Topline
The so-called forensic investigation into Pennsylvania's presidential election results is moving forward. After he fired the Republican leader of the election audit, the president pro tempore of the state senates announced that hearings would be held this week.
Jake Corman, Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader, was seen at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa. on January 15, 2019. ASSOCIATED PRS
The Key Facts
In an interview with Wendy Bell, the Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R), stated that the chamber would begin hearings within the next few days. He also said that he intended to use our subpoena power to conduct a thorough investigation similar to the one in Maricopa County in Arizona. This would include materials such as voter rolls and ballots. In a lawsuit, the Senate will also challenge Pennsylvania's decision to decertify voting devices in Fulton County. This was done as part of an independent election audit. The goal is to obtain a ruling that would allow them access to other counties' voting machines. Three days after replacing state senator Doug Mastriano as the leader of the election audit effort, Corman has committed to holding hearings. Bell was told by Corman that Mastriano was not interested in making sure the audit effort was legal in court and that the lawmaker was more concerned with publicity. Mastrianos' attempt to manage the election audit effort was criticized by Republicans. Commissioners from the right-leaning Tioga County, one of the three counties Mastriano requested to turn over their voting material, told Bell that Mastriano had cancelled a meeting to vote on the subpoenas and threatened to fire his staff and rescind the position as chair of Mastrianos committee.
Important Quote
Corman stated that we are still committed to conducting an investigation into recent elections in order to improve our electoral system going forward. He replaced Mastriano on Friday. Corman said that Mastriano was only interested in showmanship and politics, and not in actual results.
Chief Critic
Mastriano stated in a statement that he was not happy with a reduced version of the investigation that is being set up for failure and said that if it is moved from his committeeas Corman has done, he is unsure that an actual investigation will ever take place.
What to Watch
Monday's Corman spoke to Bell that he believed Dush, the new lawmaker in charge of the audit, would move quickly, but that he wanted to ensure the investigation was credible and can withstand legal challenges. There are many unknowns about the outcome of the audit, including who will finance it. The Arizona audit relied heavily on private donations. While the lawmaker pointed out that the state Senate does not have the power to alter the presidential election results, it can review them. However, he added that if the audit is successful, Arizona will rely on private donations and what third party group would run the probe.
Important Background
Mastrianos election audit began in July when the state senator wrote letters to Tioga and York counties, asking them to turn over their voting materials to him so that he could inspect them. The Pennsylvania secretary of state issued a directive to Mastrianos stating that any county that does not turn over their materials would have their voting machines decertified. This could potentially cost the counties millions to replace. The request of Mastrianos was denied by all three counties, even the two that voted in favor of Donald Trump in November. They also teed up possible subpoenas for materials prior to Mastriano's expulsion from the audit. In the wake of the Arizona probe which is now closed, the GOP has been launching private audits of election results. This is part of a larger GOP trend. The Biden administration warned that the audits could be in violation of federal law, as they would take election materials from election officials.
Continue reading
If our work leads us to... changing these results, then so be that: Senator announces hearings this week in Pennsylvania election investigation. (Associated Press).
Top Pa. Senate Republican Jake Corman slammed Doug Mastriano, and committed to a new investigation into election (Philadelphia Inquirer).
Pennsylvania Election Audit Stopped, GOP State Senator Says Powers That Be Blocked Him from Issuing Subpoenas
