Donald Trump finally ordered the transition to begin “in the interests of our country.”
Trump took to Twitter to announce that he had given CIA chief Emily Murphy permission to work with Joe Biden’s transition team.
“I would like to thank Emily Murphy at the Public Services Agency for her unwavering dedication and loyalty to our country,” the outgoing president tweeted.
“She was harassed, threatened, and mistreated – and I don’t want to see it happen to her, her family, or the GSA staff.
“Our cause is going strong, and we will continue to fight well, and I think we will win!
“However, for the sake of our country, I recommend that Emily and her team do what needs to be done regarding the initial protocols, and she asked my team to do the same.”
Biden’s transition team was informed that the White House was ready to begin the operation in a letter from Murphy.
The Democrats accused her of disrupting the federal government’s cooperation with the president-elect.
“I have not been subjected to direct or indirect pressure from any official in the executive branch – including those who work for the White House or the General Intelligence Agency – regarding the substance or timing of my decision,” Murphy wrote in the letter reported by CNN.
The General Services Administration was withholding federal funds from Biden’s transition team, in an unprecedented move.
The move from the White House came just hours after Michigan officially ratified its election results and days after Georgia did the same.
Pennsylvania is expected to ratify its results soon, giving the victory and the votes of the Electoral College in their state to Biden.
In recent days, a string of Republican senators, including Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rob Portman of Ohio, have turned on Trump and called for the transition to begin to ensure a smooth handover of power to Biden.
Biden’s team welcomed the government’s admission of winning the election.
“The GSA Director has confirmed that President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are the clear winners of the election, providing the incoming administration with the resources and support needed to conduct a smooth and peaceful transfer of power” – Harris Executive Director Johannes Abraham.
Today’s decision is a necessary step to begin addressing the challenges facing our nation, including controlling the epidemic and getting our economy back on track.
“This final decision is a final administrative procedure to officially initiate the transition process with federal agencies.
“In the coming days, transitional officials will begin meeting with federal officials to discuss the response to the pandemic, take full account of our national security interests, and gain a full understanding of the Trump administration’s efforts to empty government agencies.”
