Trump accepts transition to Biden must begin

Trump accepts transition to Biden must begin Published 11 minutes ago Related Topics US election 2020 Donald Trump has accepted that a formal transition can begin for US President-elect Joe Biden to take office. The president said he was recommending a key federal agency "do what needs to be done", even as he vowed to continue contesting the result. The General Services Administration (GSA) said it was acknowledging Mr Biden as the "apparent winner". Earlier, Mr Biden's victory in the US state of Michigan was officially certified, in a major blow to Mr Trump. The Biden team welcomed the start of the transition process. "Today's decision is a needed step to begin tackling the challenges facing our nation, including getting the pandemic under control and our economy back on track," said its statement. "This final decision is a definitive administrative action to formally begin the transition process with federal agencies." What did Trump say? Mr Trump tweeted as the GSA, which is tasked with formally beginning presidential transitions, informed the Biden camp that it would start the process. Administrator Emily Murphy said she was making $6.3m (£4.7m) in funds available to the president-elect. While pledging to keep up the "good fight", the president said: "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." 1px transparent line Ms Murphy, a Trump appointee, cited "recent developments involving legal challenges and certifications of election results" in her decision to send the letter. Ms Murphy said she had received no pressure from the White House over the timing of her decision. "To be clear I did not receive any direction to delay my determination," said her letter to Mr Biden. "I did, however, receive threats online, by phone, and by mail directed at my safety, my family, my staff, and even my pets in an effort to coerce me into making this determination prematurely. Biden to pick 'first US female treasury secretary' John Kerry named as Biden's climate tsar "Even in the face of thousands of threats I have remained committed to upholding the law." She had faced criticism from both political sides for failing to begin the transition process sooner, usually a routine step between the election and the inauguration. Ms Murphy missed a deadline on Monday set by Democrats in the House of Representatives to brief lawmakers about the delay. Have Republicans brought any pressure to bear? Mr Trump's fellow Republicans have increasingly been breaking ranks over the transition, with several of them speaking out on Monday. Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander, who is retiring, released a statement saying that Mr Trump should "put the country first" and help Mr Biden succeed. "When you are in public life, people remember the last thing you do," Mr Alexander said. media captionBBC Reality Check breaks down the bill for the world's most expensive election West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito said "at some point, the 2020 election must end". Ohio Senator Rob Portman argued for Mr Biden to receive top-secret briefings on national security and to be updated by the Trump administration on plans for coronavirus vaccine distribution. More than 160 business leaders had also urged Ms Murphy in an open letter to immediately recognise Mr Biden as president-elect. "Withholding resources and vital information from an incoming administration puts the public and economic health and security of America at risk,″ they wrote. What happened in Michigan? One of two Republicans on the Michigan State Board of Canvassers joined the two Democrats to finalise the result. The other Republican abstained. Mr Biden won the state by more than 150,000 votes. Abstaining Republican board member Norman Shinkle had suggested delaying the certification over irregularities affecting a few hundred votes in one county. media captionHow to move on after the US election But his colleague, Republican Aaron Van Langeveld, on Monday said their duty was "simple" and there was no option but certification. The president's Republican allies had called for the certification to be delayed for two weeks to audit ballots in a heavily Democratic county. Mr Trump's legal team said they would still challenge Michigan's results. Adviser Jenna Ellis said certification was "simply a procedural step". She added: "Americans must be assured that the final results are fair and legitimate." But time is running out. On 14 December, Mr Biden's victory is set to be approved by the US Electoral College. Can Trump overturn the election result? 'Overvoting' and other US fraud claims fact-checked What about Trump's other legal challenges? Mr Trump and his allies have suffered a string of court defeats in key states as they race to challenge the results. His campaign has reportedly tried to convince Republican state lawmakers to appoint their own electors to vote for him instead of Mr Biden, but to no avail. In neighbouring Wisconsin, a partial recount is under way by request of the Trump campaign. Election officials have accused Trump supporters of obstructing the state's recount of votes. They said observers for Mr Trump were in some cases challenging every single ballot to deliberately slow down proceedings. In Pennsylvania, a Republican judge on Saturday ruled that the Trump campaign had tried to "disenfranchise almost seven million voters" with no real evidence. The president's lawyers have appealed now to the Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia. Judge dismisses Trump lawsuit in Pennsylvania The president's other legal efforts in the state have failed to change Mr Biden's lead of some 80,000 votes. The Trump campaign has also called for another recount in Georgia, after an earlier recount by hand confirmed Mr Biden's win in the state. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Betty MacDonald fan club fans, a new fascinating Betty MacDonald biography by Wolfgang Hampel, bestselling author of ' Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ' ( Satire is my favourite animal ) will be published in 2021. Wolfgang Hampel was a very good friend of author Monica Sone, dexcribed by Betty MacDonald as Kimi in The Plague and I. Monica Sone shared the most interesting info on her wonderful friend Betty MacDonald. Wolfgang Hampel and Betty MacDonald fan club are working on this golden treasure for many Betty MacDonald fans around the world. Have a nice Tuesday! Take care, Mats ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://bettymacdonaldfanclub.blogspot.com/2020/07/readers-praise-satire-ist-mein.html Why are funny books so important? Take me, I'm a very optimistic personality but in these days I need some kind of support. Therefore I'm very glad and grateful I can read a very intelligent and funny book. Satire ist mein Lieblingstier (Satire is my favourite animal) by Wolfgang Hampel is a perfect example of very funny and very intelligent literature. Yes, indeed it requires lateral thinking; making unexpected connections; being one step ahead of the reader. If you are looking for a very funny and very intelligent book try brilliant Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ( Satire is my favourite animal ) by Wolfgang Hampel. You'll enjoy it as much as I do and many, many delighted readers around the world. Take care, Martine Didier ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Betty MacDonald fan club fans, we wish you a very happy Tuesday with one of the funniest books ever written. Send us your thoughts regarding humour, please. We are going to include the best essays in our next Betty MacDonald fan club newsletters. You might be one of our Betty MacDonald fan club surprise winners. Good luck! Why do I think that Satire is my favourite animal by Wolfgang Hampel is such a popular book? I guess the reason why is it's so witty and intelligent. Yes, it's true. You can read Satire is my favourite animal over and over again the same way I do and it won't bore you. To me this happens very, very seldom. 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This very witty book is according to many readers from all over the world one of the funniest books ever written. https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Wolfgang-Hampel/dp/3958281559 Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ( Satire is my favourite animal ) by Wolfgang Hampel is like golden sunshine in very grey November. Please don't miss very witty Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ( Satire is my favourite animal ). It's one of the funniest books ever written according to many readers around the world. It brings lots of fun and joy to many readers around the world. Many of them including me take this best medicine for bad mood every day. Betty MacDonald fan club - and Vita Magica founder, Wolfgang Hampel from Heidelberg, author of very witty Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ( Satire is my favourite animal ) is working on a new Betty MacDonald biography. 'Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ' by Wolfgang Hampel is very successful in USA, UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and many other countries!!!!!!!!!!!!! You can read Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ( Satire is my favourite animal ) by Wolfgang Hampel over and over again and it won't be boring. Don't miss it, please. Wolfgang Hampel, author of very witty Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ( Satire is my favourite animal ) and Vita Magica Team support culturual institutions with special events and book sales of Satire ist mein Lieblingstier. This very witty book is according to many readers from all over the world one of the funniest books ever written. https://www.amazon.com/Satire-ist-mein-Lieblingstier-Satirische/dp/3958281559 Happy Tuesday, Greta