thewashingtonexaminer--2020-11-16--Trump campaign drops key component of Pennsylvania election lawsuit

In a sign that President Trump may be running out of options to reverse the results of the 2020 election , his legal team has significantly pulled back from a number of their complaints in a Pennsylvania lawsuit .
On Sunday , attorneys for the president revised their legal complaint regarding whether GOP poll watchers had sufficient access to the ballot-counting process .
Instead , the revised lawsuit reads , the campaign 's legal team is focused on whether mail-in ballots were properly handled following their delivery .
The amended filing maintains the claim that hundreds of thousands of ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand to monitor .
Attorneys for the state of Pennsylvania sense an approaching victory , with their latest court filing arguing that the Trump campaign 's complaints are so narrow that future court dates may prove unnecessary .
`` The Amended Complaint adds no new claims for relief and instead materially narrows the pending allegations to a single claim under the same theory alleged in the original complaint , '' attorneys representing Pennsylvania wrote in a brief .
`` For this reason , although the Secretary does not believe that oral argument is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and claims , counsel for the Secretary will appear and be prepared for argument as scheduled for Tuesday , Nov. 17 , 2020 , if the court still intends to hear the argument . ''
Initially , the Trump campaign sought to have nearly 700,000 mail-in ballots be thrown out because their validation was not overseen by a GOP-appointed poll watcher .
After pushback from both the state of Pennsylvania and the judge ruling on the case , the campaign is now focused on blocking Pennsylvania from certifying a victory for Biden there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the campaign maintained that numerous irregularities in the ballot-counting process still took place .
“ Our lawsuit in Pennsylvania absolutely still makes an issue of the 682,479 mail-in and absentee ballots that were counted in secret , ” Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh tweeted Sunday night .
Democrats say that should Trump win on all his claims , something they and many legal analysts say remains unlikely , a total of a few thousand votes at most could be thrown out .
As of Monday morning , however , President-elect Joe Biden leads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump campaign and its allies have faced a number of setbacks in their legal campaigns , with a Pennsylvania judge ruling on Nov. 13 against a challenge to the state 's ballot receipt deadline .
That same day , the law firm Porter Wright Morris & Arthur withdrew its representation from the Trump campaign following a pressure campaign from the anti-GOP activist group the Lincoln Project .

In a sign that President Trump may be running out of options to reverse the results of the 2020 election, his legal team has significantly pulled back from a number of their complaints in a Pennsylvania lawsuit.
On Sunday, attorneys for the president revised their legal complaint regarding whether GOP poll watchers had sufficient access to the ballot-counting process. Instead, the revised lawsuit reads, the campaign's legal team is focused on whether mail-in ballots were properly handled following their delivery. The amended filing maintains the claim that hundreds of thousands of ballots were counted without GOP poll watchers on hand to monitor.
Attorneys for the state of Pennsylvania sense an approaching victory, with their latest court filing arguing that the Trump campaign's complaints are so narrow that future court dates may prove unnecessary.
"The Amended Complaint adds no new claims for relief and instead materially narrows the pending allegations to a single claim under the same theory alleged in the original complaint," attorneys representing Pennsylvania wrote in a brief. "For this reason, although the Secretary does not believe that oral argument is necessary to dispense with Plaintiffs' allegations and claims, counsel for the Secretary will appear and be prepared for argument as scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020, if the court still intends to hear the argument."
Initially, the Trump campaign sought to have nearly 700,000 mail-in ballots be thrown out because their validation was not overseen by a GOP-appointed poll watcher. After pushback from both the state of Pennsylvania and the judge ruling on the case, the campaign is now focused on blocking Pennsylvania from certifying a victory for Biden there.
Despite the campaign's revision, the campaign maintained that numerous irregularities in the ballot-counting process still took place.
“Our lawsuit in Pennsylvania absolutely still makes an issue of the 682,479 mail-in and absentee ballots that were counted in secret,” Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh tweeted Sunday night.
Democrats say that should Trump win on all his claims, something they and many legal analysts say remains unlikely, a total of a few thousand votes at most could be thrown out. As of Monday morning, however, President-elect Joe Biden leads Trump by over 70,000 votes.
The Trump campaign and its allies have faced a number of setbacks in their legal campaigns, with a Pennsylvania judge ruling on Nov. 13 against a challenge to the state's ballot receipt deadline. That same day, the law firm Porter Wright Morris & Arthur withdrew its representation from the Trump campaign following a pressure campaign from the anti-GOP activist group the Lincoln Project.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-11-16--Obama rips 'carnival barker' QAnon conspiracy theories

Former President Barack Obama is venting his frustrations with news outlets and social media as he promotes his first post-White House memoir , this time blaming them for creating conspiracy theory echo chambers .
Obama told the Atlantic he did n't believe he would be able to defend himself against criticism over his association with Rev .
Jeremiah Wright if some of his former pastor 's more controversial sermons resurfaced today .
Wright 's speeches on terrorism and distrust in government almost derailed Obama 's 2008 presidential bid .
`` Now you have a situation in which large swaths of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party is a front for a pedophile ring .
This stuff takes root , '' he said in an interview published Monday .
He then recounted a conversation with a volunteer on President-elect Joe Biden 's campaign in Philadelphia about how they were fielding questions about QAnon conspiracy theories from voters in low-income black communities .
`` The fact is that there is still a large portion of the country that was taken in by a carnival barker , '' he said .
Like in other interviews about the first installment of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama blamed congressional Republicans for legislative obstruction on Capitol Hill .
He described his relationship with former House Speaker John Boehner as `` perfectly good , '' before dishing that he would `` bad-mouth '' many members of his caucus behind their backs .
`` Mitch McConnell is not buddy-buddy with anyone , '' he said of the Senate majority leader .
`` I ’ m enjoying reading now about how Joe Biden and Mitch have been friends for a long time .
They ’ ve known each other for a long time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they found it politically advantageous to demonize me and the Democratic Party .
This was amplified by media outlets like Fox News , '' he added .
`` Their voters believed this , and over time , Republicans became so successful in their demonization that it became very difficult for them to compromise , or even be seen being friendly . ''
In a separate interview with NPR , Obama offered some advice to Biden , whose election win has been challenged by President Trump 's lawyers in Arizona , Georgia , Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as extended voter deadlines and transparency while ballots were being counted .
He said his two-term vice president , a 36-year Delaware senator , knew `` there is a way to reach out and not be a sap '' if he wanted a Republican-controlled Senate to pass any of his initiatives .
`` There 's a way of consistently offering the possibility of cooperation but recognizing that if Mitch McConnell or others are refusing to cooperate , at some point , you 've got to take it to the court of public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He continued of his first two years in office , `` I had an unwarranted faith that if we did the right thing and implemented good policies , then people would know .
And we did n't sell it hard enough . ''

Former President Barack Obama is venting his frustrations with news outlets and social media as he promotes his first post-White House memoir, this time blaming them for creating conspiracy theory echo chambers.
Obama told the Atlantic he didn't believe he would be able to defend himself against criticism over his association with Rev. Jeremiah Wright if some of his former pastor's more controversial sermons resurfaced today. Wright's speeches on terrorism and distrust in government almost derailed Obama's 2008 presidential bid.
"Now you have a situation in which large swaths of the country genuinely believe that the Democratic Party is a front for a pedophile ring. This stuff takes root," he said in an interview published Monday.
He then recounted a conversation with a volunteer on President-elect Joe Biden's campaign in Philadelphia about how they were fielding questions about QAnon conspiracy theories from voters in low-income black communities.
"The fact is that there is still a large portion of the country that was taken in by a carnival barker," he said.
Like in other interviews about the first installment of his two-part memoir, A Promised Land, Obama blamed congressional Republicans for legislative obstruction on Capitol Hill. He described his relationship with former House Speaker John Boehner as "perfectly good," before dishing that he would "bad-mouth" many members of his caucus behind their backs.
"Mitch McConnell is not buddy-buddy with anyone," he said of the Senate majority leader. "I’m enjoying reading now about how Joe Biden and Mitch have been friends for a long time. They’ve known each other for a long time."
"The issue was that they found it politically advantageous to demonize me and the Democratic Party. This was amplified by media outlets like Fox News," he added. "Their voters believed this, and over time, Republicans became so successful in their demonization that it became very difficult for them to compromise, or even be seen being friendly."
In a separate interview with NPR, Obama offered some advice to Biden, whose election win has been challenged by President Trump's lawyers in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania over issues such as extended voter deadlines and transparency while ballots were being counted.
He said his two-term vice president, a 36-year Delaware senator, knew "there is a way to reach out and not be a sap" if he wanted a Republican-controlled Senate to pass any of his initiatives.
"There's a way of consistently offering the possibility of cooperation but recognizing that if Mitch McConnell or others are refusing to cooperate, at some point, you've got to take it to the court of public opinion," he told NPR Monday.
He continued of his first two years in office, "I had an unwarranted faith that if we did the right thing and implemented good policies, then people would know. And we didn't sell it hard enough."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-11-16--Texas GOP infighting over speaker's gavel a glimpse of party's post-Trump future in Washington

