GOP LEADERS BREAK WITH TRUMP OVER BASELESS VOTING FRAUD CLAIMS

Some Republican lawmakers criticized President Donald Trump’s unsupported claim that Democrats are trying to “steal” the election, saying his comments undermine the US political process and the bedrock notion that Trump, who has complained for weeks about mail-in ballots, escalated his allegations, saying at the White House that the ballot-counting process is unfair and corrupt.

Trump did not back up his claims with any details or evidence, and state and federal officials have not reported any instances of widespread voter fraud, Matthew Daly, Mary Clare Jalonick, Lisa Mascaro and Meg Kinnard reported.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican from Illinois, tweeted that the president’s claims of fraud are “getting insane.” If Trump has “legit” concerns about fraud, they need to be based on evidence and taken to court, Kinzinger said, adding, “STOP Spreading debunked misinformation.” Maryland GOP Gov. Larry Hogan, a potential 2024 presidential hopeful who has often criticized Trump, said unequivocally: “There is no defense for the President’s comments tonight undermining our Democratic process. America is counting the votes, and we must respect the results as we always have before.” He added: “No election or person is more important than our Democracy.”

Other criticism, though less direct, came from members of Congress. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican who spoke at a recent Trump campaign rally, said in a tweet that if any candidate believes “a state is violating election laws they have a right to challenge it in court & produce evidence in support of their claims.″ Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah., the party’s presidential nominee in 2012, sought to provide a reassuring note. Counting votes is often “long” and “frustrating,” Romney said. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, urged “everyone to be patient″ as results come in. “It is critical that we give election officials time to complete their jobs, and that we ensure all lawfully cast ballots are allowed and counted,″ she said in a statement. Rep. Will Hurd, a Texas Republican who did not seek reelection, called Trump’s comments about corruption “dangerous” and “wrong.″ Trump’s remarks undermine the U.S. political process and “the very foundation this nation was built upon,″ Hurd said. “Every American should have his or her vote counted.″