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Trump almost concedes on Twitter as presidential transition begins

Economy
24 November 2020 12:50 (AEDT)

Source: The Times of India

President Donald Trump is a step closer to conceding the 2020 election as the Biden campaign has officially been allowed to begin a transition into the White House.

Until this morning, Joe Biden has been locked out of some key resources to begin the presidential transition process by General Services Administration (GSA) Chief Emily Murphy. The GSA is an independent government body formed to manage and support U.S. federal agencies.

Today, after facing mounting pressure from the Democrat Party, the GSA Chief sent a letter to Joe Biden unlocking these resources and allowing presidential transition process to begin.

In her letter, however, Emily Murphy stressed that both the delay and the final decision were independent, and she never faced pressure from the White House to hold back her decision.

“To be clear, I did not receive any direction to delay my determination,” she said.

“I did, however, receive threats online, by phone, and by mail directed at my safety, my family, my staff, and even by pets in an effort to coerce me into making this determination prematurely,” Emily continued

The decision comes in response to a letter yesterday from Democrat chair of four committees and subcommittees urging the GSA to delay no longer.

“We cannot wait yet another week to obtain basic information about your refusal to make the ascertainment determination,” the letter said.

“Every additional day that is wasted is a day that the safety, health, and well-being of the American people is imperilled as the oncoming Biden-Harris Administration is blocked from fully preparing for the coronavirus pandemic, our nation’s dire economic crisis, and our national security,” it added.

Now, President Trump has officially come forward in support of the GSA decision via Twitter.

Does this count as a Trump concession?

President Trump said on Twitter he recommended that the GSA “do what needs to be done” to get the transition process underway, and he has told his team to do the same.

The tweet comes shortly after Michigan election boards certified Joe Biden’s win in the state. This is another blow to President Trump, who has now had over 30 lawsuits alleging fraud and irregularities in election results thrown out.

Still, the president said his party’s case “strongly” continues, and he believes they will prevail.

As such, as much as the decision to finally allow the Biden-Harris transition to begin is a sign of concession, President Trump still seems unwilling to formally give up the fight.

The Biden-Harris Transition Executive Director, Yohannes Abraham, said today’s decision to unlock the resources for Joe Biden is a “much-needed step” for the incoming administration to start tackling the challenges faced by the States.

“In the days ahead, transition officials will begin meeting with federal officials to discuss the pandemic response, have a full accounting of our national security interests, and gain complete understanding of the Trump administration’s efforts to hollow out government agencies,” he said.

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