Pennsylvania responded to Texas’ lawsuit at the Supreme Court Thursday, calling it “legally indefensible” and an “affront to principles of constitutional democracy.”
“Since Election Day, State and Federal courts throughout the country have been flooded with frivolous lawsuits aimed at disenfranchising large swaths of voters and undermining the legitimacy of the election. The State of Texas has now added its voice to the cacophony of bogus claims,” Pennsylvania said in its court filing.
It responded on behalf of itself. Wisconsin, Michigan and Georgia were also sued by Texas.
The Lone Star State sued the four battleground states this week at the high court, alleging the state officials in those four battleground states changed election laws without authorization from the state legislatures, in violation of the Constitution.
Texas argues that the move disenfranchised its electoral votes.
At least 16 other states have joined Texas in support of the lawsuit, which is pending before the high court.
The justices could decide to grant or deny the lawsuit at any time, but they are set to meet for a private conference Friday morning where the matter will likely be discussed.
The Keystone state asked the justices to dismiss the case, saying Texas does not have standing — or sufficient injury — to sue, nor does the state makes any claim based on law or fact.
“Texas has not suffered harm simply because it dislikes the result of the election, and nothing in the text, history, or structure of the Constitution supports Texas’s view that it can dictate the manner in which four other states run their elections. Nor is that view grounded in any precedent from this Court. Texas does not seek to have the Court interpret the Constitution, so much as disregard it,” the states’ filing said.
Pennsylvania also said the court shouldn’t allow “this seditious abuse of the judicial process.”
Michigan, Wisconsin and Georgia also said in their briefs submitted to the justices Thursday that Texas lacked proper standing to bring the lawsuit, and the states dismissed allegations of violating their election laws.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.
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