Trump, backers ask courts to halt or block 3 state recounts

[rooster59]

Trump, backers ask courts to halt or block 3 state recounts

DAVID EGGERT, Associated Press
SCOTT BAUER, Associated Press

 

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump and his supporters went to court Friday to prevent or halt election recounts in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, less than two weeks before the states would have to complete the tasks to meet a federal deadline to certify their election results.

 

The legal actions seeking to block or halt the recounts in three states Trump narrowly won could cause delays that would make them extremely difficult or impossible to complete on time. Even if the recounts happen, though, none would be expected to give Democrat Hillary Clinton enough votes to emerge as the winner.

 

The recounts were requested by Green Party candidate Jill Stein, who says they're necessary to ensure that voting machines weren't hacked, even though there's no evidence that they were. Critics say Stein is simply trying to raise money and her political profile while building a donor database.

 

"In an election already tainted by suspicion, previously expressed by Donald Trumphimself, verifying the vote is a common-sense procedure that would address concerns around voter disenfranchisement, "Stein said in a statement. "Trump's desperate attempts to silence voter demands raise a simple question: why is Donald Trump afraid of these recounts?"

 

Wisconsin is the only state where a recount is underway. It began Thursday, and one of the state's 72 counties had already completed its task by Friday, with Clinton gaining a single a vote on Trump. Clinton lost to Trump in Wisconsin by about 22,000 votes, or less than 1 percentage point.

 

Two pro-Trump groups, the Great America PAC and the Stop Hillary PAC, along with Wisconsin voter Ronald R. Johnson went to federal court late Thursday to try and stop the recount. U.S. District Judge James Peterson on Friday rejected their request for a temporary restraining order to immediately halt the recount, saying there was no harm in allowing it to continue while the court considers their lawsuit. A hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled for Dec. 9.

 

The lawsuit says Wisconsin is violating the U.S. Supreme Court's 2000 Bush v. Gore ruling because it doesn't have uniform standards to determine which votes should be counted in a recount. They also argue that it threatens due process rights because it may not get done by the federal deadline to certify the vote, putting Wisconsin's electoral votes in jeopardy.

 

If states miss the deadline, Congress would allot their electoral votes.

 

The Wisconsin Department of Justice was reviewing the lawsuit, said Johnny Koremenos, spokesman for Attorney General Brad Schimel.

 

Michigan's elections board deadlocked Friday on a Trump campaign request to deny Stein's recount request and on how a recount would be conducted. Both Republican members voted to prevent the recount while both Democrats voted to allow it, meaning it likely would begin Wednesday unless the courts intervene. It also would be conducted by hand, as Stein requested.

 

In separate lawsuits against the state, Michigan's Republican attorney general and Trumpasked state courts to prevent the recount, saying Stein should not be allowed to seek one because she finished so far behind Trump and Clinton that she couldn't have won, even if some votes were miscounted. Stein got about 1 percent of the vote in all three states.

 

The Michigan courts appeared unlikely to rule immediately, with one asking for a response from state elections officials by Tuesday.

 

In Pennsylvania, a hearing is scheduled for Monday on Stein's push to secure a court-ordered statewide recount there. Republican lawyers filed a motion that was posted on the court's website Friday accusing Stein of engaging in legal antics and saying her recount request endangers Pennsylvania's ability to certify its electors by the federal deadline.

 

Stein has argued, without evidence, that irregularities in the votes in all three states suggest that there could have been tampering with the vote, perhaps through a well-coordinated, highly complex cyberattack.

 

Elections officials in the three states have expressed confidence in their results.

 

Trump defeated Clinton in Wisconsin by about 22,000 votes, or less than 1 percentage point. His margin of victory in Michigan was even slimmer, at about 10,700 votes out of 4.8 million cast.

 

An updated count Friday by Pennsylvania election officials showed Trump's lead over Clinton in that state had shrunk to 49,000 from 71,000, as more counties wrap up final tallies. That put Trump's lead at 0.8 percent, down from over 1 percent, out of 6 million votes cast. It's still shy of Pennsylvania's 0.5 percent trigger for an automatic statewide recount.

