WASHINGTON (AP) – The federal government has recognized President-elect Joe Biden as the “apparent winner” of the November 3 election, he officially began the transition to power after President Donald Trump tested the limits of American democracy for weeks. Trump sags after suffering even more legal and procedural defeats in his seemingly futile efforts to reverse the election with unfounded fraud claims.
Trump continued to refuse to let go and vowed to continue the court battle after Emily Murphy, chief of staff gave a green light on Monday to consult with federal agencies before Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20. However, Trump tweeted about leading his team to work together on the transition.
The fast-paced series of events seemed to free Trump from his frantic efforts to undermine the will of the people, which corresponds to weeks of stress testing the nation’s confidence in the political system and the fairness of the U.S. election. These efforts are not over yet and are likely to last well beyond the lame duck presidency.
Explaining Murphy’s decision, “recent developments that have posed legal challenges and justified election results. ”
He acted after Michigan verified Biden’s victory in the battlefield state on Monday, and a Pennsylvania federal judge tossed Trump’s campaign lawsuit on Saturday to prevent the verdict in that state. Pennsylvania confirmed its results and was 20 voters for Biden on Tuesday morning.
This also happened as more and more Republicans publicly acknowledged Biden’s victory after weeks of tolerating Trump’s baseless allegations of fraud. The Republican president was increasingly disillusioned with the chattering tactics of his legal team.
In recent days, Trump’s senior subordinates, including Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Pat Cipollone, a White House adviser, have encouraged Trump to allow the transition, telling the president he should not allow it, but can no longer justify withholding Biden’s support. transition.
Meadows sent a reminder to White House staff late on Monday, saying their work was not yet complete and the administration “will take all necessary steps to ensure a smooth transfer of power,” one person said.
Yohannes Abraham, executive director of Biden’s transition, said the decision was “a necessary step to address the challenges facing our nation, including controlling the pandemic and putting our economy on track”.
Murphy, the Trump’s appointee, faced bipartisan criticism for failing to begin the transition process sooner, which prevented Biden’s team from working with career agency officials on plans for his administration. The delay denied the elected Democratic president access to high-profile national security briefings and prevented his team from starting to develop his own plans for the raging coronavirus epidemic..
Murphy insisted he act alone.
“Please note that I made my own decision based on the decision and the facts available. I have never been directly or indirectly pressured by any executive officer, including those working in the White House or the GSA, about the content or timing of my decision. He wrote in a letter to Biden.
Trump tweeted in moments after Murphy’s decision, “We’re going to continue the good fight and I think we’re going to make it! Nevertheless, in the interest of our country, I suggest that Emily and her team do the necessary things with regard to the initial protocols and tell my team to do the same. “
Nevertheless, Trump continued to spread false information about the vote and indicated he would not submit. He tweeted Tuesday morning: “The GSA does not determine who will be the next president of the United States.”
Max Stier, president and CEO of the impartial Civil Service Partnership, criticized the delay, but said Biden’s team would be able to overcome it.
“Unfortunately, every day lost due to the late finding was a missed opportunity for the outgoing administration to help elected president Joe Biden prepare for the biggest challenges in our country,” he said. “The good news is that the president-elect and his team are the most prepared and best-prepared of the incoming administrations lately.”
Senate Democrat leader Chuck Schumer said the GSA’s action “is probably closest to the concession President Trump can make.” Noting that the nation is “facing several crises that require an orderly transition,” Schumer called on Democrats and Republicans to “unite” for a smooth and peaceful transition.
Murphy’s action came just 90 minutes after Michigan election officials confirmed Biden’s 154,000-vote victory in the state. The Council of State, with two Republican and two Democrat representatives, confirmed the outcome of the 3-0 vote with one GOP abstention. Trump and his allies hoped to block the vote to allow time to check the voting forms in Wayne County, where Trump claimed without evidence that he had been the victim of fraud. Biden smashed the president by more than 330,000 votes.
Some Trump allies have expressed hope that state legislators can intervene in the selection of Republican voters in states that do not justify it. This long shot offer is no longer possible in Michigan.
– The people of Michigan spoke. President-elect Biden won the state of Michigan by more than 154,000 votes, and he will be our next president on January 20th. ”Said Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat.
Trump was increasingly disappointed by his legal team, headed by former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, whose irregular public appearances have sparked bipartisan mockery in recent weeks. Nonetheless, legal challenges are expected to continue as Trump seeks to keep his patrons on his side and keep his options open to post-presidential opportunities.
In Pennsylvania on Saturday, a Conservative Republican judge impressed the Trump campaign’s biggest legal efforts in the state with a stark verdict questioning why they would deny the right to vote to 7 million voters and no evidence to support their claim, and at best .
Biden won the state of Pennsylvania by more than 80,000 votes.
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Associated Press writers, Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia, Jonathan Lemire in New York, Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Christina A. Cassidy in Atlanta and John Flesher in Traverse City, Michigan.
