It's the GSA, deferring to trumplethinskin, that will not acknowledge and approve the transition

[Ninga]

funds and an office needed by Biden team. I tried calling, but phones not working.
(copied from a FB friend.)

Call Emily Murphy and ask her to do her job.
This screen grab is from Heather Cox Richardson's latest missive and contains what I think is an action item - put pressure on Emily Murphy at the GSA.
GSA Office of the Administrator
202-501-2472
We’re available Sunday 9:00pm–Friday 9:30pm Eastern Time
1-844-GSA-4111

‘Meanwhile, the refusal to acknowledge Biden’s win is hamstringing his ability to get his team in place. Emily Murphy, a Trump appointee at the General Services Administration, the agency in charge of signing the paperwork that gives a new administration access to office space and equipment as well as $9.9 million authorized for a presidential transition, has refused to sign paperwork enabling Biden and his team to begin the transition process. Once the transition begins, the new administration can begin to process disclosure and conflict-of-interest forms and get up to speed with ongoing government projects. But the GSA is refusing to allow a transition before Trump agrees that one is in order. Normally the transition begins the day after the election is called.’

[Vdizzle]

1. That's ok. She will just be tried for sedition when January 20 comes along.

[Demsrule86]

3. She seriously needs to faces criminal charges.

[brooklynite]

34. Serious question: what crime has she committed?

[jmowreader]

36. Obstructing official business

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1752

18 USC 1752 (a) (2):
(Whoever) knowingly, and with intent to impede or disrupt the orderly conduct of Government business or official functions, engages in disorderly or disruptive conduct in, or within such proximity to, any restricted building or grounds when, or so that, such conduct, in fact, impedes or disrupts the orderly conduct of Government business or official functions...

The penalty is a fine or imprisonment for "not more than one year," or both.

[brooklynite]

43. What business is she obstructing? Do we have an Elected President?

[jmowreader]

45. Obstructing the transition

[brooklynite]

46. The Transition of WHO?

Legally, we don’t have a President-Elect to transition to.

Question: On Wednesday, did we have a President-Elect? No.

The only thing different about today is that the media has called the race. All the relevant States are still counting ballots, and none of them have certified a winner.

[PunksMom]

2. Is there anyone in power

to do anything about this, besides tRump or Republicans? Just wondering

[exboyfil]

4. Impeachment

but that doesn't work very well.

Does anyone know what the Clinton administration did in 2000? The law reads like, if there is still in dispute, you still keep providing transition support to all still eligible candidates.

I couldn't find any sources, but I remember some complaining that the Bush-Gore controversy slowed Bush's transition into the WH and led to 9/11 (a specious argument since it occurred 9 months later, but having a quote by one of these whack job Republicans saying it would be useful now).

[bottomofthehill]

9. It was held up for a while in 2000

But it was held up as the 400 vote margin was being counted and recounted and then into the courts.

This is not that, because neither side could get to 270 with out Florida, Dave Barrum, the then administrator of GSA did not want to create the imprimatur of a winner, and really, for those who lived through 2000, we really did not know who would actually win.

This race is clear. Even with out PA, Joe Biden is the President Elect. She should stop putting party above country and release the funds and the agencies should start to meet with the incoming team so that there can be an orderly transfer of power on Jan 20th. This is the United States and that is what we do.

[brooklynite]

35. Do you know how many Electoral Votes Biden has right now? The correct answer is "0".

No State has certified its Election results. Therefore no Electoral Votes have been awarded. Therefore, nobody is President-Elect.

IF Trump concedes, then the GSA will take action. Until then, you have to let the election process proceed.

[bottomofthehill]

38. Yes, but no place in the presidential transition act does it say

Electoral Votes must be cast, nor does it say anything about a candidate conceding. Neither of those have been necessary in the past. The act simply says upon the determination of the Administrator of the General Services.

This is just another case of this president taking a big shit on the norms.

[bottomofthehill]

39. By the way, the electoral college votes are not counted until Jan 4

If we have to wait that long for the transition to start than we are fucked. None of them are awarded or counted until the new House Of Representatives is sworn in on Jan 3 ( a Sunday when the constitution provides for the House to be sworn in) or Jan 4th if the Speaker and the Leader The Clerk of the House receives the certificates of election from each state They are then counted. That is a long time from now.

