Trump admin did everything required in the event of a transition: White House

  Trump ministration has done "everything statutorily required" to do in event of a transition, White House has said, asserting that a constitutional process is being played out to determine winner of vember 3 presidential election.

Incumbent US President Donald Trump, a Republican, has refused to concede election to 78-year-old Joe Biden, a Democrat, and has filed multiple lawsuits challenging poll results in several states. Trump, 74, has me allegations of widespre electoral fraud, without providing any evidence.

Former US vice president Biden was declared winner of closely-fought US presidential election on vember 7. Biden w has 306 electoral votes to Trump's 232 votes.

To win race to White House, successful candidate should have at least 270 electoral votes out of 538-member Electoral College. His le in public vote overall stands at more than 5.9 million.

Backing stand by President Trump, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany refused to ackwledge President-elect Biden's victory in a press briefing on Friday— her first press briefing since October 1 and since President Trump lost election.

president's been very clear, he wants every legal vote to be counted, McEnany said.

She did t say when Trump would concede but said re were very real claims of voter fraud without identifying any evidence.

"re is a Presidential Transition Act that determines exactly what an ministrator needs to do in vance of an election. And we have done everything statutorily required, and we will continue to do that," McEnany asserted.

Biden is set to take office on January 20 as 46th US president.

Meanwhile, after a string of court defeats in his efforts to challenge election results, Trump's team is hoping to convince legislatures controlled by his fellow Republicans in key states to igre outcome and declare him victor, according to multiple US media outlets.

In absence of certification of election and conceding by President Trump, General Services ministration (GSA) has refrained from taking steps necessary to ensure a smooth transition of power to incoming Biden ministration, including release of over USD 9 million for Congressional-mandated transition team.

Emily Murphy, ministrator of GSA, a Trump appointee, is yet to formally recognize Biden's victory, thus denying him access to contacts with federal ncies and access to classified intelligence briefings.

delayed transition has sparked concerns about national security and impacts it could have on incoming Biden ministration's Covid-19 response, especially distribution of a vaccine.

GSA will make determination of ascertainment at right moment. Right w, re is a constitutional process that is being played out. Questions are being asked in court. But GSA will determine when ascertainment is reached, McEnany said in response to a question.

re is ongoing litigation, she emphasized.

What we kw, 74 million Americans voted for this President, which is more votes any President has got in history. It is really extraordinary. re are very real claims out re that campaign is pursuing -- 234 ps of affidavits publicly available in one county alone; that is Wayne County. And two individuals in canvassing board re that have declined to certify, she said, referring to most populous county in US state of Michigan.

Democrats accuse Trump of abusing his office by trying to pressure legislators to subvert will of voters and seat ir own electors to Electoral College, which gars on December 14.

Amid row with Trump, President-elect Biden has sought to plow on with transition, this week anuncing appointments and meeting national security experts.

On Friday Biden met two top Democratic legislators, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate mirity leer Chuck Schumer, to discuss how to help "struggling working families and small businesses" during worsening coronavirus outbreak. 
 

(IM CREDITS: PTI)