Trump Administration Clears Way for Biden Transition Process to Begin

In a letter from Emily Murphy, head of the GSA, the Trump administration says it is ready to begin the transition process for President-elect Joe Biden.

Donald Trump (R) presides over a meeting about immigration.
Getty

Image via Getty/Chip Somodevilla

Donald Trump (R) presides over a meeting about immigration.

President-elect Joe Biden was informed by the General Services Administration Monday that the Trump administration is ready to move forward with the formal transition process, nearly three weeks after Biden was declared the winner in the 2020 presidential election. 

#Breaking: GSA’s Emily Murphy signs off and says the transition can begin, per @KristenhCNN pic.twitter.com/S6YKKQBrQR

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) November 23, 2020

"Please know that I came to my decision independently, based on the law and available facts," GSA chief Emily Murphy said in a letter. "I was never directly or indirectly pressured by any Executive Branch official—including those who work at the White House or GSA—with regard to the substance or timing of my decision." 

Murphy was appointed head of the GSA by Trump in 2017. 

Ever since Biden was declared the president-elect by nearly all credible media outlets, Trump has explored every legal channel to contest the election results in battleground states. Even though his team's efforts have fallen short every time, he may have, as Barack Obama warned, effectively manage to cast doubt over our democratic process by spewing baseless claims of voter fraud. 

As expected, Trump still refuses to formally concede but claims that he will begin the transition process "in the best interest of our Country," as well as for the well-being of Murphy, her family, and the employees at the GSA.

...fight, and I believe we will prevail! Nevertheless, in the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 23, 2020

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