Thread by @UnrealAllan, Let's have a thread on why it's preposterous for anyone to care [...]

Let's have a thread on why it's preposterous for anyone to care whether or not Trump will willingly leave office if he loses or contests the election. All citations are from the US House of Representatives' online version of the United States Code. https://uscode.house.gov/browse/prelim@title3/chapter1&edition=prelim (1/18)

First off, the Constitution. Amendment XX, Section One says, "The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January."

There is NO ONE in authority who will say Trump is still President after January 20, 2021 if he loses the election. (2/18)

But what if Trump, et al. claims the election is invalid? It literally does not matter. The outcome of the election will be decided before January 20, 2021. This is not in any doubt. All one need do is look at the law, and then look at the calendar. (3/18)

First up, 3 USC §1. By law, Presidential Electors will be appointed by such means as determined by the legislatures of each state "on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November." This is Election Day, November 3, 2020. (4/18)

Now, let's jump ahead to 3 USC §7. "The electors…shall meet and give their votes on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December following their appointment…" – this is Monday, December 14, 2020. (5/18)

BUT WAIT ALLAN! WHAT IF EVERYTHING IS TIED UP IN COURT?! Ahhhh…time to rewind to 3 USC §5. This says that election controversies have to be resolved by the laws in force at Election Day *no later than six days before the electors meet*: Tuesday, December 8, 2020. (6/18)

Let's go back to 2000 and Bush v. Gore. The Supreme Court legally had no option other than to say the election was over and the slate of electors certified by Florida was the outcome. The case was decided on 12/12/2020: six days before the electors met on 12/18/2020. (7/18)

But what if court cases aren't resolved? What do states do? Per the Constitution (Art. 1 §2) and 3 USC §2, a State Legislature may take its own action to appoint their electors. By the way, they don't have to hold a vote of the people. That's their *choice*. (8/18)

There will be a full slate of Presidential Electors who will meet in each State on Monday, December 14, 2020 and cast their electoral votes for President and Vice President. There is simply no legal mechanism for it NOT TO HAPPEN. (9/18)

BUT WHAT IF TRUMP DOESN'T CARE, ALLAN?! It doesn't matter if he cares or not. 3 USC §15 specifies that "Congress shall be in session on the sixth day of January succeeding every meeting of the electors.": Wednesday, January 6, 2021. Two weeks before Inauguration Day. (10/18)

3 USC §15 also talks about Representatives or Senators objecting to the validity of states' electors. If there is any objection to any state's electors, the houses divide and vote. *Both* houses must concur to reject a state's electors, otherwise they are valid. (11/18)

Considering we will likely have a divided Congress with the House and Senate controlled by different parties (the new Congress term starts on Sunday, January 3, 2021) it is highly unlikely that ANY states' electors will be rejected. (12/18)

Even if all 51 (50 states + DC) slates of electors are challenged, it will take a maximum of ~10 days for Congress to decide. Why? 3 USC §16 mandates that Congress can only adjourn once until 10AM the next morning for just 5 days while they are deciding the election. (13/18)

To make things even more definite, 3 USC §17 mandates that neither the House nor Senate may debate for any more than TWO HOURS each challenge to a state's electors before voting. 51 x 2 = 102 hours; 4 days, 6 hours. (14/18)

And they'd have to finish in not longer than that, even if all 51 are contested, because the previous statute says they can't adjourn until they decide. Do you really think those 535 numbnuts are going to pull four or more days of working around the clock? Yeah, right. (15/18)

So, what if there isn't an electoral majority? Per the Constitution, the House votes by State for President, and the Senate for Vice President. Which means we could have President Biden with Vice President Pence. Regardless, we have 3 USC §101, per Amendment XX §1. (16/18)

There are precisely zero US District Court or Courts of Appeal Judges, or Supreme Court Justices, who will fail to uphold the Presidential election law as it will stand on November 3. President Trump's feelings, opinions, or tweets are meaningless. (17/18)

Calm down. Whoever wins the election will be sworn in without question by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. at 12:00PM on Wednesday, January 20, 2021. If it happens to be Joe Biden, at that moment Trump ceases to be President. It doesn't matter what he says for does. (18/END)

*or does. Stupid typos.

Of greater national concern than whether or not Trump leaves office if he loses is THE FUCKING LACK OF AN EDIT BUTTON ON TWITTER.

Latest Threads Unrolled: