WASHINGTON­—U.S. Representative Scott Franklin (FL-15) issued the following statement ahead of Wednesday’s joint congressional session to certify the election results in favor of former Vice President Joe Biden:

“We are a country for the people and by the people, and it is important that the American people receive a president that is fairly elected in accordance with the law. Last year, the Democrats showed the country that they were willing to deploy any tactic to ensure that Donald Trump was not reelected as president of the United States. From the partisan impeachment witch hunt to mass mailing unsolicited ballots, the other side willing used every option available to sway the 2020 election in their favor. While I unequivocally support a peaceful transfer of power in our esteemed democracy, it must be done in accordance with fairness, transparency and integrity. There are many valid questions that have been raised about this process. That is why I joined many of my freshman colleagues in asking Speaker Pelosi to hold a hearing to look into discrepancies in the election process. Questioning this process is not without precedent. In 1969, 2001, 2005 and 2019, a challenge was raised and in both 1969 and 2005, a Democratic Senator joined with a Democratic House Member in forcing votes in both houses on whether to accept the presidential electors being challenged.

“Following the election, there has been a lack of transparency in counting votes in several states that merit closer scrutiny. For that reason, I will join my Republican colleagues in challenging the results of the 2020 presidential election to ensure that there is a fair election process that counts every legally casted vote.”

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