Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) stood firmly behind Donald Trump on Monday as the president continues to raise baseless allegations of widespread voter fraud in an election he has refused to concede to President-elect Joe Biden.

The Kentucky Republican said Trump is “100% within his rights” to look into allegations of “irregularities,” pursue legal challenges and request recounts in several states, declining to acknowledge the former Democratic vice president’s victory.

“No states have yet certified their election results,” McConnell said Monday in a speech on the Senate floor. “I believe the president may have legal challenges underway in at least five states.”

Discussing prior presidential elections, he went on to assert: “If any major irregularities occurred this time of a magnitude that would affect the outcome, then every single American should want them to be brought to light. And if the Democrats feel confident they have not occurred, they should have no reason to fear any extra scrutiny.”

“We have the tools and the institutions we need to address any concerns,” McConnell added, saying that the Constitution doesn’t give “wealthy media corporations” the power to call elections.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) stood firmly behind Donald Trump on Monday as the president continues to raise baseless allegations of widespread voter fraud in an election he has refused to concede to President-elect Joe Biden.

The Kentucky Republican said Trump is “100% within his rights” to look into allegations of “irregularities,” pursue legal challenges and request recounts in several states, declining to acknowledge the former Democratic vice president’s victory.

“No states have yet certified their election results,” McConnell said Monday in a speech on the Senate floor. “I believe the president may have legal challenges underway in at least five states.”

Discussing prior presidential elections, he went on to assert: “If any major irregularities occurred this time of a magnitude that would affect the outcome, then every single American should want them to be brought to light. And if the Democrats feel confident they have not occurred, they should have no reason to fear any extra scrutiny.”

“We have the tools and the institutions we need to address any concerns,” McConnell added, saying that the Constitution doesn’t give “wealthy media corporations” the power to call elections.

There has been no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Every major television network, as well as The Associated Press, has projected Biden’s win based on his substantial vote lead in several key states. Biden currently leads Trump by more than 40,000 votes in Pennsylvania, for example.

Only four Republican senators have acknowledged Biden’s victory and congratulated him for winning the White House: Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, and Ben Sasse of Nebraska.

Dozens of world leaders and former President George W. Bush have also congratulated Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, for their historic election win.

In his speech on Monday, McConnell hailed the unexpectedly good night Senate Republicans had last Tuesday ― the GOP held on to key seats that Democrats were hoping would help hand them control of the majority next year.

But those new GOP senators ― from Tennessee, Kansas, Wyoming and Alabama ― were all projected winners by the same media McConnell and other Republicans sought to cast doubt on this week.

It’s difficult to make the argument that votes in contests favorable to the GOP were perfectly legitimate, whereas votes in the presidential race were not.

“Lawsuits must have basis in facts and evidence, and make no mistake, there has been no evidence of any significant or widespread voter fraud. Joe Biden won this election fair and square,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) proclaimed Monday, urging GOP leaders to come to grips with reality.

Related…

Trump Appointee Needed To Start Biden Transition Refusing To Sign Off, Report Says

Jake Tapper Tells GOP Governor His Party Leaders Are ‘Acting Like Babies’

Susan Collins Becomes Fourth Republican Senator To Congratulate Biden On Victory

Read live updates on the election below. (Note: An ad blocker may prevent you from seeing the blog, so if you’re using one, please pause or turn it off.)

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.Our goal is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions. In order to improve our community experience, we are temporarily suspending article commenting.

Disability Advocates Express Joy After Biden Name-Checks Them With Important Word

“We must make the promise of the country real for everybody — no matter their race, their ethnicity, their faith, their identity or their disability,” the president-elect said Saturday night in Wilmington, Delaware.

To some, Biden’s reference marked a stark contrast to President Donald Trump, a vocal opponent of health science whose list of ableist behaviors includes mocking a disabled reporter in 2016 and instituting policies that made it difficult for disabled immigrants to receive vital health benefits.

On social media, disabled activists and allies to the movement instantly took note of Biden’s call for them to be afforded equal opportunity, and many used the hashtag #CripTheVote in reference to the yearslong campaign to realize the disabled community as a critical voting bloc. Many observers noted it was their first time hearing a president reference the disabled community so specifically, and many credited Biden’s national disability engagement director, Molly Doris-Pierce, for emphasizing the community’s needs to the campaign.

On Saturday, Doris-Pierce was among thousands who celebrated both Biden’s acknowledgment and the ensuing momentum that came when CNN host Jake Tapper referenced #CripTheVote in news coverage following Biden’s speech. In response to a clip of the segment, she tweeted, “Let’s f**king go.”

People with disabilities make up “the nation’s largest minority,” accounting for roughly 50 million Americans, according to the Department of Labor. While many activists urged cautious optimism and encouraged others to apply continuous pressure to the Biden administration, the overwhelming response from advocacy groups and people with disabilities toward his remarks suggest many see far greater opportunity for progress under Biden than would have been possible with the outgoing president.