Sen. Hawley says he will object during Electoral College vote certification

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri's junior senator said Wednesday that he will challenge the Electoral College vote naming Democrat Joe Biden president during a congressional session Jan. 6.

Congress meets in January after each presidential election to certify votes from the Electoral College. Biden beat President Donald Trump 306-232 in the electoral vote in November's election, but many Trump allies see the Jan. 6 session as another chance to challenge the result based on unproven allegations of widespread fraud.

"I cannot vote to certify the electoral college results on January 6 without raising the fact that some states, particularly Pennsylvania, failed to follow their own state election laws," Hawley said in a statement posted on his website and social media accounts. "And I cannot vote to certify without pointing out the unprecedented effort of mega corporations, including Facebook and Twitter, to interfere in this election, in support of Joe Biden. At the very least, Congress should investigate allegations of voter fraud and adopt measures to secure the integrity of our elections. But Congress has so far failed to act."

Hawley, a Republican, in his news release pointed out that Democrats raised objections during the certification in 2004 and 2016.

Any member of the U.S. House of Representatives can contest the Electoral College vote if joined by a member of the Senate. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Alabama) has pledged to object to the certification in the House.

Both chambers would then have to vote to refuse to accept electoral votes. However, the House is controlled by Democrats and several Senate Republicans have acknowledged Biden as the winner of the election.

The presidential inauguration is set for Jan. 20.