“Please know that I have come to my decision independently based on the law and the available facts,” Murphy wrote. “I have never been pressured, directly or indirectly, by any executive branch official – including those working in the White House or the GSA – about the component or timing of my decision. Clearly, I have found no direction for the delay. “
The letter marks Murphy’s formal signature on Biden’s victory, commonly known as the imperfection process. The move would allow the transition to officially begin, allow existing administration agency officials to coordinate with the incoming biden team, and provide millions of government funding for the transition.
The Biden team will now have space for additional office fees within agencies and the ability to use federal resources to investigate Biden’s White House staff appointments and background checks on cabinet elections.
Johannes Abraham, Biden’s executive director of transition, said the start of the transition was “a necessary step to meet the challenges facing our nation, including controlling the epidemic and getting our economy back on track.”
“This final decision is a crucial administrative action to formally initiate the transition process with federal agencies,” Abraham said. “In the coming days, transition officials will begin meetings with federal officials to discuss the epidemic response, take full account of our national security interests, and gain a full understanding of the Trump administration’s efforts to dismiss government agencies.”
This is the last sign of a legitimate bid by Trump’s conspiracy led by Rudy Giulini to obstruct the election result. Trump campaign lawsuits to delay election credentials have been canceled in many states because their legal team has failed to provide any evidence of widespread voter fraud.
But so far, Murphy has refused to move forward with the determination process, despite Biden’s clear victory. Trump’s political appointee Murphy has faced intense scrutiny and political pressure from Democrats and, in recent days, those calling for a smooth transition by Republicans. In a statement Monday, Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman said “there is no evidence yet of any widespread fraud or malpractice that could change the outcome in any state” and vowed to begin the transition process.
In the letter, Murphy suggested that the assessment rules are vague and should be updated.
The GSA does not order the outcome of legal disputes and recurrences, nor does it determine whether such action is fair or just, he wrote. “These are issues that the Constitution, federal laws, and state laws omit from the election certification process and decisions made by competent jurisdictional courts. I don’t think the accusing agency should position itself constitutionally based on improving federal procurement and asset management.” The election process. I strongly urge Congress to consider amending this law. “
Trump tweeted after the report of the letter, thanking Murphy for his work and reassuring him of his decision to begin the transition.
“I thank Emily Murphy at GCA for her dedicated dedication and dedication to her country. She has been tortured, threatened, and abused – and I don’t want to see that happen to her, her family or GSA staff. “Our case is going hard, we will continue to fight well, and I believe we will win!” Trump tweeted. “Nevertheless, in the best interest of our country, I recommend that Emily and her team do what they have to do with regard to the initial protocol, and ask my team to do the same.”
Two of Trump’s advisers said people in his orbit were reading the president’s tweet as a necessary relief.
“Consistent effort to justify the demand for funding,” said another adviser.
According to an email received by CNN, federal departments were notified Monday night by the General Services Administration that it had assured Biden of victory in the presidential election.
“As amended by the Presidential Transition Act of 1963, today, November 23, 2020, the GSA Administrator confirmed to Joseph R. Biden and Senator Kamala Harris the successful candidates for the Office of the President and Vice President, respectively,” said F. Wrote in an email.
A senior White House official said some employees initially told CNN. Learning from G.S.A. But the official said staff would begin collaborating with the Biden transition team, adding that they wanted more information on the next steps.
Two weeks after the election was called for Baden, Murphy calmed down by pulling the fixed delay, increasing public pressure on congressional Democrats and Biden himself, who warned that delays due to the Covid-1p epidemic could cost lives.
Democrats were demanding a briefing to Murphy to explain his decision on Tuesday, rejecting an earlier GSA proposal for his deputy on Monday and a congressional proposal early next week. The chairmen of the Democratic Committee sent several new letters to Murphy on Tuesday urging him to allow the transition to begin and warning of the consequences of failing to do so.
The story has been updated with an additional report on Monday.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled Mary Gibert’s name.
CNN’s Jeff Zelany, Jeremy Diamond, Jim Acosta and Arlette Sanz contributed to the report.
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