 

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-12-03

 

[dunroaming]

Seems like clutching at straws but I suppose anything is worth a try.

[williamgeorgeallen]

pointless. let the trump tank roll on. lets see what will happen. less wars and more economic stability would be nice to see if it is possible.

[dunroaming]

1 minute ago, williamgeorgeallen said:

pointless. let the trump tank roll on. lets see what will happen. less wars and more economic stability would be nice to see if it is possible.

 

Amen to that!  I wonder what we will all be saying in six months time?

[sgtsabai]

Wait, why would they do that, after all they have nothing to fear, why it was a landslide victory, oh wait it wasn't? Well maybe they will find those 3 million illegal aliens that voted. Surely they aren't worried about something, after all if you do no wrong you have nothing to fear, right.

 

In 6 months time there won't be much left to say as the country will be well on it's way to bankruptcy and the fascist on his way to making billions out of the oval office.

[dunroaming]

Trump speaks directly to Taiwan President!  Is this a storm in a China teacup?  Is this Trump being naïve or deliberately provoking the Chinese?  Is this just tomorrows chip paper?

[Shawn0000]

13 minutes ago, williamgeorgeallen said:

pointless. let the trump tank roll on. lets see what will happen. less wars and more economic stability would be nice to see if it is possible.

 

Considering his "bomb the shit out em" comment, his support of intervention in Libya and Iraq, I find it highly unlikely.

[williamgeorgeallen]

2 minutes ago, sgtsabai said:

Wait, why would they do that, after all they have nothing to fear, why it was a landslide victory, oh wait it wasn't? Well maybe they will find those 3 million illegal aliens that voted. Surely they aren't worried about something, after all if you do no wrong you have nothing to fear, right.

 

In 6 months time there won't be much left to say as the country will be well on it's way to bankruptcy and the fascist on his way to making billions out of the oval office.

america is already bankrupt. 20 trillion in the hole running a massive trade deficit. what economy there is runs on consumer spending which so far has resulted in over 12 trillion in personal debt accumulation. seems america is just heading down a train track, the only variable is the speed of the train be the end destination remains the same.

[Shawn0000]

2 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

Trump speaks directly to Taiwan President!  Is this a storm in a China teacup?  Is this Trump being naïve or deliberately provoking the Chinese?  Is this just tomorrows chip paper?

 

This is Trump warming them up to his business proposal and also an early conflict of interest likely to see him impeached and replaced by Pence before he even gets started.

http://shanghaiist.com/2016/11/18/trump_taiwan_expand.php

[dick dasterdly]

I don't understand either bearing in mind " Even if the recounts happen, though, none would be expected to give Democrat Hillary Clinton enough votes to emerge as the winner".

[Rob13]

if they don't do the re-count how are they going catch those 2.5 million illegals who voted for Hilary. 

[elgordo38]

2 hours ago, sgtsabai said:

Wait, why would they do that, after all they have nothing to fear, why it was a landslide victory, oh wait it wasn't? Well maybe they will find those 3 million illegal aliens that voted. Surely they aren't worried about something, after all if you do no wrong you have nothing to fear, right.

 

In 6 months time there won't be much left to say as the country will be well on it's way to bankruptcy and the fascist on his way to making billions out of the oval office.

Trump use the oval office for personal gain? Impossible. 

[jesimps]

2 hours ago, sgtsabai said:

Wait, why would they do that, after all they have nothing to fear, why it was a landslide victory, oh wait it wasn't? Well maybe they will find those 3 million illegal aliens that voted. Surely they aren't worried about something, after all if you do no wrong you have nothing to fear, right.

 

In 6 months time there won't be much left to say as the country will be well on it's way to bankruptcy and the fascist on his way to making billions out of the oval office.

You must let me know the name of your crystal ball supplier, mine must be broken because it won't let me know what's going to happen in 6 months.

