'Ok, no': CNN host spars with far-right rep refusing to commit to peaceful transfer of power

03 October 2024

Ever since Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) refused to acknowledge that former President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election during this week's vice presidential debate, Republicans have been playing defense on election denial. The most recent instance of that happened when CNN host Pamela Brown questioned a Republican member of Congress on Thursday.

Toward the end of the segment – which touched on Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith's newly unsealed document justifying his D.C. election interference case against Trump — Brown asked Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Florida) if he would commit to a "peaceful transfer of power" after the election regardless of whether the next president was Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris. Waltz notably refused to say yes outright.

"This is politically driven. It's being done deliberately in the weeks before [the election]," Waltz said. "And I got to tell you, I'm not hearing from a single constituent any concerns about this. It's the inflation, the economy, the border, crime and the world that's in chaos. And that's the reason that the Harris campaign abandoned all of this."

At that point, Brown interjected, saying: "I'm not asking about what voters are going to vote on." Waltz then cut in to say "we absolutely have to have a peaceful transition." However, he noted that "President Trump had his concerns" about the 2020 election and "pursued them in court" before he ultimately left office "on his own accord."

"But he also pressured his vice president to overturn the will of the voters, and state officials —" Brown said, before Waltz cut her off again.

"He pressured his vice president to take a view of a very vague law that the Congress since stepped in and clarified," the Florida Republican said.

"OK, no," Brown responded, before trying unsuccessfully to move on.

"But we did! The Electoral Count Act, Pam!" Waltz shouted.

"The Electoral Count Act did not allow the vice president to overturn the will of the people," Brown said. "But really quickly just to be clear you will commit to a peaceful transfer of power—"

"—That was so vague, that was so vague, the Congress stepped in to try to clarify. It was a 120 year-old law," Waltz interjected.

"—Because January 6 happened," Brown insisted. "And, OK, listen, will you commit to a peaceful transfer of power?"

"We've had protests that have exploded into riots all over this country, including in Minneapolis, including in Portland," Waltz said. "So I don't think you necessarily draw the causality. But at the end of the day, yes, yes, we should have peaceful transfer of power in this country, absolutely—"

"—And you will certify the results if every state certifies the results?" Brown asked.

"If it is a free and fair election, absolutely," Waltz responded, which prompted an exasperated Brown to cut in once again.

"But what does that mean? What does a free and fair election mean?" She asked. "2020 was a free and fair election, and members of Congress tried to overturn the results, so what does that mean to you?"

"Well, ask Hillary Clinton when she said Trump was not a legitimate president," Waltz countered.

"No, no no. Being a poor loser, being, a sore loser, which Democrats have been, is different than trying to overturn the will of the people," Brown said as Waltz continued trying to shout over her.

"We talked about this, you and I, in 2021, and I voted to certify, others didn't, they had their concerns. But we worked things out in the courts, and we worked things out in debate," the Florida congressman said. "There should never be a riot. And at the end of the day, we had Joe Biden come in as president."

Watch the video of the exchange below, or by clicking this link.

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