GOP senator hedges on acknowledging Biden win: ‘It’s time for the president’s lawyers to present the facts’

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) on Sunday did not acknowledge President-elect Joe Biden’s victory, saying instead that it was “time for the president’s lawyers to present the facts” if they had any evidence of wrongdoing.

ABC’s George Stephanopoulos noted that Blunt’s GOP colleagues Sens. Mitt Romney (Utah) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) congratulated Biden after the former vice president was declared the winner on Saturday.

“Joe Biden has won this election. Why can’t you acknowledge it?” Stephanopoulos asked Blunt.

“It’s time for the president’s lawyers to present the facts, and it’s time for those facts to speak for themselves,” Blunt responded. 

“I think that happens pretty quickly,” Blunt added in reference to certifying the electoral results. “Almost every state within seven to 10 days of the election goes through that entire canvas. There are always some changes. Seems unlikely that any changes could be big enough to make a difference, but this is a close election. We need to acknowledge that.”

“I thought that Vice President Biden did a great job last night talking about where the country wants to head, and one way to do that is to finish that election the way it deserves to be finished,” he added.

.@GStephanopoulos: “Joe Biden has won this election. Why can’t you acknowledge it?”

“It’s time for the president’s lawyers to present the facts and it’s time for those facts to speak for themselves,” GOP Sen. Roy Blunt as Trump pushes unfounded claims. https://t.co/aN8iz2wqRa pic.twitter.com/0M2GjD3Ak0

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) November 8, 2020

While the president’s legal team and Trump himself have repeatedly alleged widespread voter fraud, they have provided no evidence.

Blunt, who will co-chair the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, told Stephanopoulos on Sunday that he anticipates a “normal” ceremony, despite the coronavirus pandemic.

“We’re planning for a normal inauguration. … We’re moving forward anticipating an outside full-scale inauguration,” he said. “It’s easier to scale back than to scale up.”