GOP senator confronted by Trump supporters over electoral challenge: ‘The law matters’

Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) pushed back on Wednesday against pro-Trump protesters as they urged him to lodge a challenge to President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory, arguing that he was duty-bound to certify the vote.

“My opinion doesn’t matter,” a visibly frustrated Young told a group of protesters outside the Russell Senate Office Building. “And you know what? When it comes to the law, our opinions don’t matter. The law matters.”

One protester then argued that Democrats “haven’t followed the law,” echoing a claim by President Trump that the election results in a handful of states were marred by voter fraud and other nefarious activities.

“I value your opinion. I actually share your concerns. I share your conviction that President Trump should remain president. I share that conviction,” Young continues. “But the law matters. I took an oath under God — under God — I took an oath. Do we still take that seriously in this country?”

Republican senators are being swarmed by Trump protesters on the Hill. Here’s an exasperated @SenToddYoung saying he won’t vote against certifying the election.

“I took oath under God… does that still matter in this country?” pic.twitter.com/9nQEbt9Okl

— Rebecca Tan (@rebtanhs) January 6, 2021

The confrontation between Young who was, until recently, the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, comes as Congress meets to formally certify last month’s Electoral College vote affirming Biden’s status as president-elect.

Trump has continued to assert that the presidential race was “rigged” against him and should be overturned. 

However, federal election officials as well as former Attorney General William Barr have stated that there is no substantial evidence of widespread voter fraud. In November, a coalition of election officials and voting equipment manufacturers stated that the election was one of the safest in U.S. history. 

Dozens of the president’s allies in the House and several in the Senate have said they will formally challenge the election results in a handful of states, though those objections almost certainly will have no effect on the outcome of the presidential race.

Trump has also put pressure on Vice President Pence, who is charged with presiding over the joint session of Congress, to reject “fraudulently chosen electors.” Pence’s role in the session is largely ceremonial, and he does not have the legal authority to invalidate their votes.

In a statement released shortly after his run-in with the protesters on Wednesday, Young vowed to “certify the will of the states as presented,” noting that, “the people voted and the Electoral College voted. Congress must fulfill its role in turn.” 

“Like so many of my patriotic constituents and colleagues, I too wish the results of this election were different. I strongly supported President Trump and his agenda the last four years. I campaigned hard for him,” Young said. “But upon assuming this office, I took a solemn, inviolable oath to support and defend our Constitution, just as I did as a United States Marine. I will not violate that oath.”

Updated at 12:41 p.m.