The former head of the General Services Administration (GSA), David Barram, is declaring that it is time to recognize Joe Biden as the president-elect.
While President Donald Trump has refused to concede the election and several major outlets have projected Biden as the winner, Biden has indicated that he does not have the access to information necessary during the transition.
Barram — who was previously appointed by former President Bill Clinton as the GSA administrator — told CNN’s John Berman on Thursday morning, “To me, it’s clear that we should be recognizing Joe Biden as the president-elect.”
Emily Murphy, the current administrator of the GSA, has yet to “ascertain” the winner of the election — and she has been faced with growing pressure to do so. Once she does, funds and resources are released to the winner of the presidential election.
Barram also noted that he is “very sympathetic” to Murphy and that it is a “tough spot to be in.”
“I just think she has to finally come to a decision and like I say, I’m sympathetic for her,” he said. “I think it will make everything work when she finally does.”
The former GSA head also weighed in on what the impact would be if more Republican lawmakers came out in acknowledging Biden as the winner.
“It would be fantastic, and that’s exactly what ought to happen,” Barram said. “These Republican senators who are letting Emily sit out there twisting in the wind strike me as not courageous.”
See his comments below:
JUST NOW: "These Republican senators who are letting Emily sit out there twisting in the wind strike me as not courageous…."
— John Berman (@JohnBerman) November 19, 2020
Past GSA Administrator David Barram says Emily Murphy SHOULD ascertain, and GOP should give her cover.@NewDaypic.twitter.com/ORCnxWYTah
Biden said this week that Trump has refused to cooperate with his transition team.
He said, “We’ve been unable to get access to the kinds of things we need to know about the depth of the stockpiles [amid the coronavirus pandemic” and “there’s a whole lot of things we just don’t have available to us.”
The former vice president said that unless it is made available soon to his team then they are going to be “behind by weeks or months.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) suggested that Trump should give Biden access to intelligence briefings.
“The president is contesting the election and I would urge him to give intel briefings to Joe Biden,” Graham told reporters in Washington on Wednesday.
Inauguration day is set for Jan. 20, 2021.
