Pompeo on election results: ‘there will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration’

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Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoDefense Overnight: Trump Sacks Defense Chief Mark Esper | Concerns grow over post-election rudderless Pentagon | Esper hints at broader post-election upheaval | Pelosi says Esper’s firing shows Trump intends to wreak “ chaos ” Senior U.S. official in Syria and ISIS are stepping down this month. fought with journalists President TrumpDonald John TrumpPence to attend GOP Senate lunch on Tuesday Biden’s transition team to consider legal action over agency transition delays: reports Trump campaign lawyers worried about pushing lawsuits that could undermine the electionsthe refusal to accept the results of the presidential election, predicting “a smooth transition to a second Trump administration” despite the fact that the former vice president Joe bidenJoe BidenPence will attend the GOP Senate luncheon on Tuesday Biden’s transition team will consider legal action over the agency’s transition delays: reports that Manchin is reducing the possibility of Senate Democrats waiving filibuster, expand court MORE is the intended winner of the race.

The comment from Pompeo, a key ally of the president, came during a combative State Department press conference on Tuesday, when the cabinet member was asked if the agency was ready to engage with the ‘Biden transition team.

“There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration,” Pompeo replied.

“We are ready,” Pompeo continued. “The world is watching what’s going on. We will count all the votes. Once the process is complete, voters will be selected. There is a process. The Constitution makes it quite clear. The world must be convinced that the transition necessary to ensure that the State Department is functional today … and succeeds with a president who is in office on January 20, one minute after noon, will also be successful. .

Pompeo appeared to smirk after uttering the line on a “second Trump administration,” although it was not clear from his remarks themselves whether he was joking. The State Department did not immediately respond to an investigation into his comments.

The Secretary of State’s remark quickly gained widespread attention and could point to American allies and enemies how to handle the results of their own elections.

Pompeo, who is seen as a potential 2024 presidential candidate, also dismissed as “ridiculous” a separate question on whether he has given advice to diplomats on calling Biden a “president-elect” and whether the refusal of Trump to accept the results undermines the state. Frequent statements by the Department calling for free and fair elections in other countries.

“It’s ridiculous, and you know it’s ridiculous, and you asked for it because it’s ridiculous,” Pompeo said. “This department cares deeply about ensuring that elections everywhere are safe and secure, free and fair, and my officers risk their lives to make sure that happens. They are working diligently on it. We often come across situations in which it is not clear about a particular election. We are working to find facts, we are working to make discoveries, to find out whether in fact the outcome, the decision that was made, reflected the will of the people. It is our responsibility. “

“The United States has an electoral system that is deeply rooted in our Constitution, and we are going to make sure we do it right,” he added. “You want every vote to be counted. You want to run the process. We want the spell to be imposed in a way that reflects the reality of what happened, and that’s what I think we’re committed to here in the United States and that’s what we’re working on. around the world.

Pompeo then ended the press conference.

The Associated Press and other mainstream media on Saturday called the race to Biden after taking insurmountable leads in states such as Pennsylvania with additional mail-in votes. The race was called four days after election day, with votes being counted in several states.

Trump and his campaign have laid charges of electoral fraud that have not been substantiated.

The campaign filed a handful of election-related lawsuits, including one in Pennsylvania on Monday that alleged the Commonwealth implemented an illegal “two-tier” voting system in which voters were held to different standards according to whether they voted in person or submitted their ballots by mail.

Some of the lawsuits were dismissed and legal experts questioned their merits. It does not appear that the prosecution, even if successful, would change the outcome of the election.

Even though Trump and other officials have refused to acknowledge Biden’s victory, world leaders called on Biden to congratulate the former vice president.

Pressed Tuesday if he thought there was voter fraud in Michigan and Pennsylvania that could change the election outcome, Pompeo did not directly answer the question.

“I am secretary of state. I get calls from all over the world. These people are watching our elections. They understand that we have a legal process. They understand it takes time, ”said Pompeo, referring to the time it took to call the 2000 election.

“I have no doubts that it will count, and we must count, every legal vote. We need to make sure that no vote that is not legal is counted. It dilutes your vote if it’s done badly. You have to do it right. When we get there, we’ll do it right. We are in good shape, ”he said.



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