Sen. Rand Paul proposed gathering a random sample of mail-in ballots to determine the prevalence of fraud before undertaking a full investigation.
“One way of determining fraud in mail-in ballots would be to examine a random sample of a few thousand to find the rate of fraud,” the Kentucky Republican tweeted on Tuesday. “If fraud rate is low, voters may be convinced of the election’s legitimacy. If the fraud rate is high, then every mail-in ballot should be examined.”
One way of determining fraud in mail-in ballots would be to examine a random sample of a few thousand to find the rate of fraud. If fraud rate is low, voters may be convinced of the election’s legitimacy. If the fraud rate is high, then every mail-in ballot should be examined.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) November 10, 2020
Paul’s comments come as President Trump has refused to concede the election, insisting that there has been widespread fraud that led to presumptive President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. Trump’s legal team is currently working on lawsuits in several battleground states, while Wisconsin’s and Georgia’s results are going to recounts after having narrow Biden leads.
Democrats and the media have largely brushed aside Trump’s claims of fraud, insisting that the president has not provided any evidence to question the election’s legitimacy.
Fox News cut away from a Trump campaign press conference on Monday as White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany discussed the campaign’s allegations of fraud.
“Woah, woah, woah, I just think we have to be very clear. She’s charging the other side is welcoming fraud and welcoming illegal voting. Unless she has more details to back that up, I can’t in good countenance continue showing you this,” host Neil Cavuto said after the network cut away from the briefing.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has urged his colleagues in the GOP to condemn the president’s legal challenges and accept the results of the election.
“Republican leaders in Congress should also do the right thing. Republican leaders must unequivocally condemn the president’s rhetoric and work to ensure the peaceful transfer of power on Jan. 20. … Too many, including the Republican leader, have been silent or sympathetic to the president’s fantasies,” the New York Democrat said on the Senate floor.
But most Republicans have indicated support for the president, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
“President Trump is 100% within his rights to look into allegations of irregularities and weigh his legal options,” McConnell said. “Suffice it to say, a few legal inquiries from the president do not exactly spell the end of the republic.”