When Allen West , the charismatic chairman of the Texas Republican Party , tried to leverage his popularity with grassroots conservatives to strong-arm the GOP ’ s choice for state House speaker , party leaders ignored him .
The situation in Texas , where Gov .
Greg Abbott and other top Republicans rejected West ’ s demands to replace state Rep. Dade Phelan as speaker-designate , has a direct bearing on the future of the GOP nationally .
Congressional Republicans are grappling with President Trump ’ s apparent plans to maintain his grip on the party after leaving the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ base voters .
They are trying to determine how much fealty is prudent , or necessary , to pay .
“ It ’ s very situational , ” said Ron Bonjean , a Republican operative in Washington and former congressional leadership aide .
“ If Republican voters are still listening to Trump and take his words as gospel , and he is heavily involved in the daily political lives of Republicans , then it ’ s going to remain a challenge for them to get out from under his shadow.
” West , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOP chairman over the summer .
The conservative media darling , military combat veteran , and former Florida congressman defeated low-profile but competent incumbent James Dickey on the strength of votes from committed party activists who prefer their new chairman ’ s combative style .
Earlier this month , West took the unusual step of intervening in internal party matters in Austin by announcing the state GOP ’ s opposition to Phelan .
West said in an email posted to the state GOP ’ s website that his resistance stems from the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speakership , a dynamic that would be unusual in Washington but is common in the Texas Legislature .
“ The Republican Party of Texas will not support , nor accept , state Rep. Dade Phelan as speaker of the Texas House , ” West said .
“ Texas does not need a Republican political traitor.
” West is not backing down , as he made clear in a radio interview on Friday , despite being completely dismissed by Texas ’ s top elected Republicans .
“ Congratulations to my friend , Dade Phelan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running for reelection in 2022 and is considered a possible candidate for president in 2024 .
“ A strong conservative , Dade has a proven track record of fighting for the lives and livelihoods of all Texans.
” Texas Sen. John Cornyn , who cruised to reelection on Nov. 3 , retweeted Abbot ’ s statement .
Brendan Steinhauser , a Republican consultant in Texas , described West as a paper tiger who doesn ’ t speak for the constituency he might imagine .
“ This is another example of someone standing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said , “ trying to have influence and power.
” The same can not be said about Trump , who carries weight with Republican voters despite losing reelection to President-elect Joe Biden .
That has put congressional Republicans in a tough spot .
If they cross Trump in the short term , they risk alienating the GOP base ahead of two Jan. 5 runoff elections in Georgia that will decide control of the Senate .
Cross Trump in the long term , and Republicans worry the conservative grassroots will abandon them in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been most evident in the refusal of Republicans in Congress to acknowledge Biden as the winner of the presidential election publicly , an outcome most recognize privately .
Party insiders say congressional Republicans could begin to exert some independence from Trump after the Georgia runoffs .
The GOP needs to win just one of them to maintain Senate control .
“ Once we get past that mile marker , there might be a shift , ” a Republican lobbyist said .
The challenge could be more difficult for Republicans in the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House , Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California leads an emboldened caucus .
House Republicans could end up just four or five seats from the majority by the time all of the races are called .
But enforcing unity and voting `` no '' on Democratic legislation is an easy task with Democrats still ruling the chamber and responsible for whipping 218 floor votes to pass legislation .
In the majority , Senate Republicans are charged with confirming Biden ’ s nominations to serve in the executive branch and the judiciary .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of the president-elect ’ s policy agenda , they will presumably have to compromise on legislation to fund the government , the Pentagon , and coronavirus relief .
That could be a difficult task if Trump is barking counterorders from the sidelines .
“ I hope that the more established Republicans in this town learned the right lessons from the Tea Party period , ” a Republican close to Trump said , referring to Barack Obama ’ s presidency .
“ We want our base to go into 2022 hot and united @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go into 2022 with a divided base and a civil war .
”

When Allen West, the charismatic chairman of the Texas Republican Party, tried to leverage his popularity with grassroots conservatives to strong-arm the GOP’s choice for state House speaker, party leaders ignored him.
The situation in Texas, where Gov. Greg Abbott and other top Republicans rejected West’s demands to replace state Rep. Dade Phelan as speaker-designate, has a direct bearing on the future of the GOP nationally. Congressional Republicans are grappling with President Trump’s apparent plans to maintain his grip on the party after leaving the White House, aided by strong support from base voters. They are trying to determine how much fealty is prudent, or necessary, to pay.
“It’s very situational,” said Ron Bonjean, a Republican operative in Washington and former congressional leadership aide. “If Republican voters are still listening to Trump and take his words as gospel, and he is heavily involved in the daily political lives of Republicans, then it’s going to remain a challenge for them to get out from under his shadow.”
West, who is black, was elected Texas GOP chairman over the summer. The conservative media darling, military combat veteran, and former Florida congressman defeated low-profile but competent incumbent James Dickey on the strength of votes from committed party activists who prefer their new chairman’s combative style. Earlier this month, West took the unusual step of intervening in internal party matters in Austin by announcing the state GOP’s opposition to Phelan.
West said in an email posted to the state GOP’s website that his resistance stems from the fact that Phelan enjoys Democratic support for his speakership, a dynamic that would be unusual in Washington but is common in the Texas Legislature. “The Republican Party of Texas will not support, nor accept, state Rep. Dade Phelan as speaker of the Texas House,” West said. “Texas does not need a Republican political traitor.”
West is not backing down, as he made clear in a radio interview on Friday, despite being completely dismissed by Texas’s top elected Republicans. “Congratulations to my friend, Dade Phelan,” said Abbott, who is running for reelection in 2022 and is considered a possible candidate for president in 2024. “A strong conservative, Dade has a proven track record of fighting for the lives and livelihoods of all Texans.”
Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who cruised to reelection on Nov. 3, retweeted Abbot’s statement. Brendan Steinhauser, a Republican consultant in Texas, described West as a paper tiger who doesn’t speak for the constituency he might imagine. “This is another example of someone standing on the sidelines, throwing bombs,” he said, “trying to have influence and power.” The same cannot be said about Trump, who carries weight with Republican voters despite losing reelection to President-elect Joe Biden.
That has put congressional Republicans in a tough spot.
If they cross Trump in the short term, they risk alienating the GOP base ahead of two Jan. 5 runoff elections in Georgia that will decide control of the Senate. Cross Trump in the long term, and Republicans worry the conservative grassroots will abandon them in the 2022 midterm elections. That dynamic has been most evident in the refusal of Republicans in Congress to acknowledge Biden as the winner of the presidential election publicly, an outcome most recognize privately.
Party insiders say congressional Republicans could begin to exert some independence from Trump after the Georgia runoffs. The GOP needs to win just one of them to maintain Senate control. “Once we get past that mile marker, there might be a shift,” a Republican lobbyist said. The challenge could be more difficult for Republicans in the Senate than in the House.
In the House, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California leads an emboldened caucus. House Republicans could end up just four or five seats from the majority by the time all of the races are called. But enforcing unity and voting "no" on Democratic legislation is an easy task with Democrats still ruling the chamber and responsible for whipping 218 floor votes to pass legislation.
In the majority, Senate Republicans are charged with confirming Biden’s nominations to serve in the executive branch and the judiciary. And, even if Senate Republicans oppose the majority of the president-elect’s policy agenda, they will presumably have to compromise on legislation to fund the government, the Pentagon, and coronavirus relief. That could be a difficult task if Trump is barking counterorders from the sidelines.
“I hope that the more established Republicans in this town learned the right lessons from the Tea Party period,” a Republican close to Trump said, referring to Barack Obama’s presidency. “We want our base to go into 2022 hot and united. We don’t want to go into 2022 with a divided base and a civil war.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-11-16--Trump likely to stick around even after loss, leaving GOP to wonder about his next move

