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u.s. news Diasabra 21 November 2020

Trump to meet Michigan leaders in bid to subvert election

(AP) — Michigan state White House press secretary
legislators headed to the Kayleigh McEnany said it
White House on Friday as was “not an advocacy meet-
President Donald Trump ing" and insisted Trump
made an extraordinary "routinely meets with law-
and sure-to-be futile at- makers from across the coun-
tempt to block Joe Biden's try.” But such meetings are in
victory in the battle- fact rare, particularly now as
ground state and subvert Trump has maintained a low-
the results of the 2020 profile since his electoral loss
presidential election. to Biden.

The state has yet to certify Some Michigan legislators
its results for Biden, who have reported being deluged
won Michigan by more than with calls and emails from
154,000 votes, according to Trump supporters demand-
unofficial results. Trump and ing that they intervene. The
his allies have been trying to House GOP caucus has pre-
convince judges and lawmak- pared a 732-word stock re-
ers in the state to set aside the sponse that pushes back, stat-
popular vote and swap in Re- ing that state law clearly re-
publican-chosen electors. quires that electors be nomi-
nated by the party that wins
The president personally the most votes.
called two county canvass
board officials earlier this “The law does not allow for feat. His team also has sug- difficult to imagine a worse,
week who had refused to the nomination or approval gested in a legal challenge that more undemocratic action But a massive influx of mail-
certify the results in Wayne of alternative electors,” the Pennsylvania set aside the by a sitting American Presi- in ballots because of the
County, the state's most email states. popular vote there and pres- dent.” coronavirus pandemic leaned
populous county and one Chatfield tweeted Friday af- sured county officials in Ari- largely to Biden, who en-
that overwhelmingly favored ternoon before the planned zona to delay certifying vote Trump’s own election secu- couraged his supporters to
Biden. The two GOP offi- meeting with Trump: “No tallies. At the White House, rity agency has declared the vote by mail, and those votes
cials eventually agreed to cer- matter the party, when you discussions were underway 2020 presidential election to were the last to be counted.
tify the results, but following have an opportunity to meet about extending an invite to have been the most secure in So it appeared Trump had an
Trump's call, they later said with the President of the Pennsylvania's Republican history. Days after that state- edge when he really didn’t.
they had second thoughts. United States, of course you legislative leadership as well. ment was issued, Trump fired Michigan's four-member
take it. I won’t apologize for Election law experts see it the agency’s leader. state canvassing board, made
Then Trump invited Re- that. In fact, I’m honored all as the last, dying gasps of up of two Democrats and
publican state legislators to to speak with POTUS and the Trump campaign and say The increasingly desperate two Republicans, is expected
Washington. As he departed proud to meet with him. And Biden is certain to walk into and erratic moves have no to meet Monday to deter-
Detroit for Washington on I look forward to our conver- the Oval Office come Janu- reasonable chance of chang- mine the results of the elec-
Friday morning, state Senate sation.” ary. But there is great concern ing the outcome of the 2020 tion after receiving totals
Majority Leader Mike Shir- that Trump's effort is doing election, in which Biden has from all 83 counties. If it does
key was swarmed by activists U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, real damage to public faith now received more votes not certify Biden’s victory, it
bearing signs that read: “Re- D-Mich., whose district in- in the integrity of U.S. elec- than any other presidential is likely a court would order
spect the Vote" and “Protect cludes portions of Wayne tions. candidate in history and has the members to do so.
Democracy.” House Speaker County, said Trump was to- clinched the 270 Electoral
Lee Chatfield was also head- tally out of line. “Let me be Specialists on Michigan elec- College votes needed to win. The Michigan Legislature
ed to D.C., as were at least very clear, this goes beyond tion law said the state Board But the Republican presi- would be called on to select
two other GOP leaders. partisan politics, and it’s an of Canvassers is limited in dent’s constant barrage of electors if Trump succeeded
attempt to subvert our de- scope and its primary respon- baseless claims, his work to in convincing the board not
“What this president is doing mocracy and undermine the sibility is to certify the results. personally sway local offi- to certify the results.
unconscionable," said former will of Michigan voters,” “Their duties are to receive cials who certify votes and
Bush administration official Dingell said. the canvas and certify the his allies' refusal to admit he Biden legal adviser Bob Bau-
Christine Todd Whitman. The Michigan effort is canvas, that’s it,” said John lost is likely to have a lasting er said Trump’s efforts are
"It is unacceptable. It's un- among multiple last-ditch Pirich, a former assistant at- negative impact on the coun- harmful to democracy but
American and it’s a derelic- tactics Trump and his allies torney general who now try. Legions of his supporters have no chance of success,
tion of his duty.” are using to challenge his de- teaches at Michigan State don’t believe he lost. though he stopped short of
University Law School. characterizing the legality of
“There should be no dispute The two GOP canvassers in them.
on what they can or cannot Michigan’s Wayne Coun- “It’s an abuse of office," he
do. The statute is absolutely ty said in a statement late said. It’s an open attempt to
clear.” Wednesday they lacked con- intimidate election officials,
“They have absolutely no fidence that the election was it’s absolutely appalling. ...
power to investigate al- fair and impartial. But there It’s also pathetic.”
legations, theories or any has been no evidence of im-
half-brained kind of argu- propriety or fraud in Michi- Trump personal attorney
ments that are being thrown gan, election officials have Rudy Giuliani and oth-
around,” Pirich said. said. ers held a press conference
Thursday to allege a wide-
Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, Trump's allies have homed spread Democratic election
one of Trump’s most vocal in on the way that the presi- conspiracy involving mul-
GOP critics, accused Trump dent's early lead in Michigan tiple states and suspect voting
of resorting to “overt pres- and some other states on machines. But election offi-
sure on state and local offi- election night slipped away cials across the country have
cials to subvert the will of the as later votes came, casting it said repeatedly there was no
people and overturn the elec- as evidence of something ne- widespread fraud.
tion.” Romney added: “It is farious.