Steve Scalise, No. 2 House Republican, Still Won't Say Election Wasn't Stolen

Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the second-ranking House Republican, still wont say the 2020 presidential election wasnt stolen, a claim former President Donald Trump has falsely and dangerously peddled for months.

Scalise, the House minority whip, was asked Sunday during an appearance on ABC News This Week to confirm President Joe Biden s legitimacy.

Clear this up for me: Joe Biden won the election, said host Jon Karl. He is the legitimate president of the United States. The election was not stolen, correct?

Scalise acknowledged that Bidens the president but didnt say flat out that the election wasnt stolen.

There were a few states that did not follow their state laws, Scalise said. Thats really the dispute that youve seen continue on.

At the end of the day, when you look at where we are in this country, either were going to address the problems that happened with the election that people are still millions of people are still concerned about, he added. The Constitution says state legislatures set the rules for elections. That didnt happen in a few states.

Steve Scalise refusing, still, to acknowledge that we had a legitimate, exhaustively verified election. pic.twitter.com/BCxdbP3MYE

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Steve Scalise refusing, still, to acknowledge that we had a legitimate, exhaustively verified election. pic.twitter.com/BCxdbP3MYE
Stephanie Grace (@stephgracela) February 21, 2021

Trump and his allies filed dozens of lawsuits in multiple states in an attempt to overturn Bidens win. The vast majority of these cases were dismissed. In Pennsylvania, Republicans filed a case arguing that a 2019 law to expand mail-in voting violated the states constitution. A judge dismissed it.

And though Trump has repeatedly claimed there was widespread voter fraud, the Justice Department and election officials nationwide have found no evidence to support such allegations.

Congressman, I know Joe Bidens the president, Karl responded to Scalise. He lives at the White House. I asked you, is he the legitimate president of the United States, and do you concede that this election was not stolen? Very simple question. Please just answer it.

But Scalise wouldnt state definitively that the election was free and fair.

Look, once ... the electors are counted, yes, hes the legitimate president, Scalise said. But if youre going to ignore the fact that there were states that did not follow their own state legislatively set laws, thats the issue at heart, that millions of people still are not happy with and dont want to see happen again.

Trump refused to concede after Bidens victory and repeatedly peddled the big lie of a stolen election in the months leading up to the siege of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Five people died that day, including one police officer. At least two other police officers who responded to the riot killed themselves in the subsequent days.

A majority of senators all 50 Democrats and seven Republicans voted earlier this month to convict Trump of inciting the attack. However, Trump was acquitted, since a two-thirds majority is needed for conviction in a Senate impeachment trial.

Scalise on Sunday said he met last week with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, the former presidents golf resort in Palm Beach, Florida. When asked if Trump took responsibility for the Capitol riot, Scalise suggested the two of them didnt discuss it during their meeting.

I hadnt seen him since he had left the White House, Scalise said. And it was actually good to catch up with him. I noticed he was a lot more relaxed than ... his four years in the White House.

Scalise said theres a lot of blame to go around regarding the attack.

But at the end of the day, the people who stormed the Capitol on January 6th it was a disgrace, he continued. And they need to be held accountable.

Scalise said that Trump has denounced the attack, but Karl pushed back.

Lets also be clear, Karl said, The president then-president Donald Trump did not denounce what happened on January 6th on January 6th.

Rep. Steve Scalise evades questions on Pres. Trump's responsibility in inciting the Jan. 6 siege on the Capitol: \"Certainly there's a lot of blame to go around.\"@jonkarl: \"I'm asking about Donald Trump's role in this.\"

Scalise: \"President Trump has denounced what happened.\" pic.twitter.com/BSCttCKckR

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Rep. Steve Scalise evades questions on Pres. Trump's responsibility in inciting the Jan. 6 siege on the Capitol: "Certainly there's a lot of blame to go around."@jonkarl : "I'm asking about Donald Trump's role in this."

Scalise: "President Trump has denounced what happened." pic.twitter.com/BSCttCKckR
This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 21, 2021