Facist and racist, the only two words in the leftie dictionary. If you have no argument scream "Fascist!" or "Racist!" UKIP and Brexiters get the same hurled at them in the UK. It's all becoming a bit boring.

In a democracy, it's considered the done thing to accept defeat gracefully. Seems like only the right are capable of this. Maybe rightwingers should take a leaf out of the lefties book and start screaming "Commie!" and "Anarchist!". After all, the left don't seem to think much of the democratic system of voting and the views of the majority.

 

 

 

[sabaii69]

3 hours ago, sgtsabai said:

Wait, why would they do that, after all they have nothing to fear, why it was a landslide victory, oh wait it wasn't? Well maybe they will find those 3 million illegal aliens that voted. Surely they aren't worried about something, after all if you do no wrong you have nothing to fear, right.

 

In 6 months time there won't be much left to say as the country will be well on it's way to bankruptcy and the fascist on his way to making billions out of the oval office.

Yep, the sky is falling and doom is near! Look! There is a piece of sky over there. Trump may be the anti-christ also but he won the election. Get over it; especially non Americans.

[stevenl]

You must let me know the name of your crystal ball supplier, mine must be broken because it won't let me know what's going to happen in 6 months.
Facist and racist, the only two words in the leftie dictionary. If you have no argument scream "Fascist!" or "Racist!" UKIP and Brexiters get the same hurled at them in the UK. It's all becoming a bit boring.
In a democracy, it's considered the done thing to accept defeat gracefully. Seems like only the right are capable of this. Maybe rightwingers should take a leaf out of the lefties book and start screaming "Commie!" and "Anarchist!". After all, the left don't seem to think much of the democratic system of voting and the views of the majority.
 
 
 

The right, which has been trying to boycott Obama from the beginning and kept on shouting about the Kenyan Muslim a gracious loser?

Sent from my ROBBY using Thaivisa Connect mobile app

[Shawn0000]

2 hours ago, jesimps said:

You must let me know the name of your crystal ball supplier, mine must be broken because it won't let me know what's going to happen in 6 months.

Facist and racist, the only two words in the leftie dictionary. If you have no argument scream "Fascist!" or "Racist!" UKIP and Brexiters get the same hurled at them in the UK. It's all becoming a bit boring.

In a democracy, it's considered the done thing to accept defeat gracefully. Seems like only the right are capable of this. Maybe rightwingers should take a leaf out of the lefties book and start screaming "Commie!" and "Anarchist!". After all, the left don't seem to think much of the democratic system of voting and the views of the majority.

 

 

 

 

Yeah, because Trump didn't say that if he lost it would be because of a conspiracy and UKIP didn't say that they would not accept a vote to remain in the EU of less than 60% in favour, and right wingers never scream "Liberal" at anything they think may threaten their corporate masters.

 

As for the views of the majority, Clinton got the majority of votes, and the only reason Trump still won is because the system is flawed so what is there to think much of?

[smotherb]

Wasn't it trump who said the elections were rigged long before 11/8? So, why is he now trying to stop the recount, especially if Hillary cannot win anyway?

[Ulysses G.]

5 hours ago, dick dasterdly said:

Even if the recounts happen, though, none would be expected to give Democrat Hillary Clinton enough votes to emerge as the winner".

 

Indeed. The recounts are a waste of time.

[Ulysses G.]

6 minutes ago, smotherb said:

Wasn't it trump who said the elections were rigged long before 11/8? So, why is he now trying to stop the recount, especially if Hillary cannot win anyway?

 

Political considerations obviously.

[joecoolfrog]

10 hours ago, jesimps said:

You must let me know the name of your crystal ball supplier, mine must be broken because it won't let me know what's going to happen in 6 months.

Facist and racist, the only two words in the leftie dictionary. If you have no argument scream "Fascist!" or "Racist!" UKIP and Brexiters get the same hurled at them in the UK. It's all becoming a bit boring.

