While many news outlets projected that former Vice President Joe Biden has won the election, members of the Trump administration are not ready to accept that the election results are final.
Republican senators have noted that the results have yet to be certified, and President Donald Trump‘s reelection campaign is contesting the results.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was asked if his department is coordinating with Biden’s team to facilitate a smooth transition for when Biden takes office on Jan. 20, 2021.
He said, “There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration.”
“We’re ready. The world is watching what’s taking place here. We’re going to count all the votes. When the process is complete, they’ll be electors selected. There’s a process the Constitution lays it out pretty clearly,” he continued.
Watch the video below:
.@SecPompeo: "There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration."
— CSPAN (@cspan) November 10, 2020
Full video here: https://t.co/6Rou91HQxv pic.twitter.com/MU9Gp2QWnq
When asked if he believes there is widespread voter fraud that could swing the results of the election in Trump’s favor, Pompeo said, “I’m the secretary of state. I’m getting calls from all across the world. These people are watching our election. They understand that we have a legal process.”
He also noted it took 37 days to determine the winner of the 2000 presidential election.
He added, “I’m very confident that we will count… and we must count every legal vote. We must make sure that any vote that wasn’t lawful ought not be counted.”
The Trump campaign has insisted that it has evidence of widespread voter fraud in several key battleground states where Biden is leading the president.
However, Republican state officials in Georgia and Pennsylvania have said they have not seen evidence of widespread fraud.
Still, Attorney General William Barr authorized federal prosecutors to “pursue substantial allegations of voting and vote tabulation irregularities” before states certify the results.
While world leaders and some Republican lawmakers have acknowledged the results of the election, the Trump administration is reportedly refusing to provide government resources for Biden’s transitions.
The Washington Post reported on Sunday night that the Government Services Administration has not yet signed paperwork that would provide the president-elect with funds, access to government officials, and equipment that are traditionally made available to the winner of the election.
As the Trump administration drags out the transition process, Biden’s campaign is reportedly considering taking legal action in response to the government’s delay in recognizing the transition.
