Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the second-ranking House Republican, still won’t say the 2020 presidential election wasn’t “stolen,” a claim former President Donald Trump has falsely ― and dangerously ― peddled for months.
Scalise, the House minority whip, was asked Sunday during an appearance on ABC News’ “This Week” to confirm President Joe Biden’s legitimacy.
“Clear this up for me: Joe Biden won the election,” said host Jon Karl. “He is the legitimate president of the United States. The election was not stolen, correct?”
Scalise acknowledged that “Biden’s the president” but didn’t say flat out that the election wasn’t stolen.
“There were a few states that did not follow their state laws,” Scalise said. “That’s really the dispute that you’ve seen continue on.”
“At the end of the day, when you look at where we are in this country, either we’re going to address the problems that happened with the election that people are still ― millions of people ― are still concerned about,” he added. “The Constitution says state legislatures set the rules for elections. That didn’t happen in a few states.”
Trump and his allies filed dozens of lawsuits in multiple states in an attempt to overturn Biden’s win. The vast majority of these cases were dismissed. In Pennsylvania, Republicans filed a case arguing that a 2019 law to expand mail-in voting violated the state’s constitution. A judge dismissed it.
And though Trump has repeatedly claimed there was widespread voter fraud, the Justice Department and election officials nationwide have found no evidence to support such allegations.
“Congressman, I know Joe Biden’s the president,” Karl responded to Scalise. “He lives at the White House. I asked you, is he the legitimate president of the United States, and do you concede that this election was not stolen? Very simple question. Please just answer it.”
But Scalise wouldn’t state definitively that the election was free and fair.
“Look, once ... the electors are counted, yes, he’s the legitimate president,” Scalise said. “But if you’re going to ignore the fact that there were states that did not follow their own state legislatively set laws, that’s the issue at heart, that millions of people still are not happy with and don’t want to see happen again.”
Trump refused to concede after Biden’s victory and repeatedly peddled the “big lie” of a stolen election in the months leading up to the siege of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Five people died that day, including one police officer. At least two other police officers who responded to the riot killed themselves in the subsequent days.
A majority of senators ― all 50 Democrats and seven Republicans ― voted earlier this month to convict Trump of inciting the attack. However, Trump was acquitted, since a two-thirds majority is needed for conviction in a Senate impeachment trial.
Scalise on Sunday said he met last week with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, the former president’s golf resort in Palm Beach, Florida. When asked if Trump took responsibility for the Capitol riot, Scalise suggested the two of them didn’t discuss it during their meeting.
“I hadn’t seen him since he had left the White House,” Scalise said. “And it was actually good to catch up with him. I noticed he was a lot more relaxed than ... his four years in the White House.”
Scalise said there’s “a lot of blame to go around” regarding the attack.
“But at the end of the day, the people who stormed the Capitol on January 6th ― it was a disgrace,” he continued. “And they need to be held accountable.”
Scalise said that Trump has “denounced” the attack, but Karl pushed back.
“Let’s also be clear,” Karl said, “The president ― then-president ― Donald Trump did not denounce what happened on January 6th on January 6th.”
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.