Lankford slammed by Trump loyalists
Senator says Biden should be briefed on national security
U.S. Sen. James Lankford didn't acknowledge Democrat Joe Biden as the presidentelect. He didn't say President Donald Trump should concede the election. But to some Oklahomans, Lankford abandoned the GOP president when he vowed to ensure Biden receives classified intelligence briefings while states are still counting ballots.
In the hours after making that comment on Wednesday — and despite making several others defending Trump's right to ensure fair elections
in close states — Lankford was hit with hundreds of social media comments excoriating him, with some questioning his party loyalties and some even his patriotism.
“Step in against Trump and step out of Oklahoma,” said a Facebook member named Daniel Rainey, of Tulsa.
“Biden is NOT the President Elect!!! Only the media and Biden, himself, has declared he is!!! Senator James Lankford, WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM???” reads the Facebook post of Dale Hirschman, of Perry.
And Brenda Timmons, of Tulsa, wrote on the site, “Please stand by President Trump and do not cave to the pressure of the liberals.”
Trump swept every county in Oklahoma on Nov. 3 and won 65% of the vote, matching his performance in 2016.
The Facebook comments on Lankford's page weren't limited to the senator's constituents. There were many on both sides from people who identified themselves as being from other states.
Sarah D Silver, of Oregon, told the senator, “I want to congratulate you for taking the lead in recognizing that a president- elect must have access to the information he and his transition team need now to be able to maintain the security of our nation … .”
Meanwhile, some of Lankford's Republican colleagues in the Senate told reporters on Capitol Hill on Thursday that they also thought it would be appropriate for Biden to begin receiving the daily intelligence briefings while Trump pursues his legal strategies in states where the vote is close. Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe, a Republican, was not among them; he said Biden was not the president-elect and shouldn't receive the briefings until he is.
The controversy stemmed from Lankford's comments on KRMG radio in Tulsa on Wednesday during an interview that touched on the transition resources being denied Biden, including the classified intelligence briefings about potential threats to the United States.
Lankford said he had already begun inquiries about the situation and learned that former President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, allowed Republican George W. Bush to receive the briefings while the 2000 race was in dispute.
He said, “There's nothing wrong with Vice President Biden getting the briefings to be able to prepare himself. … There is no loss from him getting the briefings to be able to do that. And if that's not occurring by Friday, I will step in as well to be able to push to say: `This needs to occur.' So that regardless of the outcome of the election — whichever way that it goes — people can be ready for that actual task.”
The General Services Administration (GSA) has not issued a letter ascertaining the winner of the election; the Associated Press and some networks called it for Biden on Saturday. A letter on Biden's behalf would make transition resources immediately available. Lankford is a member of the Senate committee that oversees the GSA.
Lankford stressed during the interview that the president had the right to pursue every legal option.
“It is important for the 71 million- plus people that voted for President Trump that at the end of it they know all of their questions were answered and that there is a president who was actually duly elected,” he said.
Lankford, describing his own position, said, “I've just said, `I'm going to wait this out.' I totally understand. There are still lots of questions on this.”
Lankford also appeared on Tulsa radio host Pat Campbell's show on Wednesday and said Trump should be given “space to be able to go ask the questions that need to be asked.”
As that interview ended, Lankford gave listeners the web address of his Senate office and said they could also look to his social media sites.
“But I would encourage you not to believe every comment that you read once you get there,” he said.