President Trump isn ’ t going away after Jan. 20 even if all his election challenges fail and Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president .
That ’ s the conclusion of Republican operatives , who expect Trump to continue wielding his Twitter megaphone at a minimum and at least to consider a 2024 presidential campaign .
They are more split on the question of what effect this will have on the party .
“ He will cast a shadow over all the candidates who could succeed him , ” said a Republican strategist who has worked on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ huge.
” To many Republicans , it depends on how Trump chooses to exercise his influence over the party and the direction of the country .
He could start a media company to rival Fox News , a network that has displeased him with its coverage of the election .
“ Trump TV ” rumors have been persistent for the last five years .
He could launch a super PAC to promote Republican candidates who share his views on foreign policy , trade , and immigration .
Or he could continue his campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eligible to serve another term under the 22nd Amendment of the Constitution .
“ Trump has a whole family he can have on the show , ” a Republican fundraiser said .
“ Don Jr. , Kimberly [ Guilfoyle ] , Eric , Lara.
” Ivanka Trump and her husband , Jared Kushner , though less conservative , have all also assumed large roles in both the Trump campaigns and the White House .
Trump 's allies seem poised to retain control of the Republican National Committee .
A Washington Examiner/YouGov poll found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to leave politics entirely if he lost , but 38 % of Republicans said he should run again , and 34 % believed he should back like-minded candidates .
Just 9 % of Republicans thought he should abandon politics completely .
Even if Trump does not run again , the threat of another campaign could keep him in the public eye and help generate attention for whatever project comes next .
Sarah Palin , the former Alaska governor who was the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee , did this in the run-up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done it before , too , teasing multiple presidential runs before actually declaring a candidacy in June 2015 .
“ He was the boy who cried wolf , ” the fundraiser said .
Like Hillary Clinton and Al Gore , Trump ’ s connection with his most loyal supporters will only be enhanced by feelings that the election was somehow stolen from him or illegitimate .
Clinton has regularly promoted about collusion between the Russians and Trump ’ s campaign to fix the 2016 election .
Gore was convinced he won Florida and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believed the Bush v. Gore ruling that ended the 37-day stalemate was wrongly decided .
Richard Nixon returned to win the presidency eight years after a close , disputed loss to John F. Kennedy in 1960 .
Nixon chose not to contest the election and heeded the advice of party stalwarts , who suggested he concede .
Former presidents tend to take a lower profile after leaving office , especially for the first few years .
This is even truer of Republicans .
While Democratic Presidents Barack Obama , Bill Clinton , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ active in partisan politics , President George W. Bush and his father , President George H.W .
Bush , have only sporadically commented on public affairs since leaving the White House .
Nixon sought to reestablish himself as an elder statesman .
President Ronald Reagan was only active for five years after the presidency due to his 1994 Alzheimer ’ s disease diagnosis .
He gave speeches , including a 1992 Republican National Convention address , and campaigned occasionally for GOP candidates , including George H.W .
Bush ’ s reelection bid .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wrote an op-ed in the New York Times opposing the Democrat ’ s 1993 tax increase .
Trump is expected to be more vocal .
“ He could be the kingmaker , and every 2024 candidate could have to go to Trump Tower to kiss the ring , ” said a Republican consultant who worked on congressional races this year .
“ Politics has become entertainment and reality TV , ” the fundraiser said .
“ Is there going to be a Republican brand and a Trump Republican brand ?
” Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2024 .
This likely includes Vice President Mike Pence , former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley , and Sens .
Marco Rubio , Tom Cotton , and Josh Hawley , who have all in different ways attempted to channel Trump ’ s populism .
These Republicans are skeptical of Trump ’ s legal chances to remain in the White House next year .
“ Even if Georgia goes to Trump , it ’ s not going to change the results , ” a veteran GOP operative said .
“ When Arizona flipped , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do think Trump will continue to have a role to play as someone who energized the base and expanded the electoral map to include the Rust Belt , even if Republicans in Washington may be eager to move on .
“ I don ’ t know what will happen , but I could see the small donors flocking to whatever he decides to do next , ” the GOP fundraiser said .

President Trump isn’t going away after Jan. 20 even if all his election challenges fail and Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president.
That’s the conclusion of Republican operatives, who expect Trump to continue wielding his Twitter megaphone at a minimum and at least to consider a 2024 presidential campaign. They are more split on the question of what effect this will have on the party.
“He will cast a shadow over all the candidates who could succeed him,” said a Republican strategist who has worked on presidential campaigns. “It will be huge.”
To many Republicans, it depends on how Trump chooses to exercise his influence over the party and the direction of the country. He could start a media company to rival Fox News, a network that has displeased him with its coverage of the election. “Trump TV” rumors have been persistent for the last five years. He could launch a super PAC to promote Republican candidates who share his views on foreign policy, trade, and immigration. Or he could continue his campaign for the presidency because he is still eligible to serve another term under the 22nd Amendment of the Constitution.
“Trump has a whole family he can have on the show,” a Republican fundraiser said. “Don Jr., Kimberly [Guilfoyle], Eric, Lara.”
Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, though less conservative, have all also assumed large roles in both the Trump campaigns and the White House. Trump's allies seem poised to retain control of the Republican National Committee.
A Washington Examiner/YouGov poll found that 48% of voters wanted Trump to leave politics entirely if he lost, but 38% of Republicans said he should run again, and 34% believed he should back like-minded candidates. Just 9% of Republicans thought he should abandon politics completely.
Even if Trump does not run again, the threat of another campaign could keep him in the public eye and help generate attention for whatever project comes next. Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor who was the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, did this in the run-up to the 2012 presidential race. Trump has done it before, too, teasing multiple presidential runs before actually declaring a candidacy in June 2015. “He was the boy who cried wolf,” the fundraiser said.
Like Hillary Clinton and Al Gore, Trump’s connection with his most loyal supporters will only be enhanced by feelings that the election was somehow stolen from him or illegitimate. Clinton has regularly promoted maximalist theories about collusion between the Russians and Trump’s campaign to fix the 2016 election. Gore was convinced he won Florida and said in his concession speech that he believed the Bush v. Gore ruling that ended the 37-day stalemate was wrongly decided.
Richard Nixon returned to win the presidency eight years after a close, disputed loss to John F. Kennedy in 1960. Nixon chose not to contest the election and heeded the advice of party stalwarts, who suggested he concede.
Former presidents tend to take a lower profile after leaving office, especially for the first few years. This is even truer of Republicans. While Democratic Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter have remained to varying degrees active in partisan politics, President George W. Bush and his father, President George H.W. Bush, have only sporadically commented on public affairs since leaving the White House. Nixon sought to reestablish himself as an elder statesman.
President Ronald Reagan was only active for five years after the presidency due to his 1994 Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis. He gave speeches, including a 1992 Republican National Convention address, and campaigned occasionally for GOP candidates, including George H.W. Bush’s reelection bid. Reagan met with Clinton after the election and wrote an op-ed in the New York Times opposing the Democrat’s 1993 tax increase.
Trump is expected to be more vocal.
“He could be the kingmaker, and every 2024 candidate could have to go to Trump Tower to kiss the ring,” said a Republican consultant who worked on congressional races this year.
“Politics has become entertainment and reality TV,” the fundraiser said. “Is there going to be a Republican brand and a Trump Republican brand?”
Many Republicans are hoping to succeed Trump in 2024. This likely includes Vice President Mike Pence, former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, and Sens. Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton, and Josh Hawley, who have all in different ways attempted to channel Trump’s populism.
These Republicans are skeptical of Trump’s legal chances to remain in the White House next year.
“Even if Georgia goes to Trump, it’s not going to change the results,” a veteran GOP operative said. “When Arizona flipped, it was over.”
But GOP insiders do think Trump will continue to have a role to play as someone who energized the base and expanded the electoral map to include the Rust Belt, even if Republicans in Washington may be eager to move on.
“I don’t know what will happen, but I could see the small donors flocking to whatever he decides to do next,” the GOP fundraiser said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-11-17--Republicans add more Latino voters without running on immigration reform

Republicans increased their share of the Latino vote this election cycle without running on comprehensive immigration reforms that would give legal status to undocumented immigrants .
Between 2016 and 2020 , President Trump earned 4 additional percentage points more with black voters , the biggest share of the Latino vote of any GOP nominee since 2004 , 5 percentage points more with Asian Americans , and the percentage of LGBT people voting for Trump doubled from 2016 to 2020 , from 14 % to 28 % .
For nearly two decades , GOP conventional wisdom dictated the party needed an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of immigration at the southern border through enforcement while allowing for unauthorized immigrants to apply for legal status to deliver workers into the U.S. labor market .
Republicans believed more Latinos would turn out to vote for the party if such action was taken , but the legislation , backed by the Chamber of Commerce and suggested by the GOP 's 2012 post-election autopsy following Mitt Romney ’ s presidential loss , repeatedly failed in Congress when conservatives rallied against the bills in 2006 , 2007 , and 2013 .
Instead , Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers ’ and candidates ’ embrace of socialism and looser immigration laws .
Additionally , they highlighted Trump ’ s economic messages .
In Florida , Trump earned 45 % of the Latino vote — an 11-point jump from his 2016 performance .
In Texas , 41 % to 47 % of Latino voters supported Trump in a number of Democratic Hispanic border counties in the Rio Grande Valley area .
In regions of South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley , Latinos have jobs in the gas and oil industry , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would destroy with fracking regulations .
Additionally , many Latinos were turned off by the mass illegal immigration and demonization of the border patrol .
The Republican Party ’ s anti-socialist message routinely wins support from Florida ’ s Cuban community , and this year , it targeted the Venezuelan community with that message as well .
Centrist Democrats found themselves fighting GOP messaging that demanded they denounce Democratic socialists in their party , such as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez .
This included linking all Democratic candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deal and the “ Defund the Police ” initiative .
“ Defund police , open borders , socialism — it ’ s killing us , ” Rep. Vicente Gonzalez , a Texas Democrat who won reelection with just over 50 % of the vote , told the New York Times .
“ I had to fight to explain all that.
” Gonzalez added , the “ average white person ” may think socialism has more to do with Nordic countries , but Asian and Hispanic voters link it to tyrannical `` left-wing regimes @ @

