Cynthia Lummis

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By Ellen Fike, Cowboy State Daily

Despite political divisions seen in the wake of last week’s storming of the U.S. Capitol, members of Congress need to work together to ensure a peaceful transition of power, U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis said Thursday.

During an interview with Glenn Woods on “Wake Up Wyoming” Thursday morning, Lummis spoke about her colleague, U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, and the fact they differ on whether President Donald Trump should be indicted. She said the more important issue is getting members of Congress working together.

“I take a different viewpoint from [Cheney] a bit,” Lummis said. “I think the better thing is to have a smooth transition of power on Jan. 20. We can try to begin to heal-up, tone down the rhetoric and get people to speak to each other again. Be calm with each other again.”

She added that agitation and hyperbole have gotten people emotional, but that those negative feelings need to be toned down and people should begin talking to each other “in a very civil and kind manner.”

When discussing her post-inauguration plans, Lummis said that she planned to focus on election fraud, natural resources and Bitcoin during her Senate term.

“We used to say that the House plays rugby and the Senate plays golf,” the senator joked. “My concern over the last election is that I spoke to people whose votes literally didn’t count. They showed up to the polls in some states only to be told that they couldn’t vote because they voted by mail when they hadn’t. I’m not saying that the election was stolen.  But some people’s votes were stolen.”

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By Sen. Cynthia Lummis, exclusive to Cowboy State Daily

When the U.S. Capitol Police were rushing us out of the Senate chambers at the height of the chaos, a reporter asked me who I thought was leading this mayhem. I said that if it was indeed Trump supporters, I would be heartbroken. 

I am heartbroken.

An attack on our Capitol is an attack on our Constitution and democracy itself. I strongly condemn the violence that occurred, which did more to damage the democratic process than to defend it.

What made this senseless act even more offensive is that it disrupted the constitutional process that myself and other members of the Senate were trying to peacefully use to ensure each and every American’s vote counts.

Despite the attack, in the best tradition of the United States Senate, we fulfilled our Constitutional duty.

Days before this attack on the Capitol, I stated my intention to join a group of colleagues to raise concerns about the constitutionality of Pennsylvania’s new vote-by-mail statute, and that Pennsylvania’s election law may have been applied unevenly by state officials, including signature verification and voter identification requirements.

Even the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s chief justice noted that one of the lawsuits in his state raised “troublesome questions about the constitutional validity of the new mail-in voting scheme.” 

Legislators, election judges, Congressmen and others in Pennsylvania are concerned.  Wyoming citizens are concerned, too. 

The hard truth is, this election rocked the faith of many Wyoming citizens in the integrity of our election system. Polling shows that 39% of Americans believe “the election was rigged.”

We cannot turn a blind eye to American citizens not having trust in the integrity of our election systems. And Congress has a long history of using the Constitutional process of certifying electors to highlight election concerns.

In recent history, Democrats have objected to certifying electors in 2001, 2005, and 2017.

In 2005, Senator Barbara Boxer and the late Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones objected to the slate of electors from Ohio. They rightfully drew attention to the fact that many African-Americans and other communities suffered disproportionate wait times at the polls, broken voting machines and high ballot rejection rates.

Raising this objection led to some of these issues being remedied and more Americans having the precious opportunity to vote. That’s a legacy every American should value today.

Let me be clear: my objecting to the certification of the votes in Pennsylvania could not have changed the outcome of the election. That was never my intent.

Congress cannot and shall not dictate the results of a presidential election to our states.

That would be the death of our Republic. Rather, my objection was intended to shine a light on serious concerns over voter irregularities raised by Pennsylvania legislators themselves.

Many ask why Congress should be involved in election matters that have been considered by the courts. 

Congress has the right and duty to interpret the Constitution, especially on matters which by the Constitution have been delegated to Congress, like the Electoral Count.

Congress itself interpreted the Twelfth Amendment in passing the Electoral Count Act in 1887.

The very title of the 1887 law says it all: “An act to fix the day for the meeting of the electors of President and Vice-President, and to provide for and regulate the counting of the votes for President and Vice-President, and the decision of questions arising thereon.”

Thomas Jefferson commented in an 1819 letter that “each of the three departments [of government] has equally the right to decide for itself what is its duty under the Constitution.” I consider my actions and the actions of my colleagues as a humble part of that long, storied tradition.

Congress cannot fix this; only state legislatures can fix this.  But Congress can shine a light on election fraud. 

That was the point of my vote on January 6.  My fervent hope is that in state legislatures across the country where irregularities occurred, their lawmakers will consider meaningful election reform to ensure that our election laws are applied uniformly, to ensure the technology we use is accurate and secure, and most importantly, to ensure that all Americans treasure our precious right to vote and feel their voices are heard.

States are at the very center of elections in our country and will remain so. That is a fact I will always fight for.

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Cynthia Lummis is the junior senator from Wyoming.

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U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) released the following statement on today’s certification of the Electoral College votes:

 “I have serious concerns about election integrity, especially in Pennsylvania, and expressed some of them in a written statement to the Senate. But today’s sickening, un-American attack on the U.S. Capitol overshadowed that debate.

 “Congress cannot fix problems with election integrity, only states can fix these problems.  But Congress can investigate those problems and raise awareness. The allegations of fraud during this election were unprecedented, and left millions of Americans concerned that their votes don’t count.  Discussions of election integrity must occur and I will seek another forum to continue that discussion.”

 Lummis submitted the following statement for the record during the Senate debate over Pennsylvania’s Electoral College votes.

“It is the privilege of a lifetime to represent the people of Wyoming in this great deliberative body. I genuinely look forward to joining each of you to make a difference for the American people and to uphold my solemn oath to support and defend the Constitution.

