Senate could select the President without regard to the voters. Not the actions of an American patriot.