Republicans increased their share of the Latino vote this election cycle without running on comprehensive immigration reforms that would give legal status to undocumented immigrants.
Between 2016 and 2020, President Trump earned 4 additional percentage points more with black voters, the biggest share of the Latino vote of any GOP nominee since 2004, 5 percentage points more with Asian Americans, and the percentage of LGBT people voting for Trump doubled from 2016 to 2020, from 14% to 28%.
For nearly two decades, GOP conventional wisdom dictated the party needed an immigration reform plan to control the flow of immigration at the southern border through enforcement while allowing for unauthorized immigrants to apply for legal status to deliver workers into the U.S. labor market.
Republicans believed more Latinos would turn out to vote for the party if such action was taken, but the legislation, backed by the Chamber of Commerce and suggested by the GOP's 2012 post-election autopsy following Mitt Romney’s presidential loss, repeatedly failed in Congress when conservatives rallied against the bills in 2006, 2007, and 2013.
Instead, Republicans focused on issues related to far-left Democratic lawmakers’ and candidates’ embrace of socialism and looser immigration laws. Additionally, they highlighted Trump’s economic messages.
In Florida, Trump earned 45% of the Latino vote — an 11-point jump from his 2016 performance. In Texas, 41% to 47% of Latino voters supported Trump in a number of Democratic Hispanic border counties in the Rio Grande Valley area.
In regions of South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley, Latinos have jobs in the gas and oil industry, which the Trump campaign told voters Joe Biden would destroy with fracking regulations.
Additionally, many Latinos were turned off by the mass illegal immigration and demonization of the border patrol.
The Republican Party’s anti-socialist message routinely wins support from Florida’s Cuban community, and this year, it targeted the Venezuelan community with that message as well.
Centrist Democrats found themselves fighting GOP messaging that demanded they denounce Democratic socialists in their party, such as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. This included linking all Democratic candidates to policies such as the Green New Deal and the “Defund the Police” initiative.
“Defund police, open borders, socialism — it’s killing us,” Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, a Texas Democrat who won reelection with just over 50% of the vote, told the New York Times. “I had to fight to explain all that.”
Gonzalez added, the “average white person” may think socialism has more to do with Nordic countries, but Asian and Hispanic voters link it to tyrannical "left-wing regimes.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-11-18--Pelosi could face a mini-rebellion in bid for reelection as speaker

Most Democrats declared Tuesday that Nancy Pelosi will be elected overwhelmingly by her party this week to run for another term as House speaker in January , but the California Democrat may face a mini-rebellion from a group of swing-district lawmakers unhappy with a slate of election losses and a leftward shift in messaging .
“ I ’ m , right now , very passionately undecided , ” Rep. Dean Phillips , a Minnesota Democrat , told the Washington Examiner .
Democrats have lost a net of eight seats so far , and several outstanding races favor GOP candidates .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Democrats , all in swing districts .
The shrunken majority will leave Pelosi with almost no wiggle room on Jan. 3 , when she must win 218 votes from the entire House in a vote the first week of January .
She ’ ll get no GOP votes , so even a small group of opposing Democrats would derail her election to a fourth term with the gavel .
Pelosi said in an interview as she left the chamber that it was possible someone would vote against her during the caucus vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Pelosi said with a chuckle .
“ But I ’ m not worried about it.
” Pelosi , who at 80 is the oldest speaker in history , will likely have only a handful of votes to spare , and at least a handful of Democrats are considering a vote against her .
Phillips , who won in a GOP-held seat in 2016 and cruised to reelection , is among a group of lawmakers concerned about the path forward for Democrats , who have moved their agenda to the left over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus , said he plans to speak with Pelosi about his indecision .
“ I ’ m reflecting on the term past , I ’ m reflecting prospectively on what we have to accomplish moving forward , and I ’ ll make my decision after speaking with her , '' he said .
Phillips voted for Pelosi in 2016 after Pelosi agreed to rules changes , including a pledge to serve only two more terms .
Phillips acknowledged Pelosi at the helm offers stability , which he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ But it ’ s a new frontier now , ” Phillips said .
And I think we are all mindful of that , and I ’ m one of many considering options , considering what we might need and considering what the country is asking for.
” Only one Democrat , Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan , has announced formal opposition to Pelosi , and nobody is running against her .
Most Democrats brushed off the threat of a real challenge to Pelosi .
“ She is going to be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Rep. Emanuel Cleaver , a Missouri Democrat , told the Washington Examiner .
“ She is clearly the choice of the overwhelming number of Democrats in the House.
” Pelosi faced far greater opposition in 2018 , when 18 Democrats initially opposed her and Rep. Tim Ryan , an Ohio Democrat , announced he would run against her .
Pelosi managed to win over her opponents and has largely solidified her standing among lawmakers .
Cleaver noted that this time , there is no alternative candidate to Pelosi and it is unlikely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her from winning on the House floor .
If Pelosi failed to win a majority in the January vote , the House clerk would conduct subsequent votes until someone wins the backing of 218 members .
It has been nearly a century since a House speaker failed to win the gavel on the first vote .
But some Democrats were hedging Tuesday night .
Rep. Haley Stevens , a Michigan Democrat who earlier this month beat back GOP opponent Eric Esshaki by less than 3 percentage points , declined to say whether she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left a House vote .
“ I am very eager to talk to Speaker Pelosi about our Michigan needs and our fiscal responsibility interest here on behalf of Congress , ” Stevens said .
“ I put in a note to her .
My big priority is always to continue to advocate for Michigan.
” Another potential holdout , Abigail Spanberger of Virginia , complained about party messaging in a private Democratic conference call after the election , arguing a socialist message and liberal proposals such as defunding the police hurt swing-district candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s top lieutenant , Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland , and other leadership members crowded around Spanberger in the House chamber and engaged in intense discussions , while Pelosi talked to other lawmakers nearby .
Pelosi said later she “ hasn ’ t paid as much attention ” to her own race for speaker because she ’ s closely attuned to outstanding House races in New York , Iowa , and California .
“ Right now , that is where my focus is , ” Pelosi said .
Pelosi said the important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s presidential election victory .
“ Can you just imagine ?
No more Donald Trump , what a joyous feeling that is , ” Pelosi said .
Pelosi said if she speaks to doubtful Democrats , she ’ ll promote the opportunities the party now has with a Biden victory to pass important agenda items , such as infrastructure reform .
“ I think I do the best job , and I ’ m very excited about it , especially with a Democratic president , ” Pelosi said .
In an interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she wants Democrats to pass more centrist bills that can be signed into law , rather than liberal measures that will be rejected outright by the Senate , which the GOP is favored to lead in January following two special elections in Georgia .
“ If we try to just kind of throw spaghetti against the wall , everybody has their pet bill , but we lose that strategic plan , then we 're going to have nothing concrete to show our constituents , and that 'll be a problem in general and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Most Democrats declared Tuesday that Nancy Pelosi will be elected overwhelmingly by her party this week to run for another term as House speaker in January, but the California Democrat may face a mini-rebellion from a group of swing-district lawmakers unhappy with a slate of election losses and a leftward shift in messaging.
“I’m, right now, very passionately undecided,” Rep. Dean Phillips, a Minnesota Democrat, told the Washington Examiner.
Democrats have lost a net of eight seats so far, and several outstanding races favor GOP candidates. Republicans have flipped a dozen seats held by Democrats, all in swing districts.
The shrunken majority will leave Pelosi with almost no wiggle room on Jan. 3, when she must win 218 votes from the entire House in a vote the first week of January. She’ll get no GOP votes, so even a small group of opposing Democrats would derail her election to a fourth term with the gavel.
Pelosi said in an interview as she left the chamber that it was possible someone would vote against her during the caucus vote this week.
“Somebody may,” Pelosi said with a chuckle. “But I’m not worried about it.”
Pelosi, who at 80 is the oldest speaker in history, will likely have only a handful of votes to spare, and at least a handful of Democrats are considering a vote against her.
Phillips, who won in a GOP-held seat in 2016 and cruised to reelection, is among a group of lawmakers concerned about the path forward for Democrats, who have moved their agenda to the left over the past two years.
Phillips, a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, said he plans to speak with Pelosi about his indecision.
“I’m reflecting on the term past, I’m reflecting prospectively on what we have to accomplish moving forward, and I’ll make my decision after speaking with her," he said.
Phillips voted for Pelosi in 2016 after Pelosi agreed to rules changes, including a pledge to serve only two more terms. Phillips acknowledged Pelosi at the helm offers stability, which he said was critical during the Trump administration.
“But it’s a new frontier now,” Phillips said. And I think we are all mindful of that, and I’m one of many considering options, considering what we might need and considering what the country is asking for.”
Only one Democrat, Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, has announced formal opposition to Pelosi, and nobody is running against her.
Most Democrats brushed off the threat of a real challenge to Pelosi.
“She is going to be the speaker for the next two years,” Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Missouri Democrat, told the Washington Examiner. “She is clearly the choice of the overwhelming number of Democrats in the House.”
Pelosi faced far greater opposition in 2018, when 18 Democrats initially opposed her and Rep. Tim Ryan, an Ohio Democrat, announced he would run against her. Pelosi managed to win over her opponents and has largely solidified her standing among lawmakers.
Cleaver noted that this time, there is no alternative candidate to Pelosi and it is unlikely her opposition is steep enough to block her from winning on the House floor.
If Pelosi failed to win a majority in the January vote, the House clerk would conduct subsequent votes until someone wins the backing of 218 members.
It has been nearly a century since a House speaker failed to win the gavel on the first vote.
But some Democrats were hedging Tuesday night.
Rep. Haley Stevens, a Michigan Democrat who earlier this month beat back GOP opponent Eric Esshaki by less than 3 percentage points, declined to say whether she’ll vote for Pelosi as she left a House vote.
“I am very eager to talk to Speaker Pelosi about our Michigan needs and our fiscal responsibility interest here on behalf of Congress,” Stevens said. “I put in a note to her. My big priority is always to continue to advocate for Michigan.”
Another potential holdout, Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, complained about party messaging in a private Democratic conference call after the election, arguing a socialist message and liberal proposals such as defunding the police hurt swing-district candidates.
On Tuesday night, Pelosi’s top lieutenant, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland, and other leadership members crowded around Spanberger in the House chamber and engaged in intense discussions, while Pelosi talked to other lawmakers nearby.
Pelosi said later she “hasn’t paid as much attention” to her own race for speaker because she’s closely attuned to outstanding House races in New York, Iowa, and California.
“Right now, that is where my focus is,” Pelosi said.
Pelosi said the important win for the party was Joe Biden’s presidential election victory.
“Can you just imagine? No more Donald Trump, what a joyous feeling that is,” Pelosi said.
Pelosi said if she speaks to doubtful Democrats, she’ll promote the opportunities the party now has with a Biden victory to pass important agenda items, such as infrastructure reform.
“I think I do the best job, and I’m very excited about it, especially with a Democratic president,” Pelosi said.
In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Slotkin said she wants Democrats to pass more centrist bills that can be signed into law, rather than liberal measures that will be rejected outright by the Senate, which the GOP is favored to lead in January following two special elections in Georgia.
“If we try to just kind of throw spaghetti against the wall, everybody has their pet bill, but we lose that strategic plan, then we're going to have nothing concrete to show our constituents, and that'll be a problem in general and specifically for 2022,” Slotkin said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-11-18--Trump campaign files Nevada lawsuit arguing mass 'discrepancies and irregularities' mean Biden loss

President Trump 's legal team ramped up challenges to election results in Nevada on Tuesday with a lawsuit that asserts that the president won the state , despite being more than 33,500 votes behind President-elect Joe Biden , due to problems in the voting system and fraud .
`` The discrepancies and irregularities in this election will eclipse the difference in the votes between the candidates , '' states the lawsuit , filed Tuesday in Nevada 's 1st District Court .
That marks a stronger tone from Trump 's Nevada legal team than it 's taken previously .
Former Nevada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helping the Trump campaign 's legal effort , told the Washington Examiner last week that it was `` absurd '' to ask whether the campaign 's legal challenge would show that Trump is the true legal winner in Nevada 's presidential contest .
`` There are north of 15,000 people who voted in Nevada and another state , '' Laxalt said in a press conference on Tuesday for the new lawsuit , a new allegation .
The filing also says that there are over 1,000 people who voted in Nevada 's election despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's lower than the previously publicized figure of 9,000 out-of-state voters .
Trump ’ s campaign sent to the Justice Department a list of more than 3,000 Nevada voters who , according to a national change of address database , no longer live in the state .
Only an estimated third of people update their address in the database , so triple the number of voters on that list comes to about 9,000 .
Some of the grievances are also part of another Nevada lawsuit sitting in court , which takes issue with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ verify mail-in ballot signatures .
The lawsuit says that the Agilis system used in Clark County , which accounts for the overwhelming majority of voters in the state , did not accurately match signatures from mail-in ballot envelopes to signatures for voters on file .
The lawsuit also alleges that in-person voting machines in Nevada `` were inherently unreliable and susceptible to being electronically compromised by malicious parties , due to a shocking lack of physical security and security . ''
Lawyer Jesse Binnall said that some operations offered people things such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting .
The lawsuit specifically named the Nevada Native Vote Project , which had some organizers sporting Biden-Harris gear , for coordinating that activity .
`` That 's something that 's clearly against the law to give some one something of value to vote , '' Binnall said .

President Trump's legal team ramped up challenges to election results in Nevada on Tuesday with a lawsuit that asserts that the president won the state, despite being more than 33,500 votes behind President-elect Joe Biden, due to problems in the voting system and fraud.
"The discrepancies and irregularities in this election will eclipse the difference in the votes between the candidates," states the lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Nevada's 1st District Court.
That marks a stronger tone from Trump's Nevada legal team than it's taken previously. Former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt, who is helping the Trump campaign's legal effort, told the Washington Examiner last week that it was "absurd" to ask whether the campaign's legal challenge would show that Trump is the true legal winner in Nevada's presidential contest.
"There are north of 15,000 people who voted in Nevada and another state," Laxalt said in a press conference on Tuesday for the new lawsuit, a new allegation.
The filing also says that there are over 1,000 people who voted in Nevada's election despite having moved out of state. That's lower than the previously publicized figure of 9,000 out-of-state voters. Trump’s campaign sent to the Justice Department a list of more than 3,000 Nevada voters who, according to a national change of address database, no longer live in the state. Only an estimated third of people update their address in the database, so triple the number of voters on that list comes to about 9,000.
Some of the grievances are also part of another Nevada lawsuit sitting in court, which takes issue with the state's use of machines that verify mail-in ballot signatures. The lawsuit says that the Agilis system used in Clark County, which accounts for the overwhelming majority of voters in the state, did not accurately match signatures from mail-in ballot envelopes to signatures for voters on file.
The lawsuit also alleges that in-person voting machines in Nevada "were inherently unreliable and susceptible to being electronically compromised by malicious parties, due to a shocking lack of physical security and security."
Lawyer Jesse Binnall said that some operations offered people things such as raffle tickets or T-shirts in exchange for voting. The lawsuit specifically named the Nevada Native Vote Project, which had some organizers sporting Biden-Harris gear, for coordinating that activity.
"That's something that's clearly against the law to give some one something of value to vote," Binnall said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-11-17--Republicans to move forward on Hunter Biden investigations regardless of who is president

Senate Republicans , whose committees launched investigations into President-elect Joe Biden ’ s son Hunter Biden , say their investigations will continue regardless of who is in the White House or whether they keep the majority after two Georgia runoffs are decided .
The Senate Homeland Security Committee , led by Wisconsin Republican Ron Johnson , previously launched an investigation of Hunter Biden ’ s business dealings in Ukraine and opened a separate investigation into the e-mail and text exchanges found on his laptop .
Johnson told the Washington Examiner that regardless of how President Trump ’ s legal disputes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Joe Biden shake out , he will continue forward with his investigation into Hunter Biden .
“ Both Sen. Grassley and I are not going to turn a blind eye to this .
I ca n't speak for him , but certainly our staffs are continuing to work on this , '' Johnson said .
`` We 'll continue to gather more information as it becomes available .
But let 's face it , as much as I was criticized by some , at a minimum , what our investigation has done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to a certain extent , some of the counterintelligence and extortion threats . ''
He continued , “ But that 's just what we know .
What other things do n't we know ?
I think when you 've seen all the activity by Hunter , and you know now it 's been revealed about the fact that vice president Biden knew about some of this , you 've got to think there 's probably additional things to be revealed .
And that , that , again , continues to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] could affect our policy towards some of these nations and , in particular , the most concerning one is China.
” Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul argued Hunter Biden should be treated similarly to Paul Manafort , Trump 's former 2016 campaign manager , who was indicted and convicted last year on tax fraud charges and the conspiracy charges that stemmed from special counsel Robert Mueller 's Russia investigation into Trump 's 2016 campaign .
Manafort was sentenced to 47 months in prison .
“ I think that the law should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And I think that the same standard that was applied to Manafort on foreign dealing should be applied to Hunter Biden .
And it would be , I think , a miscarriage of justice not to apply the law equally , ” Paul told the Washington Examiner .
“ Was he registered as a foreign agent ?
That was one of the things that I think they went after Manafort on .
Did he pay taxes on the money he was kind of getting from what seems like everywhere ?
Those are , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and should be answered , ” Paul said .
“ I do n't know that I have control over those we can investigate in our committee .
It 's trying to find out the truth.
” Republican Sen. John Cornyn , a member of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ’ s team , says there are enough Republican committee chairmen who would support moving forward with the investigation regardless of the occupant in the White House .
“ I think there are enough people , the committee chairmen , who would be committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We could do that through the committees , either the judiciary or government affairs , ” Cornyn said .
“ If there 's potential corruption in the government , this is one of the things that the American people hate the most about their government .
They figure some people are in this to feather their own nest or their family 's nest .
And if there is , corruption is to be exposed , and people need to be held accountable .
And hopefully that will have some deterrent effect .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop the Democrats from investigating Trump during his time in office , ” The Texas Republican said .
In late October , days before the presidential election , Tony Bobulinski , a former business partner of the younger Biden , alleged on Tucker Carlson 's show on Fox News that Hunter Biden may have engaged in a pay-for-play scheme , by using his father ’ s position in the White House as leverage , with foreign oligarchs in in Ukraine , China , Kazakhstan , and elsewhere .
The former vice president ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a computer repair shop in Delaware last year .
The hardware was never reclaimed , the shop owner said , and it was turned over to the FBI .
A copy of the hard drive was also given to Trump 's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani , who shared the drive ’ s contents with the media prior the election .

Senate Republicans, whose committees launched investigations into President-elect Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden, say their investigations will continue regardless of who is in the White House or whether they keep the majority after two Georgia runoffs are decided.
The Senate Homeland Security Committee, led by Wisconsin Republican Ron Johnson, previously launched an investigation of Hunter Biden’s business dealings in Ukraine and opened a separate investigation into the e-mail and text exchanges found on his laptop.
Johnson told the Washington Examiner that regardless of how President Trump’s legal disputes against states that called the presidential election for Joe Biden shake out, he will continue forward with his investigation into Hunter Biden.
“Both Sen. Grassley and I are not going to turn a blind eye to this. I can't speak for him, but certainly our staffs are continuing to work on this," Johnson said. "We'll continue to gather more information as it becomes available. But let's face it, as much as I was criticized by some, at a minimum, what our investigation has done by exposing this, it's diffused, to a certain extent, some of the counterintelligence and extortion threats."
He continued, “But that's just what we know. What other things don't we know? I think when you've seen all the activity by Hunter, and you know now it's been revealed about the fact that vice president Biden knew about some of this, you've got to think there's probably additional things to be revealed. And that, that, again, continues to be a counterintelligence, extortion threat … [which] could affect our policy towards some of these nations and, in particular, the most concerning one is China.”
Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul argued Hunter Biden should be treated similarly to Paul Manafort, Trump's former 2016 campaign manager, who was indicted and convicted last year on tax fraud charges and the conspiracy charges that stemmed from special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation into Trump's 2016 campaign. Manafort was sentenced to 47 months in prison.
“I think that the law should be consistent and applied to everyone equally. And I think that the same standard that was applied to Manafort on foreign dealing should be applied to Hunter Biden. And it would be, I think, a miscarriage of justice not to apply the law equally,” Paul told the Washington Examiner.
“Was he registered as a foreign agent? That was one of the things that I think they went after Manafort on. Did he pay taxes on the money he was kind of getting from what seems like everywhere? Those are, I think, honest questions to ask and should be answered,” Paul said. “I don't know that I have control over those we can investigate in our committee. It's trying to find out the truth.”
Republican Sen. John Cornyn, a member of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s team, says there are enough Republican committee chairmen who would support moving forward with the investigation regardless of the occupant in the White House.
“I think there are enough people, the committee chairmen, who would be committed to getting to the bottom of that. We could do that through the committees, either the judiciary or government affairs,” Cornyn said. “If there's potential corruption in the government, this is one of the things that the American people hate the most about their government. They figure some people are in this to feather their own nest or their family's nest. And if there is, corruption is to be exposed, and people need to be held accountable. And hopefully that will have some deterrent effect."
“It sure didn’t stop the Democrats from investigating Trump during his time in office,” The Texas Republican said.
In late October, days before the presidential election, Tony Bobulinski, a former business partner of the younger Biden, alleged on Tucker Carlson's show on Fox News that Hunter Biden may have engaged in a pay-for-play scheme, by using his father’s position in the White House as leverage, with foreign oligarchs in in Ukraine, China, Kazakhstan, and elsewhere.
The former vice president’s son purportedly left a laptop at a computer repair shop in Delaware last year. The hardware was never reclaimed, the shop owner said, and it was turned over to the FBI. A copy of the hard drive was also given to Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who shared the drive’s contents with the media prior the election.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-11-17--Biden seeks out Stanley McChrystal and other national security experts as Trump blocks transition br

Biden seeks out Stanley McChrystal and other national security experts as Trump blocks transition briefings

President-elect Joe Biden has convened outside diplomatic , intelligence , and defense experts as President Trump 's refusal to concede blocks him from speaking directly with sitting administration officials .
Gen. Stanley McChrystal was among a group of 13 foreign policy and national security experts who briefed Biden Tuesday in Wilmington , Delaware .
Former President Barack Obama accepted McChrystal 's resignation after the country 's then-top commander in Afghanistan mocked the two-term vice president in a 2010 interview with Rolling Stone .
McChrystal endorsed Biden over Trump last month .
The meeting was scheduled since Biden can not contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Administration `` ascertains '' him as the president-elect .
Multiple outlets called the White House race for Biden on Nov. 7 , but Trump has yet to concede as his campaign lawyers challenge the contest 's results in court .
`` I am unable to get the briefings that ordinarily would come by now , '' Biden said Tuesday .
`` And so , I just wanted to get your input on what you see ahead .
To state the obvious , there 's no presidential responsibility more important than protecting the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your time , and I am anxious to hear what you all have to say . ''
McChrystal was joined by other military brass , such as Adm. William McRaven , who oversaw the 2011 special operations raid that killed Osama bin Laden , as well as Gen. Lloyd Austin and Liet .
Gen. Vincent Stewart .
Obama administration alumni present included former Secretary of Defense Robert Work , United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power , United States Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken , deputy national security adviser Avril Haines , and Assistant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thomas-Greenfield .
Biden also sought advice from ex-career officials , such as the CIA 's Carmen Middleton and the State Department 's Nicholas Burns .
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris joined the briefing virtually and late after spending the day on Capitol Hill .
Harris , California 's junior senator , has continued to receive classified briefings as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee .

President-elect Joe Biden has convened outside diplomatic, intelligence, and defense experts as President Trump's refusal to concede blocks him from speaking directly with sitting administration officials.
Gen. Stanley McChrystal was among a group of 13 foreign policy and national security experts who briefed Biden Tuesday in Wilmington, Delaware.
Former President Barack Obama accepted McChrystal's resignation after the country's then-top commander in Afghanistan mocked the two-term vice president in a 2010 interview with Rolling Stone. McChrystal endorsed Biden over Trump last month.
The meeting was scheduled since Biden cannot contact Trump administration officials until the General Services Administration "ascertains" him as the president-elect. Multiple outlets called the White House race for Biden on Nov. 7, but Trump has yet to concede as his campaign lawyers challenge the contest's results in court.
"I am unable to get the briefings that ordinarily would come by now," Biden said Tuesday. "And so, I just wanted to get your input on what you see ahead. To state the obvious, there's no presidential responsibility more important than protecting the American people, so I appreciate you taking your time, and I am anxious to hear what you all have to say."
McChrystal was joined by other military brass, such as Adm. William McRaven, who oversaw the 2011 special operations raid that killed Osama bin Laden, as well as Gen. Lloyd Austin and Liet. Gen. Vincent Stewart.
Obama administration alumni present included former Secretary of Defense Robert Work, United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power, United States Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken, deputy national security adviser Avril Haines, and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
Biden also sought advice from ex-career officials, such as the CIA's Carmen Middleton and the State Department's Nicholas Burns.
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris joined the briefing virtually and late after spending the day on Capitol Hill. Harris, California's junior senator, has continued to receive classified briefings as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-11-17--After big election gains, House GOP reelects McCarthy as minority leader

House Republicans , who are on track to gain more than 10 new seats , reelected their leadership team in @ @ @ @ @ Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California will again serve in that capacity , maintaining his @ @ @ @ @ polling that predicted his party losing up to 15 seats .
Republican lawmakers reelected Whip @ @ @ @ @ Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming .
The political fundraising arm , the Nation @ @ @ @ @ again be helmed by Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota .
Rep. Gary Palmer of Alabama @ @ @ @ @ Committee chairman .

House Republicans, who are on track to gain more than 10 new seats, reelected their leadership team in a closed-door meeting Tuesday.
Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California will again serve in that capacity, maintaining his post after the GOP outperformed polling that predicted his party losing up to 15 seats.
Republican lawmakers reelected Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming.
The political fundraising arm, the Nation Republican Congressional Committee, will again be helmed by Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota.
Rep. Gary Palmer of Alabama was elected as Republican Policy Committee chairman.
House Democrats will hold leadership elections beginning on Wednesday.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-11-17--Trump outpaced Biden nearly 2-to-1 among 2,600 uncounted ballots found in Georgia

President Trump outpaced Joe Biden by nearly 2-to-1 among the more than 2,600 uncounted ballots found in Georgia this week .
Georgia ’ s voting system manager Gabriel Sterling revealed on Monday that out of the 2,600 ballots found in Floyd County , 1,643 were for Trump , 865 were for Biden , and 16 were for Libertarian Jo Jorgensen .
The ballots were not originally counted due to county election officials failing to upload votes from a memory card , according to Sterling .
`` It 's not an equipment issue , '' Sterling said .
`` It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is the kind of situation that requires a change at the top of their management side . ''
“ The secretary , since this was such an amazing blunder and they had issues in August , would like to see that elections director in Floyd County step down from his position , ” Sterling added .
The state is currently in the midst of a hand recount of the votes cast on Nov. 3 .
Each county has until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday to finish their recounts , with the results finalized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Floyd County Republican Party , Luke Martin , called the error “ very concerning , ” but he doubted it was `` a widespread issue . ''
`` I 'm glad the audit revealed it , and it 's important that all votes are counted , '' he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution .
Ahead of the recount , Biden was ahead of the president with 2,472,230 votes to Trump ’ s 2,458,025 .
Trump has called the recount in the state “ meaningless ” as signature matches aren ’ t taken into consideration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t let us look at the all important signature match .
Without that the recount is MEANINGLESS .
Open up unconstitutional Consent Decree , NOW !
” the president tweeted Monday .