In a democracy, it's considered the done thing to accept defeat gracefully. Seems like only the right are capable of this. Maybe rightwingers should take a leaf out of the lefties book and start screaming "Commie!" and "Anarchist!". After all, the left don't seem to think much of the democratic system of voting and the views of the majority.

 

 

 

Yet the label ' leftie ' is fine , you are a huge hypocrite !

[soalbundy]

don't do a recount, let him carry on, i'm sure he'll find enough rope to hang himself. The job of president is not a job for a red neck.

[Shawn0000]

10 hours ago, Ulysses G. said:

 

Indeed. The recounts are a waste of time.

 

If they prove that there was fraud from abroad would it really be a waste of time?  Funny that some are so desperate to win that they are willing to overlook the suspicion that Russia may have infiltrated the system!

[Diplomatico]

40 minutes ago, Shawn0000 said:

 

If they prove that there was fraud from abroad would it really be a waste of time?  Funny that some are so desperate to win that they are willing to overlook the suspicion that Russia may have infiltrated the system!

 

  Someone would like to have a word with you:

 

  

[Shawn0000]

7 minutes ago, Diplomatico said:

 

  Someone would like to have a word with you:

 

  

 

Yeah, because the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Department of Homeland Security didn't officially accuse Russia of interfering in the election and they didn't detect Russian hackers within the voting system of some states and the reason Jill Stein gave for the recount request was not to remove doubt as to whether Russia had interfered in the election, right?

[Ulysses G.]

Guess what? Jill Stein was BSing us.She did it for publicity.

[Shawn0000]

4 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

Guess what? Jill Stein was BSing us.She did it for publicity.

 

And the Director of National Intelligence and the Department of Homeland Security?  Were their official statements made for "publicity".  Funny old Republicans, there really is no depth they will sink to if it suits their political agenda!

[Si Thea01]

17 hours ago, dunroaming said:

Trump speaks directly to Taiwan President!  Is this a storm in a China teacup?  Is this Trump being naïve or deliberately provoking the Chinese?  Is this just tomorrows chip paper?

 

 

It may not be any of the above.  Might just be his way of telling China to pull it's head in, that they do not control him and he will speak to whom he likes.  Actually, China running off to complain to the White House sounds like little Johnny with his nose out of joint. They should realise that in 48 days they will be dealing with a different administration.  They too should get over it.

 

 

 

 

[MadDog2020]

12 hours ago, Shawn0000 said:

 

Yeah, because Trump didn't say that if he lost it would be because of a conspiracy and UKIP didn't say that they would not accept a vote to remain in the EU of less than 60% in favour, and right wingers never scream "Liberal" at anything they think may threaten their corporate masters.

 

As for the views of the majority, Clinton got the majority of votes, and the only reason Trump still won is because the system is flawed so what is there to think much of?

This system isn't flawed.  The founders of the nation put in a system that prevented a few highly populated states from having too great of influence on the entire nation.

 

Besides everyone knows the rules and plays by the same set.  Liberals lost across the nation in local, state and national positions.  So the Liberals and Progressives need to wipe away their tears, change their diapers and come out of their "safe" areas and get on with life. No participation trophies are awarded in real life.

[Shawn0000]

17 minutes ago, MadDog2020 said:

This system isn't flawed.  The founders of the nation put in a system that prevented a few highly populated states from having too great of influence on the entire nation.

 

Besides everyone knows the rules and plays by the same set.  Liberals lost across the nation in local, state and national positions.  So the Liberals and Progressives need to wipe away their tears, change their diapers and come out of their "safe" areas and get on with life. No participation trophies are awarded in real life.

 

If that were really the case then there would be an even amount of electoral college voters per state population, but instead there is one for each member of its delegation in the House of Representatives plus two for the Senators.  The result is large over-representation of smaller states.  For example, every vote in Wyoming is worth three votes in California.  And so ironically, exactly what you praise the system for, preventing some having too great an influence, is what the system is causing.

[Ulysses G.]

And everyone knew what the rules were far in advance.