Donald Trump has allowed the transition of power to begin begin for Joe Biden. The Democrat nominee was declared the “apparent winner” of the US election.
Donald Trump has allowed the transition of power to begin begin for Joe Biden. The Democrat nominee was declared the “apparent winner” of the US election by a federal agency, forcing the transition process to start.
Donald Trump starts transition process to Biden
President Trump, who is refusing to concede the election, said he has ordered his team to co-operate on the transition but said he was still fighting to overturn the election results. Donald Trump’s legal efforts in key battlegrounds have been knocked back in local courts and the US Supreme Court will likely be involved eventually.
Following the failed attempts at a local level, a federal official certified Michigan for Joe Biden. This allows Mr Biden’s aides to begin co-ordinating with federal agencies to ensure a smooth takeover on January 20. Emily Murphy of the General Services Administration (GSA) wrote in a letter to Mr Biden. “Please know that I came to my decision independently, based on the law and available facts. I was never directly or indirectly pressured by any executive branch official – including those who work at the White House or GSA – with regard to the substance or timing of my decision.”
After the letter was published, Donald Trump tweeted: “Our case STRONGLY continues, we will keep up the good… fight, and I believe we will prevail! Nevertheless, in the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same.” The Board of State Canvassers, which consists of two Republicans and two Democrats, confirmed the results on a 3-0 vote with one abstention.
Donald Trump has claimed voter fraud and says that changed the outcome of the vote. His lawyers have not yet offered sufficient evidence. Republicans had called for the certification to be delayed seeing as an audit was going on in Wayne County, home to Detroit. Election officials ignored this request and on Monday night certified Joe Biden’s 154,000-vote victory without counting every vote. The Democrat nominee will now receive all 16 of the state’s electoral college votes.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, said: “The people of Michigan have spoken, it’s time to put this election behind us.” President Trump’s legal team dismissed the certification as “simply a procedural step” and have declared their intention to carry on their legal battle.