President Trump outpaced Joe Biden by nearly 2-to-1 among the more than 2,600 uncounted ballots found in Georgia this week.
Georgia’s voting system manager Gabriel Sterling revealed on Monday that out of the 2,600 ballots found in Floyd County, 1,643 were for Trump, 865 were for Biden, and 16 were for Libertarian Jo Jorgensen.
NEW--@GabrielSterling just released the official vote breakdown from the ballots previously uncounted in Floyd County:
Trump--1,643
Biden--865
Jorgensen--16
TOTAL--2,524@FOX5Atlanta — Claire Simms (@Claire_FOX5) November 17, 2020
The ballots were not originally counted due to county election officials failing to upload votes from a memory card, according to Sterling.
"It's not an equipment issue," Sterling said. "It's a person not executing their job properly. This is the kind of situation that requires a change at the top of their management side."
“The secretary, since this was such an amazing blunder and they had issues in August, would like to see that elections director in Floyd County step down from his position,” Sterling added.
The state is currently in the midst of a hand recount of the votes cast on Nov. 3. Each county has until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday to finish their recounts, with the results finalized on Friday.
The chairman of the Floyd County Republican Party, Luke Martin, called the error “very concerning,” but he doubted it was "a widespread issue."
"I'm glad the audit revealed it, and it's important that all votes are counted," he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Ahead of the recount, Biden was ahead of the president with 2,472,230 votes to Trump’s 2,458,025.
Trump has called the recount in the state “meaningless” as signature matches aren’t taken into consideration in the audit.
“Georgia won’t let us look at the all important signature match. Without that the recount is MEANINGLESS. Open up unconstitutional Consent Decree, NOW!” the president tweeted Monday.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-11-17--Pence to stump for Perdue and Loeffler in critical Georgia runoffs

Vice President Mike Pence is headed Georgia to campaign for Sens .
David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler , incumbent Republicans on the ballot in a pair of Jan. 5 runoff elections that will determine the balance of power in the Senate .
Pence will parachute into the state Friday for a bus tour across heavily Republican counties north of Atlanta , with plans to join Perdue and Loeffler at “ Defend the Majority ” rallies in Canton and Gainesville .
Republicans finished the general election with 50 Senate seats .
A blue sweep in the Georgia runoffs would knot the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority to the Democrats on the basis of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris ’ s tie-breaking vote .
Perdue , seeking a second term , finished ahead of Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff on Nov. 3 but fell short of the 50 % needed to avoid a runoff .
Loeffler , appointed to the Senate in January by Republican Gov .
Brian Kemp , finished behind Democrat Raphael Warnock in a special election primary held the same day .
Both Republicans are campaigning as a ticket , warning a double defeat would hand President-elect Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia emerged as a battleground state in this year ’ s elections , with Biden becoming the first Democrat since 1992 to win the state ’ s Electoral College votes .
That has prompted Republicans to mobilize an all-hands-on-deck campaign to boost Perdue and Loeffler in the upcoming runoffs .
Unknown is whether Trump will join other prominent Republicans who have flooded the state this month to lend a hand , although he has voiced support for the senators on Twitter .
“ I strongly stand with Kelly and David .
They are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump tweeted Monday .
He continues to contest the outcome of the presidential election in Georgia .

Vice President Mike Pence is headed Georgia to campaign for Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, incumbent Republicans on the ballot in a pair of Jan. 5 runoff elections that will determine the balance of power in the Senate.
Pence will parachute into the state Friday for a bus tour across heavily Republican counties north of Atlanta, with plans to join Perdue and Loeffler at “Defend the Majority” rallies in Canton and Gainesville. Republicans finished the general election with 50 Senate seats. A blue sweep in the Georgia runoffs would knot the chamber at 50 each, handing the majority to the Democrats on the basis of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’s tie-breaking vote.
Perdue, seeking a second term, finished ahead of Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff on Nov. 3 but fell short of the 50% needed to avoid a runoff. Loeffler, appointed to the Senate in January by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, finished behind Democrat Raphael Warnock in a special election primary held the same day. Both Republicans are campaigning as a ticket, warning a double defeat would hand President-elect Joe Biden a blank check in Congress.
Georgia emerged as a battleground state in this year’s elections, with Biden becoming the first Democrat since 1992 to win the state’s Electoral College votes. That has prompted Republicans to mobilize an all-hands-on-deck campaign to boost Perdue and Loeffler in the upcoming runoffs. Unknown is whether Trump will join other prominent Republicans who have flooded the state this month to lend a hand, although he has voiced support for the senators on Twitter.
“I strongly stand with Kelly and David. They are both great and must WIN!” Trump tweeted Monday. He continues to contest the outcome of the presidential election in Georgia.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-11-17--Two charged in Chicago for attack on women who wrote 'Biden 2020' in sidewalk chalk

A Chicago man and woman were charged with misdemeanor counts of battery after allegedly attacking two women who wrote `` Biden 2020 '' in chalk on a city sidewalk .
Chicago police confirmed to the Washington Examiner that Lorena Petani , 64 , and Lucio Zapata , 21 , were the suspects who took part in the incident on Nov. 4 in the Chicago Women 's Park & Garden .
Petani faces one count of battery , while Zapata faces two counts .
Both are scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 9 .
They are currently not in police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which first reported the incident , Zapata and Petani are mother and son .
In the video of the incident posted to social media , a woman is seen approaching two 19-year-old women , Alexis Hadac and Haylee Sandoval , after finding their chalk message `` insulting . ''
`` Are we gon na have a war of Trump and cops versus BLM in a public park ?
” the woman asked , adding , “ My husband is a cop too.
” “ This is my park , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much as me [ in taxes ] .
” The woman can be seen pushing one of the women to the ground in the video .
Police said a man later pushed the other victim and punched her .
One of the victims , Alexis Hadac , told Fox 32 shortly after the incident that she and her friend were babysitting a couple of children , visited the park , found chalk , and decided to write the message .
Hadac said that she suffered a mild concussion and her friend had trouble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly fired from her babysitting job because of the attention the incident received .
Hadac told Block Club Chicago that the mother of the child she was babysitting had safety concerns .
“ It ’ s upsetting for me because it was an assault on my personal life — everything changed in my life , ” Hadac said , who added that `` community support has been beautiful . ''
Hadac and Sandoval later hosted an event called `` Chalk Out '' after the incident to encourage people to write messages of love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could result in a maximum fine of $ 1,000 or six months to a year in jail .

A Chicago man and woman were charged with misdemeanor counts of battery after allegedly attacking two women who wrote "Biden 2020" in chalk on a city sidewalk.
Chicago police confirmed to the Washington Examiner that Lorena Petani, 64, and Lucio Zapata, 21, were the suspects who took part in the incident on Nov. 4 in the Chicago Women's Park & Garden.
Petani faces one count of battery, while Zapata faces two counts. Both are scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 9. They are currently not in police custody. According to Block Club Chicago, which first reported the incident, Zapata and Petani are mother and son.
In the video of the incident posted to social media, a woman is seen approaching two 19-year-old women, Alexis Hadac and Haylee Sandoval, after finding their chalk message "insulting."
"Are we gonna have a war of Trump and cops versus BLM in a public park?” the woman asked, adding, “My husband is a cop too.”
“This is my park,” she said. “I doubt you pay as much as me [in taxes].”
The woman can be seen pushing one of the women to the ground in the video. Police said a man later pushed the other victim and punched her.
One of the victims, Alexis Hadac, told Fox 32 shortly after the incident that she and her friend were babysitting a couple of children, visited the park, found chalk, and decided to write the message.
Hadac said that she suffered a mild concussion and her friend had trouble walking after the brawl. She was reportedly fired from her babysitting job because of the attention the incident received. Hadac told Block Club Chicago that the mother of the child she was babysitting had safety concerns.
“It’s upsetting for me because it was an assault on my personal life — everything changed in my life,” Hadac said, who added that "community support has been beautiful."
Hadac and Sandoval later hosted an event called "Chalk Out" after the incident to encourage people to write messages of love.
In Illinois, a misdemeanor charge could result in a maximum fine of $1,000 or six months to a year in jail.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-11-17--Jill Biden staffs up East Wing, signaling shift from Melania Trump

Jill Biden , the president-elect 's wife , has picked her chief of staff , foreshadowing a busier East Wing than that of first lady Melania Trump .
Julissa Reynoso Pantaleon will lead Biden 's agenda , which she has long said would prioritize education and cancer research .
Along with her first lady duties , Biden will juggle a college English and writing post , making her the first presidential wife to hold a day job while her husband is serving .
Anthony Bernal will help Biden , 69 , and Pantaleon as a senior adviser .
As second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Community College , pushing for two years of tuition-free community college , and worked with first lady Michelle Obama to support military families .
Biden 's interests in cancer research and military families are inspired by her stepson Beau , who died of glioblastoma in 2015 at the age of 46 after serving in Iraq for a year .
President-elect Joe Biden also named several key staff members as the presumptive first couple prepare to move into the White House on Jan. 20 .
Dana Remus will be White House counsel after joining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to represent Biden , 77 , against President Trump 's complaints regarding the election .
She previously was former President Barack Obama 's deputy White House counsel for ethics .
Steve Ricchetti , Biden 's former chief of staff and campaign chairman , and Mike Donilon , a longtime confidant , will continue in the president-elect 's inner circle .
Ricchetti will be counselor to the 46th president , and Donilon will be a senior adviser .
Joining already-announced White House chief of staff Ron Klain , reported deputy chief of staff Jen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cedric Richmond will be Julie Rodriguez as the director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Annie Tomasini as the director of Oval Office operations .
`` I am not leaving the people of Louisiana .
I am not leaving the people of the 2nd Congressional District .
I am New Orleans , through and through .
I bleed black and gold , '' the former Congressional Black Caucus chairman said Tuesday .
Trump has had a relatively low profile as first lady , focusing on her `` Be Best '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has declined to concede after multiple outlets called the election for Biden on Nov. 7 .
Neither of them have contacted their apparent successors .

