How Pence massaged the rules of the Electoral College counting session to avoid introducing the “rival” slates of Trump electors…

It's 2:55 a.m. and I just figured out how Pence massaged the rules of the Electoral College counting session to avoid introducing the "rival" slates of Trump electors.

These are the instructions VPs have given out at the start in each of the last 5. Note the difference? pic.twitter.com/l7dnNhon5b

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) January 7, 2021

TLDR: The law specifies that the VP must introduce all "purported" electoral votes. This year, that might've included the unserious/mock Trump electors.

But Pence worked with the parliamentarian to interpret it so only electors backed by a state "authority" would be introduced.

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) January 7, 2021

Note how Pence emphasizes, before introduced each state that not only is the slate of electors "regular" and "authentic," but that the parliamentarian has advised him is the only one backed by a state "authority."

That is not a regular acknowledgment at these sessions.

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) January 7, 2021

Yes, great catch. And he deliberately sought that advice, or had it presented to him by McConnell. The establishment planned this. Pence was om board@Maximus_4EVR @EmeraldRobinson @JackPosobiec @tracybeanz @RealMattCouch

— Frederick Muller (@FVonMuller) January 7, 2021