Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made an extraordinary speech from the Senate floor today after members of Congress objected to certifying the electoral college votes. While McConnell usually follows Donald Trump he clearly drew a line in the sand today saying: “The voters, the courts, and the states have all spoken…if we overrule them it would damage our republic forever. This election was not unusually close.” PBS correspondent Yamiche Alcindor called McConnell’s remarks “a blistering take down of Pres Trump’s arguments.” Here’s part of what he said:

“Nothing before us proves illegality anywhere near the massive scale that would’ve tipped the election. Nor can public doubt alone justify a radical break when the doubt itself was incited without any evidence.”

“The assertions range from local allegations…to sweeping conspiracy theories…over and over the courts rejected these claims”

“We cannot simply declare ourselves a national board of elections on steroids.”

“If this election were overturned by mere allegations from the losing side, our democracy would enter a death spiral. We’d never see the whole nation accept an election again. Every four years, there’d be a scramble for power at any cost.”

Watch McConnell’s full speech above.