Otago Daily Times

Biden works on selecting cabinet posts

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WASHINGTON: United States Presidente­lect Joe Biden will announce the first of his Cabinet appointmen­ts tomorrow and is planning for a scaleddown inaugurati­on due to the Covid19 pandemic, aides said yesterday, as he lays the foundation for his new administra­tion despite President Donald Trump’s refusal to concede.

Since Biden, a Democrat, was declared the winner of the November 3 election two weeks ago, Trump has launched a barrage of lawsuits and mounted pressure to prevent state officials from certifying vote totals. But he suffered an emphatic legal setback on Sunday, in Pennsylvan­ia.

Ron Klain, Biden’s choice as White House chief of staff, again urged the Trump administra­tion — specifical­ly a federal agency called the General Services Administra­tion (GSA) — to formally recognise Biden’s victory to unlock resources for the transition process.

‘‘I hope that the administra­tor of the GSA will do her job,’’ Klain added, referring to GSA chief Emily Murphy.

Biden is due to take office on January 20.

‘‘A record number of Americans rejected the Trump presidency, and since then Donald Trump’s been rejecting democracy,’’ Klain told ABC.

Biden prevailed 306232 in the statebysta­te Electoral College system that determines the election’s victor.

The former vicepresid­ent, working in his home state of Delaware, has announced a series of selections for White House posts.

Klain said ‘‘you’re going to see the first Cabinet picks this Tuesday’’, but declined to disclose the choices or the posts to be filled.

Biden said on Friday he had chosen a treasury secretary. Candidates on his shortlist include former Fed chairwoman Janet Yellen, current Fed Governor Lael Brainard, Sarah Bloom Raskin, a former Fed governor, and Raphael Bostic, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

Yesterday, a Biden ally, who did not want to be identified, told Reuters veteran diplomat Antony Blinken was Biden’s most likely choice for secretary of state.

Klain said there would be ‘‘scaleddown versions of the existing traditions’’ for Biden’s inaugurati­on.

Inaugurati­on ceremonies typically draw huge crowds.

Covid19 is surging in many parts of the country, and has killed more than 256,000 people in the United States.

‘‘We know people want to celebrate. There is something here to celebrate,’’ Klain said.

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