Rep. McGovern protests formal certification of presidential election

Citing Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, formally protested during a Joint Session of Congress certifying its results.

“Today I was the first member of Congress to rise and formally object to the certification of this presidential election,” McGovern said in a video statement Friday. “I raised the issue of Russian interference in our election, which I find appalling, and I continue to be troubled by the fact that Donald Trump doesn’t seem to care. I also raised the issue of voter suppression which is a problem all throughout our country.”

Politics is about standing up for what you believe in. Today I protested in Congress because none of us should ignore #RussianHacking of US. pic.twitter.com/wngaOzL5Kj

— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) January 6, 2017

McGovern, a senior House Democrat and a leading voice on U.S.-Russia relations, continued that he knew his protest would not change the outcome of the certification process, but that he thought it was a valuable gesture to make. He said people have been concerned and troubled by the things President-elect Donald Trump talked about during the campaign and since being elected.

“I think it is important that we make clear that we’re going to stand up and we’re going to fight back,” he said.

McGovern said he hoped there would be areas of commonality with Trump’s administration, but said he wanted to be clear that he will oppose policies he disagrees with.

“Politics is not about rolling over,” he said. Politics is about standing up for you believe in and fighting for those things. So that is what I’m going to do. I’m going to stand up and help build a wall of resistance against policies that will do damage to our country and do damage to the people of my district who have given me the privilege of serving in the United States Congress.”

]]>