Some in GOP break with Trump over baseless vote fraud claims

Some Republican lawmakers are criticizing US President Donald Trump’s unsupported claim that Democrats are trying to “steal” the election, saying Trump’s comments undermine the political process and the bedrock notion that all Americans should have their vote counted.

Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, whose state is a key battleground in the presidential election, says he had seen no evidence to support Trump’s claim Thursday evening of fraud in the balloting.

“The president’s speech last night was very disturbing to me because he made very, very serious allegations without any evidence to support it,” Toomey tells “CBS This Morning.”

He adds: “I voted for President Trump. I endorsed President Trump. I want the next president to be the person who legitimately wins the Electoral College and I will accept whoever that is.”

Trump, who has complained for weeks about mail-in ballots, escalated his allegations late Thursday, 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.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican from Illinois, tweets 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 says, adding, “STOP Spreading debunked misinformation.”

Maryland GOP Gov. Larry Hogan, a potential 2024 presidential hopeful who has often criticized Trump, says 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.”

“No election or person is more important than our Democracy,” Hogan says on Twitter.

— AP