Washington, DC – United States Representative Young Kim (CA-39) released the following statement on tomorrow’s joint session of Congress:
“Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. While our election process is not perfect, Americans must have confidence in our election system and deserve to have their concerns addressed. Concerns of election integrity and security must be addressed and taken seriously.
“This election was hard-fought with high turnout on both sides. The president has the right to challenge the election results through the legal, constitutional system, and we know Joe Biden would do the same if he had concerns. If evidence of wrongdoing is uncovered, it should be investigated by the proper authorities.
“This week I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution, and I plan to do just that in the decisions I make in Congress. I view this issue through a constitutional lens, not a personal or a political one.
“I didn’t vote for Joe Biden, but we’ve gone through constitutional process—the American people have voted; states have certified their elections; and courts have made their rulings. It is Congress’s job to count the votes cast by electors each state selects. The constitution does not give Congress the authority to overturn elections. To take such action would undermine the authority of the states.
“Congress does not determine which electors states send, and we must respect the authority of the states. The electoral college has voted and I will respect their vote.
“I hope we can move forward for the future of our democracy and our nation and work together in Congress to secure our elections. My focus, as always, is being an independent representative for the 39th District of California.”
