Refusing to concede, Trump blocks cooperation on transition

Trump ministration threw presidential transition into tumult on Monday, Attorney General William Barr authorising Justice Department to probe allegations of voter fraud and President Donald Trump firing Pentagon chief and blocking government officials from cooperating with President-elect Joe Biden's team.

Despite little evidence of fraud, Barr signed off on investigations into unsubstantiated claims me repeatedly by Trump. Even as Biden began assembling experts to face surging pandemic, federal ncy that needs to green light 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.

Top Republicans largely refused to put widespre pressure on Trump to accept his election loss. He remained out of sight at White House, conversations ongoing about how defeated president would spend coming days and weeks as he challenged people's verdict.

ouster of Defense Secretary Mark Esper 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.

Out of sight but t unheard, Trump took to Twitter to again dispute result of election, making baseless accusations of widespre unthinkable and illegal activity in vote.

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. He was in discussion with top allies about 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.

president was given cover to keep fighting by Senate Majority Leer Mitch 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 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.

Across government, re were signs of a slowdown.

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.

Up to Friday, at least, EPA employees told ncy retirees that ncy's political appointees were refusing to discuss any transition, saying y were sure Trump would be reelected.

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.

At U.S. ncy for International Development, which alrey underwent an abrupt post-election change in leership, staffers were instructed t to begin acting on transition planning until GSA approved it, according to officials familiar with matter.