Prez won’t make way for transition to begin
President Trump’s White House is refusing to take steps to allow a transition to President-elect Joe Biden — and the current commander-in-chief hasn’t given any sign he accepts an election defeat.
An obscure Trump appointee who leads the General Services Administration won’t issue a letter needed to start the official transition process even after Biden was declared the winner Saturday.
A spokeswoman for the GSA echoed Trump’s claim that the presidential election remains undecided, despite Biden’s ballot leads.
GSA Administrator Emily Murphy, a Trump political appointee, offered no indication when or if she plans to issue the letter.
The GSA letter would give Biden’s transition team access to millions in federal funding for salaries and travel, along with seemingly minor things like dotgov email addresses.
It would also amount to a bureaucratic nod to Biden’s win over Trump.
Trump continued to claim he’s won the election, and that he’ll pursue legal challenges and recounts in several states.
He is also reportedly considering launching a new campaign of #MAGA rallies to highlight his claims of election fraud.
Legal experts scoffed at Trump’s claims, which Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani touted at a bizarre press conference outside a Philadelphia landscaping company.
Both Democratic and Republican election officials say there’s no evidence of any irregularities.
Biden on Monday nevertheless moved ahead with the transition, naming a coronavirus task force and addressing the nation with a plea to wear masks, and a promise to “follow the science.”