![]() ![]() Associated Press writers Andrew Taylor and Laurie Kellman in Washington, Alexandra Jaffe in Wilmington, Del. I’m not going to say no, and I didn’t last time either.” _ “I have to see,” Trump said two months ago on “Fox News Sunday.” “No, I’m not going to just say yes. Of the nine states with universal ballots this year, only Nevada is a battleground, and likely pivotal only in a total national presidential deadlock.īefore the 2016 election, much as now, Trump refused to commit to accepting the results during the summer. Five states that routinely send mail ballots to all voters have seen no significant fraud. The president, who uses mail-in voting himself, has tried to distinguish between states that automatically send ballots to all registered voters and those, like Florida, that send only to voters who request them. “That’s not how a democracy works.”Įarlier Thursday, the White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany sought to clarify Trump’s words, saying he “will accept the results of a free and fair election.”īut the press secretary added that Trump wants to “get rid of mass, mail-out voting.” That’s how a “dictator” operates, she said. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., exclaimed at the Capitol. “He wants to be named president for life?” Sen. And Graham suggested on Fox that the Supreme Court could end up all but declaring the winner. Ted Cruz is among leading Republicans pushing the importance of the court’s role. Meanwhile, Republicans are rushing to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court created by Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, partly to ensure a Trump-friendly court majority to resolve any post-election lawsuits by their party or Trump himself. Sherill, a former Navy pilot, said peaceful transition “really relies a lot on the Cabinet officers turning over their departments to the next administration.” She told The Associated Press recently she wants to hear from “all of them.” “The president can’t successfully refuse to accept the results of the election without a number of very senior officials aiding him,” said Slotkin, a former CIA analyst. Similar queries have been sent to Attorney General William Barr and acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, responded in a letter to the lawmakers last month that he sees “no role” for the military to intervene in a disputed election.īut Defense Secretary Mark Esper declined to respond to the lawmakers’ questions. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan - both members of the Armed Services Committee - are formally asking members of Trump’s Cabinet to go on record and commit to upholding the Constitution and peaceful transition. One senator said recently it was the biggest topic of private discussions. On Capitol Hill, Trump’s possible refusal to accept the election results has been discussed privately for weeks as lawmakers consider options. “Look, he says the most irrational things. Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, was incredulous, “What country are we in?” he said late Wednesday of Trump’s comment. America’s leaders swear an oath to the Constitution. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, a member of the House GOP leadership, tweeted: “The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our Republic. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of Joe Biden, I will accept that result. Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally and the GOP chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told “Fox & Friends” on Thursday: “If Republicans lose we will accept the result. ![]()
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