Jill Biden, the president-elect's wife, has picked her chief of staff, foreshadowing a busier East Wing than that of first lady Melania Trump.
Julissa Reynoso Pantaleon will lead Biden's agenda, which she has long said would prioritize education and cancer research. Along with her first lady duties, Biden will juggle a college English and writing post, making her the first presidential wife to hold a day job while her husband is serving.
Anthony Bernal will help Biden, 69, and Pantaleon as a senior adviser.
As second lady, Biden taught at Northern Virginia Community College, pushing for two years of tuition-free community college, and worked with first lady Michelle Obama to support military families. Biden's interests in cancer research and military families are inspired by her stepson Beau, who died of glioblastoma in 2015 at the age of 46 after serving in Iraq for a year.
President-elect Joe Biden also named several key staff members as the presumptive first couple prepare to move into the White House on Jan. 20.
Dana Remus will be White House counsel after joining the campaign as chief counsel and working to represent Biden, 77, against President Trump's complaints regarding the election. She previously was former President Barack Obama's deputy White House counsel for ethics.
Steve Ricchetti, Biden's former chief of staff and campaign chairman, and Mike Donilon, a longtime confidant, will continue in the president-elect's inner circle. Ricchetti will be counselor to the 46th president, and Donilon will be a senior adviser.
Joining already-announced White House chief of staff Ron Klain, reported deputy chief of staff Jen O'Malley Dillon, and public engagement director Cedric Richmond will be Julie Rodriguez as the director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Annie Tomasini as the director of Oval Office operations.
Richmond's appointment will trigger a special election in Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District.
"I am not leaving the people of Louisiana. I am not leaving the people of the 2nd Congressional District. I am New Orleans, through and through. I bleed black and gold," the former Congressional Black Caucus chairman said Tuesday.
Trump has had a relatively low profile as first lady, focusing on her "Be Best" initiative to combat cyberbullying. Her husband has declined to concede after multiple outlets called the election for Biden on Nov. 7. Neither of them have contacted their apparent successors.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-11-18--Republicans focus on tightening election laws as lawsuits fizzle

The many election lawsuits and legal challenges from President Trump ’ s campaign have mostly failed to alter election processes substantially , either in terms of the 2020 race or future contests .
That leaves the burden to address complaints about mail-in voting , ballot harvesting , and other election administration issues with state and federal lawmakers , some of whom are already making moves to change election statutes .
The first step for many state legislators : Learn the details of elections administration before proposing any alterations .
“ Most people do not understand the electoral process and all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colleagues , ” Wisconsin state Sen. Kathy Bernier told the Washington Examiner .
Bernier , a Republican who was a county clerk for over 12 years and has been chairwoman of the Wisconsin Senate campaign and elections committee for eight years , said that her colleagues concerned about election administration have requested a meeting to go over the processes .
Lawmakers in Pennsylvania and have called for audits and reviews of the election processes there , as well .
Congress may save state officials from having to make substantial decisions about election laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday introduced the Protect Election Integrity Act of 2020 in the House , a bill to that of Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley ’ s in the Senate , that seeks to use federal funding to tighten election security , increase transparency , and streamline the election processes .
`` We really firmly believe that there 's going to have to be some type of federal oversight when you look at what 's happened , '' Kelly told the Washington Examiner in an interview Tuesday .
The bill would require states that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ban “ ballot harvesting ” by allowing only designated election officials , Postal Service employees , or a family member or caregiver to return mail-in or absentee ballots .
Another measure would require round-the-clock video surveillance monitoring of absentee ballot drop boxes .
One ballot drop box in Boston was .
Two men in Florida were charged with from a drop box .
Other measures in the bill aim to streamline the ballot counting process in order to make results known sooner .
Elections officials would have to reveal their staffing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States would also be required to process absentee and mail-in ballots as soon as they are received — preventing the situation seen in Pennsylvania , where officials were legally prohibited from processing ballots until the day of the election , delaying the reporting of results .
With Democrats having a hold on the House majority , Kelly ca n't pass the bill without bipartisan support .
But despite those steep odds , it 's his constituents that prompted him to introduce the bill .
`` It 's hard to be in the town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' asking him about the election , Kelly said .
`` People come up , they say , 'What are you guys going to do about this ?
I mean , I ca n't believe this is happening . '
'' Don ’ t expect mail-in or absentee voting to be significantly scaled back when it comes to state-level actions .
Many of the states that changed election laws to allow no-excuse , absentee-by-mail voting did so well before the coronavirus pandemic hit .
“ I have not heard once one person utter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rid of absentee voting , aka early voting , ” said Brenier , the Wisconsin state senator .
“ We do want to streamline the process , ” she added , including by codifying drop boxes for ballots .
In Nevada , where Democratic lawmakers opted to mail a ballot to every voter on the rolls , Republicans are the minority in the state Legislature and have little power to change the law .
And while Republicans have legislative power in Wisconsin , Michigan , and Pennsylvania , the Democratic governors there can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gretchen Whitmer already vetoed one Republican measure to strengthen election fraud penalties .
In response to Michigan 's Democratic secretary of state mailing absentee ballot applications to every voter on file , Michigan state Sen. Kevin Daley a bill that made fraudulently completing an absentee ballot application on behalf of someone else a felony .
Daley told the Washington Examiner that he might reintroduce the bill again in the next legislative session and that he and his colleagues are still going through the results of this election before settling on specific measures .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fair and trusted election , we 've lost our country , ” Daley said .
“ We have to make sure that we can verify and prove that there has been a clear , clean election placed , or people will lose faith in our country , and I 'm afraid we 're in serious problems going forward.
” The outstanding lawsuits hamper state lawmakers ’ ability to propose specific changes in the aftermath of the election because of the possibility that courts determine some processes to be improper .
Republican legislators mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courts say and consider any changes after election results are certified and official .

The many election lawsuits and legal challenges from President Trump’s campaign have mostly failed to alter election processes substantially, either in terms of the 2020 race or future contests.
That leaves the burden to address complaints about mail-in voting, ballot harvesting, and other election administration issues with state and federal lawmakers, some of whom are already making moves to change election statutes.
The first step for many state legislators: Learn the details of elections administration before proposing any alterations.
“Most people do not understand the electoral process and all that goes into it, including my colleagues,” Wisconsin state Sen. Kathy Bernier told the Washington Examiner.
Bernier, a Republican who was a county clerk for over 12 years and has been chairwoman of the Wisconsin Senate campaign and elections committee for eight years, said that her colleagues concerned about election administration have requested a meeting to go over the processes.
Lawmakers in Pennsylvania and Arizona have called for audits and reviews of the election processes there, as well.
Congress may save state officials from having to make substantial decisions about election laws themselves.
Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Mike Kelly on Tuesday introduced the Protect Election Integrity Act of 2020 in the House, a companion bill to that of Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley’s in the Senate, that seeks to use federal funding to tighten election security, increase transparency, and streamline the election processes.
"We really firmly believe that there's going to have to be some type of federal oversight when you look at what's happened," Kelly told the Washington Examiner in an interview Tuesday.
The bill would require states that receive federal funds to administer their elections to ban “ballot harvesting” by allowing only designated election officials, Postal Service employees, or a family member or caregiver to return mail-in or absentee ballots. Another measure would require round-the-clock video surveillance monitoring of absentee ballot drop boxes. One ballot drop box in Boston was set on fire . Two men in Florida were charged with stealing ballots from a drop box.
Other measures in the bill aim to streamline the ballot counting process in order to make results known sooner. Elections officials would have to reveal their staffing and election plans prior to Election Day. States would also be required to process absentee and mail-in ballots as soon as they are received — preventing the situation seen in Pennsylvania, where officials were legally prohibited from processing ballots until the day of the election, delaying the reporting of results.
With Democrats having a hold on the House majority, Kelly can't pass the bill without bipartisan support. But despite those steep odds, it's his constituents that prompted him to introduce the bill.
"It's hard to be in the town that I live in without seeing people" asking him about the election, Kelly said. "People come up, they say, 'What are you guys going to do about this? I mean, I can't believe this is happening.'"
Don’t expect mail-in or absentee voting to be significantly scaled back when it comes to state-level actions. Many of the states that changed election laws to allow no-excuse, absentee-by-mail voting did so well before the coronavirus pandemic hit.
“I have not heard once one person utter the words that we got to get rid of absentee voting, aka early voting,” said Brenier, the Wisconsin state senator. “We do want to streamline the process,” she added, including by codifying drop boxes for ballots.
In Nevada, where Democratic lawmakers opted to mail a ballot to every voter on the rolls, Republicans are the minority in the state Legislature and have little power to change the law. And while Republicans have legislative power in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, the Democratic governors there can veto substantial changes.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer already vetoed one Republican measure to strengthen election fraud penalties. In response to Michigan's Democratic secretary of state mailing absentee ballot applications to every voter on file, Michigan state Sen. Kevin Daley proposed a bill that made fraudulently completing an absentee ballot application on behalf of someone else a felony.
Daley told the Washington Examiner that he might reintroduce the bill again in the next legislative session and that he and his colleagues are still going through the results of this election before settling on specific measures.
“If we don't have a fair and trusted election, we've lost our country,” Daley said. “We have to make sure that we can verify and prove that there has been a clear, clean election placed, or people will lose faith in our country, and I'm afraid we're in serious problems going forward.”
The outstanding lawsuits hamper state lawmakers’ ability to propose specific changes in the aftermath of the election because of the possibility that courts determine some processes to be improper. Republican legislators mostly plan to wait and see what the courts say and consider any changes after election results are certified and official.