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LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – More than 100 former Republican national security officials on Monday demanded that party leaders denounce President Donald Trump’s refusal to concede the presidential election, calling it a dangerous and undemocratic attack on US institutions.
Comprised of some of the highest national security officials in the Republican administrations of Ronald Reagan, George HW Bush, George W. Bush and Trump, the group condemned the failure of the majority of Republicans in Congress to condemn the unwillingness of Trump to recognize the victory of Democratic President-elect Joe Biden. in the elections of November 3.
The group, former Republican Biden national security officials, which was formed in August and whose members campaigned against Trump, was particularly critical of Republican congressional leaders in a published letter.
Most Republicans have remained largely silent as Trump disputes the election results with unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud and his legal team pursues increasingly desperate and unsuccessful attempts to overturn Biden’s victory.
“By encouraging President Trump’s delaying tactics or remaining silent, Republican leaders put American democracy and national security at risk,” the group writes.
Members of the group include retired General Michael Hayden, who served as director of national security and head of the CIA; William Webster, the only man who served as head of the CIA and the FBI; and John Negroponte, the first director of national intelligence.
Biden won the election with 306 Electoral College votes, well above the 270 needed for victory, compared to 232 for Trump. Biden also leads Trump by more than 6 million in the popular vote.
The Trump campaign has described the Republican-led groups that backed Biden as disgruntled former officials “trying to overthrow the duly elected president of the United States.” Trump on Twitter last year referred to “Never Trump Republicans” as “human scum.”
(Reporting by Tim Reid; Editing by Peter Cooney)
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