Thanks for your reply @Right_in_Virginia . I won't ping the op since I don't believe he has any interest. Nor do I but i feel the need to respond.
The op made a very valid post. It looks to me like you focused on Trump/Pence.
I see very valid arguments on both sides as to whether Pence could do this. From what I have read (on this site as well as others) there were recounts done in the individual states. The counts were validadated and turned in. Now...were they accurate? I don't know, nor does anyone. Several Senators raised objections.
But there seems to be evidence that President Trump tried to pressure Pence.
There is one, and only one, valid argument: the US Constitution --- and it gives the Congress and the President of the Senate both the power and the responsibility to certify electoral votes untainted by allegations of election and voter fraud. There was sufficient objection raised by members of Congess and statehouses to return votes from several states to the states for a two-prong review: . Were state election laws followed and were invalid votes included in the total sent to Congress?
No one asked Pence to answer these questions, only to allow the individual statehouses to do so, as was his Constitutional mandate. Bear in mind the Jan 6 deadline is an arbitrary congressional construct. The only non-negotiable, Constitutional deadline is Jan 20 at noon.------ which is why in early January Cruz proposed a two week delay in Congressional certification to allow statehouses to review and recertify their electors. We know where that went.
As for "pressure" (and who the hell deemed Pence above "pressure"? Is he above pressure from me, too?) ---- President Trump was very clear he wanted Pence to follow the Constitution. But according to the Liz Cheneys of this world this is now an impeachable offense, and if they have their way-- a felony.
I'm more interested in the pressure from the other side, leading up to and including the orchestration of the Jan 6 "insurrection". Why the rejection of the NG, Nancy? Why seed the crowd wih FBI agitators? Why have the Capitol police unlock doors and hold them open for protestors? Remember, after the Congress reconvened after surviving the "worst attack on America since Pearl Harbor", certification moved quickly to its end without further objection(s).
The theft of the election was carried out by the democrats. But, let's give credit where credit is due: The leadership of the GOP took turns driving the getaway car. We know who held the keys on Jan 6.
@berdie