A LAST-DITCH effort to undermine Joe Biden’s US election win has been launched just over two weeks before the Irish-American Democrat is due to take office.
Ted Cruz is leading a group of 12 Republican senators and senators-elect who are attempting to challenge Biden’s victory.
It comes despite the plethora of failed legal challenges previously launched by Donald Trump accusing election officials of vote-rigging in several key swing states.
Cruz and six other Republican senators and four senators elect have signed a statement calling for further investigations into "allegations of fraud and irregularities in the 2020 election exceed any in our lifetimes".
Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, meanwhile, has also stated his intention to raise his own objections to the result when Congress convenes for a joint session on Wednesday.
The session would normally serve as a pro-forma certification of Biden's victory.
However, the Republican objectors are set to use the session to demand a special commission is set up to conduct an "emergency ten-day audit" of the election results.
According to the statement, individual states could then opt to convene special legislative sessions where vote totals could be revised.
Louie Gohmert, a Republican member of the House of Representatives, is also planning to oppose the certification with the reported backing of more than 100 House Republicans.
Gohmert previously filed a lawsuit that would have seen Vice President Mike Pence given the power to overturn the result. A federal judge has already rejected the suit while Pence is also opposed to the effort.
Despite rejecting the lawsuit, Pence’s chief of staff Mark Short said the Vice President “welcomes” the Republican-led challenge and at attempt to address"the concerns of millions of Americans about voter fraud and irregularities".
Despite this, the efforts look almost certain to fail in the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives with many Republicans also opposed to the plan.
Republican Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania is among those against the idea.
"A fundamental, defining feature of a democratic republic is the right of the people to elect their own leaders," Mr Toomey tweeted.
"The effort by Sens. Hawley, Cruz, and others to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in swing states like Pennsylvania directly undermines this right."
A fundamental, defining feature of a democratic republic is the right of the people to elect their own leaders. The effort by Sens. Hawley, Cruz, and others to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in swing states like Pennsylvania directly undermines this right.
— Senator Pat Toomey (@SenToomey) January 2, 2021
He added: "I voted for President Trump and endorsed him for re-election. But, on Wednesday, I intend to vigorously defend our form of government by opposing this effort to disenfranchise millions of voters in my state and others."
President Trump has nevertheless welcomed their efforts, posting a list online of the 11 senators led by Cruz in appealing the result.
"An attempt to steal a landslide win. Can't let it happen!" he tweeted.
Trump added: "And after they see the facts, plenty more to come... Our Country will love them for it!"
Cruz is rumoured to be considering a Presidential bid in 2024.
His support for Trump comes despite the President previously sharing an unflattering picture of Cruz's wife on social media alongside a picture of Melania Trump.
Trump also made the baseless accusation that Cruz's father was involved in the assassination of John F Kennedy.