[brooklynite]

42. I could go to Court and claim State Certifications as a standing for EVs...

Setting aside “we know who won” arguments, how would you TODAY dispute a similar claim for Transition Office support for the Green Party candidate.

[BGBD]

5. Summon her ass

To the House.

If she doesn't show, have the Sergent at Arms arrest her.

[uponit7771]

40. +1

[Mike 03]

6. Here are some other ways to contact the GSA

https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/contact-us

[Ninga]

8. Thank you!

[Ninga]

7. it is clear that the fucker only wants to fuck up the Biden administration in any way he can.

This taken from the wiki page of the 2016 trumplethinskin transition

“Shortly after noon on November 9, outgoing president Barack Obama made a statement from the Rose Garden of the White House, in which he announced that he had spoken, the previous evening, with Trump and formally invited him to the White House the next day, November 10, for discussions to ensure "that there is a successful transition between our presidencies". President Obama said he had instructed his staff to "follow the example" of the George W. Bush administration in 2008, who he said could "not have been more professional or more gracious in making sure we had a smooth transition".[38]
The same day, United States secretary of defense Ash Carter issued a memo to the United States armed forces informing them of the pending transfer of National Command Authority to a new administration.[39] Also on November 9, the U.S. Intelligence Community offered the full President's Daily Brief to Trump and Mike Pence, with Trump receiving his first brief on November 15 in his office at Trump Tower.[40][41]”

The Trump transition website

[Ninga]

10. GSA Inspector General email

[e-mail]

[ffr]

27. Sent. TY!

[Ninga]

28. Yea!

[dixiechiken1]

11. The election has not been certified by the Secretaries of State.

The states are still counting. Accordingly, this is not yet official. (And it won't be truly official until the Electors vote.) The GSA is not doing anything illegal here. We need to let this play out, by the book.

Patience...

[bottomofthehill]

13. Historically, the funds have been released long before the certification

It is not illegal, It is just another case of the Trump administration tipping the norms of government on it ass.

It is vitally important to start the transition and her actions are slowing up a very important process at a time where hitting the ground running (250,000 dead already)

The process has played out, the transition funds are supposed to be released when it is apparent there is a winner. It is more than apparent.

[dixiechiken1]

15. Yes, traditionally, they have - when the sitting President concedes.

That is not going to happen here and we all know it. And we also know there are going to be an assload of lawsuits filed starting today. The GSA is being prudent and lawful in letting this play out.

As it stands right now - today, at this moment - the next President of the United States has not been voted on by the Electors nor certified by Congress. He has only been "called" by the AP and other media outlets. We know it will happen and we also know the Biden team's got this. So, again I say...

PATIENCE.

[Ninga]

16. The language of the Act is "apparent President-Elect" I do not think trump is going to

concede. The transition will never happen if it depends on trump conceding.

[dixiechiken1]

19. Most likely, you're right: Trump will not concede.

But the transition will happen. Hopefully, it will begin prior to Dec 14th, when the electors vote. But then again, it may not.

We have trusted the Biden/Harris team to know what they're doing and to lead us forward. I see no reason to doubt them now.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

33. Those are RW talking points. It's never been held up until electors voted and Congress certified.

[Ninga]

14. The Presidential Transition Act of 1963 only talks about the president-elect, it does not

state anything at all about “certified” at all.

In researching presidential transitions, other than the 2000 election, transitions were approved within days of the election.

Trumps transition was well underway by Nov 10. Trump is behind by 50,000 votes in PA and no recount will put a dent into that margin.

Her actions are wrong and not consistent with past transitions.

[dixiechiken1]

17. Trump's transition was underway because Hillary conceded.

And this statement hits the nail on the head:

"In researching presidential transitions, other than the 2000 election, transitions were approved within days of the election." [bold mine]

And what was going on in the 2000 elections that made it different from every other? LAWSUITS. Lots and lots of back-and-forth lawsuits.

Seriously, it's gonna be fine, guys. Joe's got this.

