In case anyone might have missed Senator Cruz Statement during the vote.
"We gather together at a moment of great division, of a moment of great passion, we have seen and no doubt will continue to see a great deal of moralizing from both sides of the isle. But I would urge to both sides perhaps a bit less certitude and a bit more recognition that we are gathered at a time when democracy is in crisis. Recent polling shows that 39% of Americans believe the election that just occurred quote "was rigged". You may not agree with that assessment but it is nonetheless a reality for nearly half the country. I would note it is not just Republicans who believe that; 31% of independence agree with that statement 17% of Democrats believe the election was rigged. Even if you do not share that conviction, it is the responsibility I believe of this office to acknowledge that is a profound threat to this country, and to the legitimacy of any administration that will come in the future. I want to take a moment to speak to my Democratic colleagues. I understand, your guy is winning right now. If Democrats vote as a block, Joe Biden will almost certainly be certified as the next president of the United States. I want to speak to the Republicans who are considering voting against these objections. I understand your concerns but I urge you to pause and think what does it say to the nearly half the country that believe this election was rigged if we vote not even to consider the claims of illegality and fraud in this election. And I believe there's a better way. The leaders just spoke about setting aside the election let me be clear I am not arguing for setting aside the results of this election. All of us are faced with two choices both of which are lousy one choice is vote against the objection and tens of millions of Americans will see a vote against the objection as a Statement that voter fraud doesn't matter isn't real and shouldn't be taken seriously. And a great many of us don't believe that. On the other hand most if not all of us believe we should not set aside the results of an election just because our candidate may not have prevailed. And so I endeavor to look for door number 3; a third option and for that I look to history. To the presentment of 1876 election The Hayes/Tilden election where THIS Congress appointed an electoral commission to examine claims of voter fraud 5 house members 5 Senators 5 Supreme Court justices examined the evidence and rendered a judgement. And what I would urge of this body is that we do the same, that we appointed an electoral commission to conduct a ten-day emergency audit consider the evidence and resolve the claims. For those on the Democratic isle who says, say there is no evidence they've been rejected; Then you should rest in comfort if that's the case that an electoral commission would reject those claims. But for those who respect the voters, simply telling the voters go jump in a lake the fact that you have deep concerns of no moment to us that jeopardizes I believe, the legitimacy of this and subsequent elections the Constitution gives the Congress the responsibility this day to count the votes the framers knew what they were doing when they gave responsibilities to Congress we have a responsibility; And I would urge that we follow the pretense of 1877 the Electoral Account Act explicitly allows objections such as this one for votes that we're not regularly given. And let me be clear this objection is for the State of Arizona but is is broader than that. It is an objection for all six of the contested states to have a credible objective impartial body hear the evidence and make a conclusive determination. That would benefit both sides that would improve legitimacy of this election. And so let me urge my colleagues All of us take our responsibility seriously. I would urge my colleagues don't take perhaps the easy path; But instead act together, astonish the viewers, and act in a bipartisan sense to say we will have a credible and fair tribunal consider the claim to consider the fact consider the evidence and make a conclusive determination whether and to what extent this election complied with the Construction and with Federal Law." Senator Ted Cruz