A little-known Trump appointee is in charge of handing transition resources to Biden -- and she isn't

[Judi Lynn]

A little-known Trump appointee is in charge of handing transition resources to Biden — and she isn’t budging



President Trump gives two thumbs up to supporters as he departs after playing golf at the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Va., on Nov. 8. (Steve Helber/AP)

By
Lisa Rein,
Jonathan O'Connell and
Josh Dawsey
November 8, 2020 at 7:09 p.m. CST

A Trump administration appointee is refusing to sign a letter allowing President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team to formally begin its work this week, in another sign the incumbent president has not acknowledged Biden’s victory and could disrupt the transfer of power.

The administrator of the General Services Administration, the low-profile agency in charge of federal buildings, has a little-known role when a new president is elected: to sign paperwork officially turning over millions of dollars, as well as give access to government officials, office space in agencies and equipment authorized for the taxpayer-funded transition teams of the winner.

It amounts to a formal declaration by the federal government, outside of the media, of the winner of the presidential race.

But by Sunday evening, almost 36 hours after media outlets projected Biden as the winner, GSA Administrator Emily Murphy had written no such letter. And the Trump administration, in keeping with the president’s failure to concede the election, has no immediate plans to sign one. This could lead to the first transition delay in modern history, except in 2000, when the Supreme Court decided a recount dispute between Al Gore and George W. Bush in December.

“An ascertainment has not yet been made,” Pamela Pennington, a spokeswoman for GSA, said in an email, “and its Administrator will continue to abide by, and fulfill, all requirements under the law.”

More:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-gsa-letter-biden-transition/2020/11/08/07093acc-21e9-11eb-8672-c281c7a2c96e_story.html

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. oh my...

[Blue Owl]

2. Those stubby little thumb nubs are pointing the wrong way

[elleng]

3. I 'vote' for being quiet about this,

temporarily at least.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

11. :). Yes.

[JI7]

20. Why ?

[elleng]

22. Putting pressure on a Federal bureaucrat, to do her job,

not a good idea these days, considering trump's in WH (now,) pointing out to him some one and some thing to 'fuss' about is foolish, imo.

[Thekaspervote]

4. Looks like a good trump sycophant

[bottomofthehill]

5. Shocked that this bum kissing Hack will not do what is right

Once again, party over country. Why is anyone shocked. She let the Trump hotel lease stand in violation of the agreement.

Can’t wait till she is gone too. She too should never work in government again

[rickford66]

6. Take it to the Supreme Court

[unblock]

7. The sabotage of legitimately elected democratic government begins before inauguration even...

[matt819]

8. Only one question

In previous transitions how did gas administrators behave?

What’s remarkable about all of this, including the fact that only two Republican senators have congratulated bide, is that the are acting as if there are no consequences. Sure, there may be no legal consequences but there is karma and there will be a price to pay when the republicans are in the minority in the senate. Forgive? That’s a matter for the conscience and maybe the soul. Forget? No fucking way. Looking at you Lindsey and Ted and Rand snd Marco, et al.

[Hoyt]

9. Biden can likely handle transition without any help from trump.

[3Hotdogs]

13. Transition is one big "state of the union." It requires access to data given to the people

who are gonna run the departments, agencies bureaus and so forth. New administrators need to know what is being worked on, what problems exist and so forth.

It does require 'help' from Orange Anus.

[Hoyt]

14. Biden doesn't need introduction to foreign or domestic leaders. Data will still be

there and lower level staffers will make it available. Just about any policy changes made under trump should be reversed.

It’s not like Carter, Reagan, or Obama coming into office. For all practical purposes regarding transition, Biden is an incumbent.

[Hestia]

21. Exactly - there is only 75 days to transition and former secretaries and directors are bound by

law from ever contacting the former secretaries for help in any way whatsoever. They said it is like taking a 75 day calculus course and then patted on the head and being told good luck in the future. It is the bane and firewall between administrations. May be something else to be looked at as we are looking at other regulations.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

10. I really wouldn't say GSA is low profile in charge of buildings.

But they didn't say "just buildings"

[kurtcagle]

12. We are in the middle of a pandemic

Do you think that it matters much that people won't be able to meet in office buildings for transitioning? My only concern (and my real suspicion about the delay) is that the paper shredders are probably going full bore right now.

[benld74]

15. Email below

[e-mail]

[SCantiGOP]

16. This is what courts are for

You can get quick judgments when irreparable harm is being done.
And this involves national security.

[Solly Mack]

17. That top photo? What kind of fish is that?

[Cailinrain]

18. Judi Lynn:

Are you originally from SA TX?

[CousinIT]

19. [e-mail]

https://twitter.com/GSAEmily
[e-mail]

RAISE. HOLY. HELL.

Fill up that email inbox. Slam that Twitter timeline. SHE doesn't get to decide. WE. THE. PEOPLE. have decided. SHE needs to DO. HER. JOB.

[Aristus]

23. God,I was hoping I'd never see that ugly anus-mouth ever again...