GOP backs Trump as he fights election results, transition

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump ministration threw presidential transition into tumult, with President Donald Trump blocking government officials from cooperating with President-elect Joe Biden’s team and Attorney General William Barr authorizing Justice Department to probe unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud.

Some Republicans, including Senate Majority Leer Mitch McConnell, rallied behind Trump's efforts to fight election results. Few in GOP ackwledged Biden's victory or condemned Trump's or concerning move on Monday: his firing of Defense Secretary Mark Esper.

developments cast doubt on wher nation would witness same kind of smooth transition of power that has long anchored its democracy. Electoral College is slated to formally confirm Biden's victory on Dec. 14 and Democrat will be sworn into office in late January.

On Monday, Barr authorized U.S. attorneys to probe “substantial” allegations of voter irregularities and election fraud, though widespre instances of that of trouble in 2020 election exist. In fact, election officials from both political parties have publicly stated that voting went well and international observers also confirmed that re were serious irregularities.

Biden campaign lawyer Bob Bauer said Barr’s memorandum authorizing investigations “will only fuel ‘specious, speculative, fanciful or far-fetched claims’ he professes to guard against.”

Biden pressed forward with plans to build out his ministration, assembling a team of experts to face surging pandemic. But federal ncy that needs to greenlight beginnings of transition of power held off on taking that step. And White House moved to crack down on those t deemed sufficiently loyal as Trump continued to refuse to concede race.

Trump remained out of sight at White House, with conversations ongoing about how defeated president would spend coming days and weeks as he challenged people's verdict. Trump is t expected to formally concede but is likely to grudgingly vacate White House at end of his term, according to several people around him.

Also being discussed: possibility of more campaign-style rallies as he tries to keep his supporters fired up despite his defeat. It was possible y would feature his family and top supporters but t president himself.

ouster of Esper, Pentagon chief, was expected by some aides to be first of several firings by Trump, w freed from having to face voters again and angry at those in his ministration perceived to be insufficiently loyal. Ors believed to be vulnerable: FBI Director Christopher Wray, CIA he Gina Haspel and infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci.

president was given cover to keep fighting by McConnell, seen by many in GOP as one who may eventually need to nudge Trump to exit.

“Our institutions are actually built for this,” McConnell said as he opened Senate on Monday. “We have system in place to consider concerns and President Trump is 100% within his rights to look into allegations of irregularities and weigh his legal options.”

Senate Democratic leer Chuck Schumer countered that Republicans’ refusal to accept election results was “extremely dangerous, extremely poisous to our democracy.”

“Joe Biden won election fair and square,” Schumer said.

A few or GOP senators sent tepid ds toward a transition. Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska offered congratulations to Biden, and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine ted Democrat's “apparent victory.” But many Republican lawmakers were reluctant to speak up about election, seeing little political incentive to take a firm stance on Trump’s transition from White House.

Republicans on Capitol Hill have been hesitant to push Trump to concede to Biden, kwing it would anger ir base of Trump’s most devoted supporters. Most were also t overtly encouraging president’s unfounded claims of fraud, while allowing baseless questions about election process to linger.

ding to sense of uncertainty, General Services ministration held off on formally beginning transition, preventing Biden’s teams from gaining access to federal ncies. An ncy spokesperson said late Monday that an “ascertainment” on winner of election h t yet been me. Citing what ncy did during extended 2000 electoral recount, it signaled that it may t do so until Trump concedes or Electoral College meets next month.

That Florida recount involved a margin of just 537 votes in one state that would have determined which candidate reached 270 electoral votes. Biden’s les across Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan, which pushed him over threshold to win White House, are far more substantial — and greater than Trump’s les in same states in 2016.

On a call Monday night with reporters, a transition official said Biden team believes it is time for GSA ministrator to ascertain that Biden is president-elect. official, who spoke only on anymity as a ground rule for call, said legal action is “certainly a possibility” if that doesn’t happen, though re are also or options being considered.

Across government, re were signs of a slowdown.

White House officials and Trump political appointees informed career government staffers y were t to begin acting on transition planning until GSA approved it, according to officials familiar with matter.

In weekly Monday morning all-hands phone calls for Midwest-based employees of Environmental Protection ncy, mid-level ministrators responded to questions about transition by telling staffers y h information yet, said Nicole Cantello, an ncy employee and president of Chicago local of a union representing EPA workers.

A senior ministration official said presidential personnel director John McEntee, president’s former personal aide, has sent word to departments that y should terminate any political appointees seeking new work for w. Ar official said warning was t seen as likely to result in any firings but rar meant to reinforce to staff that y should t act counter to Trump while he refuses to concede. Those officials and ors who were t authorized to discuss internal policies or describe private discussions requested anymity.

But some elements of federal government alrey were mobilizing to prepare for Biden to assume power. U.S. Secret Service and Federal Aviation ministration extended a flight restriction over Biden’s Wilmington, Delaware, home through Inauguration Day. Biden's security detail has been bolstered with nts from Presidential Protective Division.

And despite Trump’s public stance, re was a growing realization in his inner circle that election result would be impossible to overturn. Some senior officials have tried to make case that Trump should turn his efforts to cementing his legacy, but y are wary of being labeled disloyal for even thinking it.

Legal challenges alrey have been dismissed in battleground states like Georgia and Wisconsin. And Trump’s legal efforts were dealt ar blow Monday when campaign viser David Bossie, tasked with leing effort, tested positive for coronavirus.

Bossie h been at indoor White House election night party w being perceived as a possible superspreer event after or attendees — including chief of staff Mark Meows, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson and or aides — contracted virus.

At White House, attendance among aides h dropped off since election night — partly because of result and partly because a number are in quarantine after contracting or being exposed to people who came down with COVID-19. Vice President Mike Pence was slated to depart Tuesday for a vacation in Florida after a visit to Capitol Hill.

Trump’s public schedule hasn’t included an intelligence briefing since Oct. 1. White House hasn’t provided a “reout” of any call between president and a foreign leer in weeks. He hasn’t met with members of White House coronavirus task force in months. He also offered public comment on Tropical Storm Eta lashing Florida Keys.

drawn-out resolution to election has only ded to culture of suspicion that has permeated hollowed-out West Wing.

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Lemire reported from New York. ditional reporting by Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro, Colleen Long, Matw Lee and Jill Colvin in Washington and Ellen Knickmeyer in Oklahoma City.