“Let me be clear: an attack on our Capitol is an attack on our Constitution and democracy itself. I strongly condemn the violence that occurred today, which did more to thwart the democratic process than to protect it. 

“Today, many members of the Senate were trying to peacefully use our democratic process to ensure each and every American’s vote counts. In the best tradition of the United States Senate, we will fulfill our Constitutional duty and complete the Electoral Count tonight.

“In 1833, Senator Daniel Webster said that “duty binds … the conscience of the individual member” in counting the votes for President and Vice President.

“Each of us has a solemn duty to ensure that the slate of presidential electors we certify is beyond reproach, respecting the people’s voice and upholding the Constitution.

“Congress will not overturn the people’s voice. A president will be inaugurated on January 20th. Congress cannot and shall not dictate the results of a presidential election to our states. That would be the death of our Republic.

“In the coming months, Congress must take a fresh look at troubling concerns from the election that simply don’t add up.

“After the 2000 presidential election, millions of voters in Florida felt disenfranchised, and now 74 million Americans deserve the assurance and the dignity that their votes count the same as every other American.

“We owe our first duty to the American people, following procedures–like the Electoral Count Act–used for nearly 150 years.

“It’s my fervent hope that our state legislatures will consider meaningful election reform to ensure that our election laws are applied uniformly, to ensure the technology we use is accurate and secure, and most importantly, to ensure that all Americans treasure our precious right to vote and feel their voices are heard. 

“States are at the very center of elections in our country and will remain so. Many ask why Congress should be involved in election matters that have been considered by the courts.

“Some argue that Congress’ role in certifying our presidential elections is merely ministerial. 

“Under our constitutional separation of powers, it is too often forgotten that Congress has the right and duty to interpret the Constitution, especially on matters which by the Constitution have been delegated to Congress, like the Electoral Count.

“Congress interpreted the Twelfth Amendment  in passing the Electoral Count Act in 1887, and continues to breathe new life into these provisions by its actions today. 

“Our Founders understood Congress would play a key role in debating constitutional issues as a co-equal branch of government.

“Thomas Jefferson commented in an 1819 letter that “each of the three departments [of government] has equally the right to decide for itself what is its duty under the Constitution.”

“I remain deeply concerned that the electoral votes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania were not “regularly given” under Pennsylvania law, as required by the Electoral Count Act. 

“Serious concerns have been raised about the constitutionality of Pennsylvania’s vote-by-mail statute. Also, Pennsylvania election law may have been applied unevenly by state officials, including signature verification and voter identification requirements.

“In 2005, Sen. Barbara Boxer and the late Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones objected to the slate of electors from Ohio.

“They rightfully drew attention to the fact that many African-Americans and other communities suffered disproportionate wait times at the polls, broken voting machines and high ballot rejection rates.

“Raising this objection led to some of these issues being remedied and more Americans  having the precious opportunity to vote. 

“That’s a legacy our Senate and every American should value today.

“Thank you.”

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By Ellen Fike, Cowboy State Daily

U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis condemned the actions of protesters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday as an “attack on democracy.”

“Call it what it is: An attack on the Capitol is an attack on democracy,” Lummis wrote in a Twitter post. “Today we are trying to use the democratic process to address grievances.”

Protesters stormed the Capitol on Wednesday afternoon in support of President Donald Trump, who believes he didn’t lose the presidential election in November against former Vice President Joe Biden.

The event occurred as members of Congress met in a joint session to certify the results of the Electoral College vote, which appeared to verify the victory of the Democrat Biden.

Lummis was one of 11 Republican senators to announce they would object to the certification of the Electoral College vote until an audit can be conducted in states where Trump has alleged voter fraud occurred.

The invasion of the Capitol followed a “Save America” rally where Trump thanked Lummis for her support and criticized U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, who has urged fellow Republicans not to object to the outcome of the Electoral College.

Lummis said the invasion hurt the ability of Congress to address complaints about the election.

“This violence inhibits our ability to do that,” Lummis wrote. “Violent protests were unacceptable this summer and are unacceptable now.”

She also retweeted a message from U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, adding her own note.

“The First Amendment only protects peaceful assembly. Stop the Violence,” she said.

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By Jim Angell, Cowboy State Daily

U.S. Sen.-elect Cynthia Lummis will join a group of 10 other U.S. senators in voting to reject electors from states where the results of the presidential election have been questioned until an emergency audit of the election can be completed in those state, she has announced.

Lummis, who took her oath of office Sunday, said on Twitter that the action is needed to restore faith in the election system.

“Confidence in, and protection of, the integrity of our electoral system is at the root of our democratic process,” she wrote. “I’ve received an outpouring of calls, texts, emails in recent weeks from Wyoming folks concerned about irregularities in the election process in several states.

“I’m joining a number of colleagues to follow the steps laid out in the 12th Amendment (plus) the process established in the Electoral Count Act of 1887 to protect the vote for all Americans and begin work to restore the shaken confidence of many US voters,” she continued.

Results of the Electoral College’s vote are to be submitted for Senate certification on Wednesday.

Lummis and other senators, led by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said they will object to the certification until an electoral commission can be appointed to conduct an emergency audit of the election returns in states where questions have been raised about irregularities.

The group, in a statement, said the audit could be completed well before the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20.

The group said the audit would enhance the legitimacy of the next president, regardless of who that is.

“We are acting not to thwart the democratic process, but rather to protect it,” the statement said. “And every one of us should act together to ensure that the election was lawfully conducted under the Constitution and do everything we can to restore faith in our Democracy.”

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