• GOP Sen. Tim Scott mentioned the 2020 election wasn’t “stolen,” however feels that “there was dishonest.”
• Scott made the feedback whereas stumping in Iowa as he seeks the GOP presidential nomination.
• Some Republicans have urged the get together to maneuver on from Trump’s election claims forward of 2024.

Republican presidential candidate Tim Scott on Friday mentioned he did not imagine that the 2020 presidential election was “stolen,” however argued that “there was dishonest” within the contest that noticed now-President Joe Biden defeat then-President Donald Trump, in accordance with NBC Information.

Since launching his 2024 White Home bid in Might, the South Carolina senator has sought to supply GOP voters a conservative candidacy rooted in unity and optimism. And Trump’s election claims have confirmed to be extremely divisive, with the previous president persevering with to say — with none proof — that he was the true victor within the 2020 contest.

“I don’t imagine the election was stolen,” Scott mentioned throughout a city corridor assembly in Davenport, Iowa. “There was dishonest, however was the election stolen? There is a distinction. I feel [in] each election there’s dishonest.”

On Jan. 5, 2021, a day earlier than the certification of the 2020 outcomes was disrupted by rioting on the US Capitol, Scott expressed gratitude towards Trump for his time period in workplace whereas additionally talking out towards voting irregularities.

“In practically each election throughout this nice nation, there’s some modicum of error. Some errors are merely errors, whereas some are intentional, and due to this fact fraud. Some errors are inconsequential, whereas some may in actual fact change the end result of elections,” the senator mentioned in an announcement on the time.

“We should work to finish these errors — be they intentional, negligent, or in any other case,” he continued. “Merely put, there isn’t a acceptable error price in relation to one thing as foundational and sacred as our vote. We should be vigilant in making certain each lawfully forged vote is counted and no unlawfully forged vote is counted.”

Scott then spoke of his assist of Trump because the then-president sought authorized treatments to additional probe the 2020 election, however acknowledged that a number of Trump-nominated judges didn’t permit sure lawsuits to proceed resulting from inadequate proof.

“I’ve been adamant in supporting the President’s authorized proper to pursue any and each lawful avenue to research, litigate and adjudicate allegations of error, fraud, or misconduct,” he mentioned on the time. 

“The President’s authorized staff exercised its proper to entry the courts by initiating fits in state and federal courts in quite a few states. A few of these lawsuits have even been presided over and adjudicated by conservative judges nominated by President Trump. To date, no justice, decide, or reality finder has discovered proof indicating the election leads to these states must be overturned,” he added.

Trump has typically needled Republicans who’ve rejected his claims concerning the 2020 election.

Some Republicans — annoyed by candidates who misplaced aggressive races in final yr’s midterms after embracing Trump’s election claims — have urged the get together to maneuver on from the previous president’s 2020-related messaging.

Whereas Scott is immediately difficult Trump for the GOP presidential nomination, each males have lengthy had a pleasant relationship.

Final yr, earlier than Scott entered the presidential contest, he expressed an openness to probably changing into Trump’s vice presidential operating mate. And in Might, The New York Instances reported that Trump privately mentioned he was “simply going to say good issues about Tim” if the senator entered the Republican presidential major.

Trump publicly wished Scott luck on the day that the senator introduced his presidential marketing campaign and on the similar time criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ candidacy.