[Ninga]

20. I hear you and fully understand. I do not agree that conceding is required. All of us will

watch as this story grows and continues.

[dixiechiken1]

21. I would expect no less from my fellow DUers!

That's one of the reasons I love this place...

We are NOT "low information" citizens/voters. We pay attention!

[bottomofthehill]

22. I completely agree the President Elect has got this but

The transition in troubling times would be a lot smoother if the incoming team has the full length of time to get their plan in place.

Because the Trump administration continues to take a big crap on the norms of what makes government work, this too will be rushed and not as well thought as it could be.

Also, the vetting of people in the beginning of an administration takes a long time. This process could start today, but can not because this mis-administration continues to choose self and party over country.

BTW, 2000 was very different than today. There was a Razer thin difference in Florida and no one could get to 270 with out it. And even then, the Administrator of the General Services looked at “ Splitting the baby” giving each campaign a floor at 1800 G St NW to start their transition planning.

The Bush people chose not to and went across the river and started their own privately paid for and heritage foundation supported transition and look what that got us.

The incoming crew is amazingly talented, but when things are rushed, mistakes are made.

I have been on the outside coming in and the inside going out of administrations and I can tell you first hand that this is amazingly valuable time that is being lost.

I just wish Team Trump was not full of people who could care less about the country and its people, and only care about themselves.

[dixiechiken1]

26. I don't disagree with anything you've said.

Trump is a shitstain on the underpants of decent society and of our government. He is going to burn down everything he can and he has every intentiontion of burning us all down with it. It's wrong and it's evil. But he is wrong and evil. Everyone in his administration is wrong and evil. Hell, I don't feel like I'm going out on a limb by saying, flat out, that REPUBLICANS are wrong and evil.

But, for the first time in four loooong, painful years, I have hope. There is a light at the end of the hellish tunnel. And we have chosen a man with extensive Executive experience, under one of the best Presidents in our history (IMO). This time lost is time wasted, no doubt. But Biden needs no OJT. I truly believe we're in good hands.

72 more days. We can hold on for 72 more days.

[bottomofthehill]

31. We can hold on!

I am just sad that we have to. A win is a win and hopefully the President Elect can start the nation healing as soon as possible!

Thanks for the civil conversation, the pResident could learn from this. Not just the information provided but the civility and open exchange of information.

[dixiechiken1]

32. Right back atcha, bottom!

Thank you, too, for the dialogue. Enjoyed talking with you!

[bdamomma]

37. Well

it seems our allies are on Joe's side.

[W_HAMILTON]

24. That is bullshit.

Incoming presidents start this process WELL before the elections are certified and electors actually vote. Patience my ass. This is just another example of Trump abandoning all norms and instead playing wannabe dictator.

[tblue37]

12. Another broken norm that now needs to be spelled out legally, with real penalties attached.

[Sogo]

18. She sounds like that woman in Kentucky who wouldn't issue marriage licenses because of

her personal beliefs.....

It's NOT your job, Ms. Murphy, to determine what the outcome of an election has been!

[ffr]

23. The money's already there. WE put it there as taxpayers. RELEASE THE FUNDS YOU POS!

[Eid Ma Clack Shaw]

30. Got to make an example of people like this. She deserves to spend many years in prison

if she is genuinely obstructing at Trump’s behest. Let’s not make excuses for appalling behaviour, folks.

With that said, it’s important not to rush to conclusions in the case of individual people.

[Captain Zero]

41. We need to drop a federal lawsuit on that bitch at GSA.

nt

[Lucinda]

44. Today was the first work day after the election was called.

Her spokesperson has said they will comply with policies and procedures that exist. I assume she has paperwork she has to do which will verify that the conditions have been met. I dont know what circumstances the delayed voting may have been created, but it doesn't seem unreasonable that she would send the letter today or tomorrow. Until then I am not going to assume she isn't doing her job - but now with the added harassment of twitter.

This opinion is based what I have read earlier today and doesnt reflect any statements they may have made since then...I cant open you link on this computer to read further right now, so if there is newer info I dont have it yet...Wanted to post and bookmark so I can follow up on my other comp.