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U.S. General Service Chief Emily Murphy on Monday informed President-elect Joe Biden that his agency has officially recognized him as the apparent winner of the 2020 presidential election and will continue with the transition process. .
The letter effectively ends a weeks-long standoff in which Biden’s transition team accused Murphy and his agency of withholding critical transition resources needed for a smooth transfer of power. President Trump has yet to concede the 2020 election.
“Please know that I have come to my decision independently, based on the law and the facts available,” Murphy said in a letter to Biden. “I have never experienced direct or indirect pressure from any executive branch official – including those who work in the White House or the GSA – regarding the content or timing of my decision. To be clear, I did not receive any instructions to delay my decision. “
The GSA and Murphy have faced intense bipartisan criticism in recent weeks over the decision not to recognize Biden as president-elect. Biden’s transition team had threatened legal action, accusing the GSA of threatening national security and hampering preparations to fight the coronavirus pandemic by failing to provide support to the incoming administration.
Murphy said his decision was based on “recent developments involving legal challenges and certifications of election results.” Earlier Monday, Michigan voted to certify its election results and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court rejected a Trump campaign challenge to invalidate thousands of missing ballots in Allegheny County.
In a series of tweets, President Trump thanked Murphy for his handling of the verification process since election day. The president pledged to continue his legal challenge to the election results.
“I want to thank Emily Murphy of the GSA for her unwavering dedication and loyalty to our country,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “She has been harassed, threatened and abused – and I don’t want that to happen to her, her family or the GSA employees. Our case continues STRONG, we will continue the good fight, and I believe we will win! “
“Nonetheless, in the best interest of our country, I recommend that Emily and her team do what needs to be done regarding the initial protocols, and told my team to do the same,” added Trump.
The Biden-Harris Transition Team said the GSA’s decision to ensure Biden as president-elect would provide “the incoming administration with the resources and support necessary to effect a smooth and peaceful transfer of power.” .
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“This final decision is a definitive administrative action to officially begin the transition process with federal agencies,” the Biden-Harris team said in a statement. “In the coming days, transition officials will begin meeting with federal officials to discuss the pandemic response, get a full account of our national security interests, and gain a full understanding of the efforts of the Trump administration to hollow out government agencies.
The opening day is scheduled for January 20, 2021.
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