McConnell Gives Trump Cover for Challenging Vote Counts

Top Republicans in Congress hold back acknowledging Biden Win
Some in GOP say Trump needs to make legal case or move on

Mitch McConnell speaks next to his wife Elaine Chao in Louisville, Kentucky on Nov. 3.Photographer: Scotty Perry/Bloomberg

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By Laura Litvan

November 9, 2020 at 8:36 PM UTC

Updated on

November 9, 2020 at 11:19 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said President Donald Trump is “within his rights” to consider challenging results of the presidential election and has no obligation to accept projections based on vote counts that Joe Biden won.

McConnell and Republican leaders in Congress have withheld any congratulations or acknowledgment of the results since Biden took on the mantle of president-elect on Saturday.