Thread by @JacquiHeinrich

THREAD: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is armed with a nuclear option if President Trump attempts to steal the election through an electoral college play. 1/9

“There’s no light at the end of the tunnel for President Trump in the House. If he thinks he can convince GOP legislatures to deny Biden electors, Pelosi will consider denying Republicans on the same ballot from being seated. She holds the ace card,” a Dem source tells me. 2/9

Because state gov'ts formally certify election results & send electors to the Electoral College meeting, President Trump and his allies have engaged in several lawsuits aimed at blocking secretaries of state in contested swing states from certifying the results. 3/9

Republican controlled legislatures, in this scenario, could appoint pro-Trump electors to the Electoral College, potentially upending President-elect Biden’s projected win. Donald Trump Jr. has promoted the idea. 4/9

In this case, Nancy Pelosi has the final play – according to a Democratic source speaking on background. If Republicans mess with electors, one option she is considering is simply not seating Republican members of congress at the meeting of the Electoral College. 5/9

The House retains the right to decide who is seated– and as recently as 2018, Pelosi refused to seat Republican Mark Harris, who’s lead was contested after North Carolina officials discovered huge numbers of absentee ballots were never returned. 6/9

The North Carolina State Board of Elections ordered a new contest, and Harris withdrew citing medical reasons. An operative on Harris’ campaign was later revealed to have financed the election fraud operation. 7/9

Biden attorneys dispute the legality of such an electoral college play, if it comes to that. 8/9

“That's not consistent with the Constitution, and that will never happen,” Bob Bauer said. “That's another bit of - call it what you will -puffery, propaganda that's being put out on the Trump side. Again, it is very easy to establish that it isn't true.” 9/9