WYOMING — Governor Mark Gordon has issued a statement saying Wyoming will not be involved in a lawsuit filed by the Texas attorney general against Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
In the statement, Gordon said the state was not given enough time to properly consider either joining Texas’s motion or supporting states’ briefs. Seventeen states with Republican attorney generals have filed briefs in support of the lawsuit, and six have asked to join Texas in it, according to national media. Twenty states, including three with Republican governors, filed briefs opposing Texas’s lawsuit.
After consultation with Wyoming Attorney General Bridget Hill, Gordon said, he believes the case could have “unintended consequences relating to a constitutional principle that the State of Wyoming holds dear — that States are sovereign, free to govern themselves.” However, Gordon said he “strongly support[s]” the U.S. Supreme Court hearing Texas’s petition. If the court does so, Wyoming will consider weighing in on the case, he said.
The statement follows after 48 Wyoming lawmakers wrote a letter to Gordon claiming that Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania “exploited” the COVID-19 pandemic to justify ignoring federal and state election laws and enacted “last-minute” changes, which skewed the results of the 2020 election. A complete list of the current and recently-elected lawmakers who signed the letter on Dec. 9, according to the governor’s office, and a draft of the letter can be found on WyoFile.
Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., 106 U.S. Congresspeople signed onto their own brief supporting Texas’s lawsuit. The Press Office of Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-WY) has released a statement saying she joined Colorado Representative Ken Buck (R-CO) and several of her colleagues in co-sponsoring a resolution that supports President Trump’s efforts to ensure that every legal vote is counted in the November 2020 presidential election, and to investigate and bring to justice those who perpetrate election fraud.
Gordon’s full statement is as follows:
“I strongly support the Supreme Court hearing the Constitutional issue of the Electors Clause raised by Texas in their petition. President Trump has the right to bring electoral issues for resolution in the US judicial system. I, along with Wyoming voters, overwhelmingly supported President Trump through our electoral process. As Governor, my sworn duty is to protect the right of Wyoming citizens to vote. I also agree that States must follow laws passed by their legislature concerning elections. I could not be more proud of Wyoming’s electoral process, both in terms of security and the ability for Wyomingites to cast their vote.
We were not informed nor asked by Texas to consider joining their suit. The State of Texas’s filing was more than 150 pages and there was inadequate time to properly consider the ramifications of joining the motion specifically, or to thoughtfully consider joining the supporting states’ brief before it was filed. I asked the Attorney General to look into the case and consider possible actions the State of Wyoming might take. General Hill did this, and after significant consideration we believe that the case could have unintended consequences relating to a constitutional principle that the State of Wyoming holds dear – that States are sovereign, free to govern themselves.
Should the Supreme Court grant Texas’s motion, we will weigh in a manner that is suitable and appropriate for the issues raised. As always, I will make sure Wyoming’s interests are protected.”
