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Spanish – U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday authorized the formal process of the presidential transition. The statement comes after the General Services Administration (GSA) informed Joe Biden’s team that the Trump administration is ready to begin the paperwork. However, the Republican leader is continuing his battle in the courts to prove that election fraud was committed.
This transition procedure begins on Monday. Emily Murphy, GSA administrator, who serves as an arbiter to determine when access to government funds may be available to the president-elect, notified of the same through a letter.
NEWS: The GSA has informed president-elect Joe Biden the administration is ready to begin the formal transition process, according to a letter from administrator Emily Murphy sent Monday afternoon and obtained by CNN, via @KristenhCNN (story TK!)
— Jeremy Herb (@jeremyherb) November 23, 2020
This move comes after Michigan formally certified its election results in favor of the Democratic Party candidate, and Georgia did so on Friday.
In Murphy’s letter to Biden’s team, the official clarifies, “please know that I came to my decision independently, based on the law and available facts,” Murphy wrote.
“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. To be clear, I did not receive any direction to delay my determination,” she emphasized.
Donald Trump reaffirms GSA’s statement
The U.S. president also referred to this fact through his Twitter account. In that vein, Trump thanked Murphy for her work and took the opportunity to reaffirm the decision to begin the transition.
“I want to thank Emily Murphy at GSA for her steadfast dedication and loyalty to our Country. She has been harassed, threatened, and abused – and I do not want to see this happen to her, her family, or employees of GSA. Our case strongly continues, we will keep up the good fight, and I believe we will prevail,” the head of state said in a first tweet.
Battle in the Courts Remains Firm
Although this procedure has already begun, the U.S. president has not given up in his efforts to prove the allegations of fraud he has made, and his legal team has reiterated and defended them, which, according to Trump’s own words, will remain in court.
“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,” he explained.
I want to thank Emily Murphy at GSA for her steadfast dedication and loyalty to our Country. She has been harassed, threatened, and abused – and I do not want to see this happen to her, her family, or employees of GSA. Our case STRONGLY continues, we will keep up the good…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 23, 2020
President Trump’s legal team issued a statement Friday in response to a federal judge’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit to challenge the results in Pennsylvania. The document signed by Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis says that thanks to that decision, they will accelerate the processes to move forward with the strategy of reaching the U.S. Supreme Court quickly. Of the nine judges on the highest court, six are conservative or Republican.
Democratic pressures
According to CNN, Murphy has faced intense scrutiny and political pressure from Democrats. They were also joined by some Republicans who called for the start of what they called “a smooth transition.”
In the letter addressed to Biden’s team, Murphy also added that the rules for verification were vague and should be updated. She wrote, “GSA does not dictate the outcome of legal disputes and recounts, nor does it determine whether such proceedings are reasonable or justified.”
“These are issues that the Constitution, federal laws, and state laws leave to the election certification process and decisions by courts of competent jurisdiction. I do not think that an agency charged with improving federal procurement and property management should place itself above the constitutionally-based election process. I strongly urge Congress to consider amendments to the Act,” she said.
