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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 29 November 2016
Trump drama rolls on: Disputes, falsehoods hit transition

Continued from Front other top jobs. Retired
Gen. James Mattis, who
impressed Trump during a
Petraeus said he spent pre-Thanksgiving meeting,
about an hour with Trump, was at the top of the list for
and he praised the pres- Defense secretary, but a fi-
ident-elect for showing a nal decision had not been
“great grasp of a variety of made. Trump was also
the challenges that are out considering former New
there.” York City Mayor Rudy Giu-
“Very good conversation liani for Homeland Secu-
and we’ll see where it goes rity secretary, according to
from here,” he said. A for- those close to the transition
mer CIA chief, Petraeus process. Giuliani was initial-
pleaded guilty last year to ly the front-runner for State
a misdemeanor charge of and is still in the mix. But
mishandling classified infor- questions about his over-
mation relating to docu- seas business dealings, as
ments he had provided to well as the mayor’s public
his biographer, with whom campaigning for the job,
he was having an affair. have given Trump pause.
Vice President-elect Mike Those close to the transi-
Pence, who is heading the tion insisted on anonymity
transition effort, is said to Kellyanne Conway, campaign manager for President-elect Donald Trump, center, listens to a in commenting because
be among those backing song by “The Naked Cowboy,” in the lobby of Trump Tower, Monday, Nov. 28, 2016, in New York. they were not authorized
Romney for State. Rom- (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) to publicly discuss the pri-
ney was fiercely critical be seen as a betrayal by his Trump was furious at her communications director. vate process.
of Trump throughout the supporters. Conway’s com- and suggested his decision But people with knowledge Even as Trump weighs ma-
campaign but is interested ments stirred speculation to consider additional can- of Conway’s plans say she jor decisions that will shape
in the Cabinet position, that she is seeking to either didates instead highlighted is more interested in serv- his presidency, he’s been
and they discussed it dur- force Trump’s hand or give her influence. ing as an outside political unable to avoid being dis-
ing a lengthy meeting ear- him cover for ultimately Conway served as Trump’s adviser, akin to the role tracted by the recount ef-
lier this month. passing over Romney. third campaign manager President Barack Obama’s fort. He spent Sunday on
Other top Trump allies, no- Three people close to the and largely succeeded in campaign manager David a 12-hour Twitter offensive
tably campaign manager transition team said Trump navigating the minefield Plouffe played following that included quoting Clin-
Kellyanne Conway, have had been aware that Con- of rivalries that ensnared the 2008 election. ton’s concession speech,
launched a highly unusual way planned to voice her other officials. Trump is The wrangling over the in which she said the pub-
public campaign to warn opinion, both on Twitter said to have offered her a State Department post lic owed Trump “an open
the president-elect that and in television interviews. choice of White House jobs appears to have slowed mind and the chance to
nominating Romney would They disputed reports that — either press secretary or the announcements of lead.”q

Jill Stein presidential recount effort prompts money gusher

JULIE BYKOWICZ stead, Republican Donald itself — including multimil-
Associated Press Trump won all three and lion-dollar attorney fees —
WASHINGTON (AP) — Jill with them the electoral her campaign will use the
Stein is on track to raise votes needed to win the surplus for “election integ-
twice as much for an elec- White House. rity efforts and to promote
tion recount effort than Stein won no states and voting system reform.”
she did for her own failed wouldn’t directly or imme- Stein has reminded sup-
Green Party presidential diately benefit from a re- porters that they can con-
bid. count — nor would she like- tribute up to $2,700 for her
Fueled by the social media ly be able to topple Trump. recount drive — even if
hashtag #recount2016 and Even Clinton’s attorney they’d already donated
millions of dispirited Hillary Marc Elias wrote there’s the maximum $2,700 to
Clinton voters, Stein’s re- “no actionable evidence her for the general elec-
count drive had already of hacking or outside at- tion. Any money she raises
netted $6.3 million by Mon- tempts to alter the voting in excess of the actual re-
day, according to her cam- technology.” Green party presidential candidate Jill Stein meets her supporters count costs could then be
paign website. That’s close But Stein’s effort could help in Oakland, Calif. Stein is on track to raise twice as much for an
election recount effort than she did for her own failed Green
to the $7 million she posted her in other ways. Party presidential bid. donated to charity or to a
as a goal and millions more By continuing to raise (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron) political party, according
than the roughly $3.5 mil- money, she is building up to Federal Election Com-
lion she raised during her a larger donor list that she A bigger supporter list can “trying to gain attention mission rulings.
entire presidential bid. can later turn to if she runs command bigger fees if and establish herself as a “The money can’t be used
Citing without evidence again. She also can try to Stein chooses to lease it out national player.” for her personal benefit, but
concerns about “cyber influence policy by urging to other campaigns. Stein said she is “proud to beyond that there’s some
hacking,” Stein wants a re- those donors to call law- Laurence Tribe, a Harvard stand up for election integ- flexibility,” said Bob Bier-
count in Wisconsin, Michi- makers or contribute to constitutional law profes- rity” regardless of whether sack, who worked at the
gan and Pennsylvania other politicians. Her cam- sor, said that although re- it changes the outcome of FEC for three decades and
— places that Clinton, a paign says 137,000 people counts are “entirely within the presidential race. If she is a senior fellow at the non-
Democrat, thought were have contributed to the re- the law,” Stein’s effort is raises more money than profit Center for Responsive
safely in her column. In- count. probably aimed more at is needed for the recount Politics.q