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2020 U.S. elections
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A small but growing number of Republicans back calls for President-elect Joe Biden to receive daily intelligence reports.
Lindsey Graham, a key Trump ally, was among those who said that Biden should get the secret presidential memo, as is customary with incoming presidents.
But the majority of Republicans in Congress support Donald Trump by refusing to acknowledge Biden’s victory.
The result was announced by the US media last weekend, but the count continues.
Donald Trump has launched a series of legal challenges alleging widespread electoral fraud, although his team has yet to provide any evidence.
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On Thursday, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the “absurd circus” meant the coronavirus pandemic was being neglected, and she and other high-ranking Democrats urged Republicans to “accept the reality”.
Are Republicans influencing?
It should be emphasized that the majority has yet to acknowledge the Democrat’s victory.
Between 10 and 20 Republicans in Congress have congratulated Biden or accepted that there must be steps toward a transition.
image copyrightReutersDemocratic Senator Chris Coons told CNN that some Republicans had been asking him to congratulate Biden on their behalf because they didn’t feel capable of doing so publicly.
Senator Graham was among those who said that Biden should obtain the top-secret daily document that is given to the president. Chuck Grassley, John Cornyn and John Thune agreed, although House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Biden “is not president at this time” and should wait.
But giving Joe Biden access to daily briefings is not the same as accepting that Trump has lost.
However, the Republican Governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine, has referred to Biden as president-elect.
Why are Republicans holding back?
Senate Minority Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said they “deliberately cast doubt on our elections for no other reason than fear of Donald Trump.”
Republican representatives and senators have a lot to consider, including keeping Trump’s base at stake: In defeat, he won more votes than any incumbent president.
Turning against Trump could bring a costly backlash, particularly since two January reimbursements in Georgia will likely decide who controls the Senate.
They also need to monitor fundraising and midterm elections in the long term.
Joe Biden is 5.2 million votes ahead of Donald Trump, about 3.4%, and has enough electoral votes needed in the Electoral College state-by-state to take the presidency: 270.
President Trump has not made any public speeches since the election, but continues to send out tweets questioning the vote count in several nearby states.
There are also reports that Trump has told his friends that he wants to start a digital media company to undermine the friendly network of conservatives Fox News, whose full support he now feels is being denied.
What has Biden been up to?
It has chosen veteran political agent Ron Klain as White House chief of staff.
Klain has served as one of Biden’s top advisers since the 1980s in the Senate and later when he was vice president.
The White House chief of staff manages the president’s daily schedule and is often described as his gatekeeper.
Biden has also continued to call out world leaders and other important figures as he continues with preparations to assume the presidency.
On Thursday he spoke with Pope Francis, who offered Biden his “blessings and congratulations.” Biden will be only the second Catholic president of the United States.
