Ga.’s GOP secretary of state fires back about the recount

After a barrage of unfounded claims from President Donald Trump questioning aspects of Georgia’s voting system, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger fired back.

In a series of Facebook posts from the Secretary of State page, Raffensperger, a Republican, addressed claims about the makers of the state’s election system, Dominion, as well as claims made by the president about Georgia’s recount and absentee ballots system.

Raffensperger, in an uncharacteristically aggressive retort, included a shot at former Rep. Doug Collins, a Republican who was gunning for the Senate seat held by Sen. Kelly Loeffler. Collins, who didn’t get enough votes to make it into the runoff, has repeated Trump’s misleading claims about the recount.

“We strengthened signature match. We helped train election officials on GBI signature match – which is confirmed twice before a ballot is ever cast. Failed candidate Doug Collins is a liar – but what’s new?” Raffensperger’s post read.

“Our office has received multiple requests to match ballots back to voters – exposing how a Georgia voter has voted. We stand ready to prevent any and all attempts from any party to intimidate voters. Georgia voters have a right to vote in secret without intimidation from any political candidate or party.”

Trump’s national security adviser talks legacy, Biden transition

Trump’s national security adviser Robert O’Brien seems more ready to accept the Nov. 3 results than his boss or other top White House allies. During an interview Monday, O’Brien talked about the end of Trump’s term, promised a “very professional transition” to a Biden-Harris administration, and even referred to “President Biden,” although Joe Biden is still just “presidentelect” until the inauguration on Jan. 20.

O’Brien did qualify his remarks, referring to the Trump campaign’s legal challenges to the election results.

But his comments, made during an interview with the Hill as part of a global security conference, were far more conciliatory than other Trump officials.

“If the Biden-Harris ticket is determined to be the winner and … obviously things look that way now, we’ll have a very professional transition from the National Security Council. There’s no question about it,” O’Brien said.

Trump hints at primary challenge for Ohio’s GOP governor

Trump appears to be encouraging a primary challenge to Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. He tweeted on Monday: “Who will be running for Governor of the Great State of Ohio? Will be hotly contested!”

DeWine was a co-chair of Trump’s re-election campaign in Ohio, but he was among a group of Republicans who last week acknowledged Biden as president-elect. On CNN on Sunday, DeWine said Trump should begin the transition to Biden.

SEC Chairman Clayton to leave at the end of the year

Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton confirmed Monday that he is stepping down at the end of the year. According to Bloomberg and The New York Times, Biden’s top choices to head the SEC are Gary Gensler, a former chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and Preet Bharara, a former U.S. attorney.