Trump has spent the past three weeks claiming that Biden’s victory was the result of fraud (Archive)
Washington, United States:
President Donald Trump said Monday that he no longer opposes government aid for Joe Biden’s transition team in his closest statement yet to finally admit he lost the US election.
Trump’s tweet that the General Services Administration should “do what needs to be done” came after the agency’s director, Emily Murphy, said she was releasing long-delayed assistance.
Trump has spent the past three weeks since the Nov. 3 election claiming without any evidence that Biden’s convincing victory was the result of fraud.
Murphy, who denies acting under political pressure, has so far refused to deliver the standard aid package that his agency administers to Biden’s incoming team.
Biden’s team welcomed the decision and said in a statement that it will provide the incoming administration with “the resources and support necessary to carry out a smooth and peaceful transfer of power.”
“Today’s decision is a necessary step to begin to address the challenges facing our nation, including controlling the pandemic and recovering our economy. This final decision is a final administrative action to formally begin the transition process with the federal agencies “.
The decision frees up millions of dollars in funding to support the transition, and formally allows Biden to coordinate with current government officials.
Murphy, who had faced harsh criticism for his earlier refusal to act, said in his letter to Biden obtained by various US media outlets that “contrary to media reports and innuendo, my decision was not made out of fear or favoritism.”
The passage of his GSA is usually routine after a US presidential election, but Trump’s continued efforts to overturn the ballot results and refusal to concede have complicated the process.
(With the exception of the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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