Elections in the US: Trump authorizes the beginning of the transition to the new government of Biden
Almost three weeks after the presidential elections, the process of transition of power in the United States between the outgoing government of Donald Trump and President-elect Joe Biden can finally begin.
Emily Murphy, head of the Federal Government's General Services Administration (GSA), sent a letter to Biden this Monday afternoon informing him that he will make the necessary resources available for the formal start of the transfer of power. .
Murphy had come under fire for having blocked Biden's team members' access to federal funds and facilities, something her critics saw as an attempt to slow the transition.
In a message posted on her Twitter account, President Donald Trump revealed that the GSA's change of position has her approval.
"(Thinking) in the best interest of our country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done in relation to the initial protocols and I have told my team to do the same," the president wrote.
... 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.
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 23, 2020
The president has not yet formally conceded or acknowledged defeat in the November 3 elections.
In fact, in the same message in which he informs about his approval for the beginning of the transition, he indicates that he will continue to challenge the electoral results.
"Our case continues strong. We are going to continue putting up a good fight and I think we are going to win," he says.
"I was never pressured"
Biden's team welcomed the GSA's change of position.
"Today's decision is a necessary step to begin addressing our nation's challenges, including bringing the pandemic under control and re-steering our economy," they said in a statement.
"This final decision is a final administrative action to formally begin the transition process with federal agencies," they added.
In her letter, Murphy justifies her initial attitude due to the legal questions that have been made to the electoral results (by the Republican Party and Trump's campaign team) although she relieves the White House of responsibilities.
"I take this work seriously and, due to recent events regarding legal claims and certification of election results, I am sending you this letter today to make those resources and services available to you," she writes.
"I have dedicated much of my life to public service and have always strived to do the right thing. Please know that I came to my decision independently taking into account the legislation and available data.
"I was never pressured directly or indirectly by any official in the executive branch - including those who work in the White House or the GSA - in relation to the content or the moment of making my decision," he adds.
Murphy expressly states that she did not receive "any indication to postpone my decision" and assures that, instead, she did receive threats against her safety, that of her family and that of her team to force her to "make this decision prematurely" .
Murphy notes in her letter that she acknowledges that Biden is the "apparent winner" of the election.
In addition, it informs that it will make available to the president-elect funds for US $ 6.3 million for expenses related to this process.
Republican pressure
Donald Trump has questioned the results of the presidential elections since the very night of November 3, when he declared himself the winner before the counts finished, at the same time he denounced electoral fraud although without providing evidence.
Since then, the president's campaign team has tried to reverse the adverse results both through legal challenges and political maneuvering.
Throughout that process, Trump has, by act or omission, had the support of a large part of the Republican Party leadership.
That endorsement, however, has gradually faded over the days and accelerated since the weekend, with prominent voices such as former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who said Sunday that it was time for Trump drop your challenges.
"If you have evidence of fraud, present it," Christie said in an appearance on ABC, calling the performance of Trump's lawyers a "national disgrace".
"I have supported the president. I voted for him twice, but the elections have consequences and we cannot continue to act as if something that happened here had not happened," he said.
Several Republican senators also raised their voices on Monday, indicating that it was time to think about the interests of the country and start the transition process.
Similarly, more than 160 business leaders signed an open letter to Murphy urging him to recognize Biden as president-elect.
"Preventing an incoming government from accessing vital information and resources jeopardizes the public and economic health as well as the security of the United States," they wrote.
Failed challenges
Trump's campaign team has focused its challenges on a handful of contested states that have made a difference in winning Biden but have so far failed to reverse any results.
This Monday, Michigan electoral authorities officially certified Biden's victory in that state, one of the key places where Trump has been trying to challenge his election.
In Pennsylvania, a judge said Saturday that Trump's campaign team had attempted "to disenfranchise nearly seven million citizens" by challenging the process without any real evidence of fraud.
In Georgia, where a manual recount of all votes confirming Biden's victory has already been done, Trump's team is calling for a third recount; While in Wisconsin, where a partial recount is underway, election officials have accused Trump supporters of attempting to obstruct the process by challenging each of the votes in what they see as a deliberate attempt to delay the process.
In this way, Trump's chances of remaining in the White House continue to be reduced.
