Rep. Nancy Pelosi questioned House Speaker Mike Johnson‘s comments on certifying the 2024 election results if Vice President Kamala Harris wins over former President Donald Trump.
Earlier Tuesday on Capitol Hill, Johnson (R-Louisiana) was asked by a reporter, “Do you commit to observing regular order in the certification process of the 2024 election, even if Kamala Harris beats Donald Trump?”
Johnson responded, “Well of course – if we have a free, fair, and safe election we’re gonna follow the Constitution, absolutely.”
Left, Nancy Pelosi speaks on stage during the “Nancy Pelosi on The Art of Power” panel for The Atlantic Festival 2024 on September 19, 2024, in Washington, DC. Right, U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks to the media at the U.S. Capitol on September 18, 2024, in Washington, DC.
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In an appearance Tuesday afternoon with CNN‘s Jake Tapper, the former House Speaker was asked to respond to Johnson’s remarks.
“Why should there be a caveat?” Pelosi replied. “Why don’t we just all agree whoever wins, we are for the peaceful transfer of power.”
The Democrat from California also called Johnson’s comments a part of a “conspiracy.”
“We don’t agonize,” Pelosi said. “We organize, and we organize to make sure that Hakeem Jefferies has that gavel in his hand on Jan. 6.”
Newsweek has emailed Johnson’s office for comment Tuesday afternoon.
Johnson has openly pushed former President Donald Trump’s conspiracy theories about the veracity of the upcoming election.
Trump has sown doubts about the 2024 presidential election, warning about election interference starting nearly 18 months before votes are counted.
Last summer, Trump said, “They rigged the presidential election of 2020, and we’re not going to allow them to rig the presidential election of 2024.” He has consistently used the campaign slogan, “too big to rig” at his rallies.
Trump’s false claim that the election was stolen from him in 2020 led to the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
“Our democracy is very important,” Pelosi said. “We are working as we work to elect the democratic vice president and president to elect a democratic congress to make sure we can’t have this personal opinion when it’s an absolute fact of numbers.”
Author Mary Trump, the niece of the Republican nominee, said her uncle has said preparations for his “coup [are] already underway.”
Her claims echo the fears of many prominent politicians, military leaders and members of the public who also fear a repeat of Jan. 6.
Update: 9/24/2024, 5:07 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with more information.
