FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — Rep. Hal Rogers, the lone Kentucky representative to object to the Electoral College's certification of the 2020 election results, stood by his vote in a release issued Thursday.
"Uncertainty and a lack of confidence began to grow amongst voters across the country as some states made late changes to the election process, resulting in mounting reports of irregularities and election fraud," he said. "Postponed election audits and legal hearings have also led to valid questions about the integrity of this election that are still unresolved."
Rogers said the electoral process in America is "one of the most defining attributes" of the country, adding that his office has received hundreds of calls and emails questioning the integrity of the 2020 presidential election.
"Therefore, on behalf of the people of Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District, I am objecting to electoral votes tied to allegations of election fraud and voting irregularities in the 2020 presidential election," he said.
The statement came after the Joint Session reconvened following a violent disruption by protesters who stormed the Capitol on Wednesday.
Rogers condemned Wednesday's events, calling the protesters' actions "un-American."
"Over the last four decades, I have witnessed many peaceful protests on Capitol grounds, as individuals freely and passionately stand for what they believe in," he said. "However, inciting violence at the Capitol, the very grounds where elected leaders gather to echo the voices of our home districts, is an un-American attack on the very foundation of our sovereign nation."
Although his objection will not change the outcome of the presidential election, Rogers said his vote serves as a voice for constituents who feel confidence in a secure election needs to be restored.
"One of the greatest signs of a healthy democracy is the peaceful transfer of power, including the process of certifying Electoral College results through a Joint Session of Congress, representing Americans from every state in the union," he said. "I love this institution and take great pride in echoing the voice of the people of Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District."
