MONDAY ELECTION UPDATES: After Biden win, McConnell says Trump OK to fight election
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UPDATE 2:45 P.M. Despite President-elect Joe Biden’s victory, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says President Donald Trump is “100% within his rights” to question election results and consider legal options.
The Republican leader says the process will play out and “reach its conclusion.” Trump has declined to concede the presidential race and is mounting legal fights, but there has been no indication or evidence of voter irregularities or fraud in the election.
McConnell’s comments were his first public remarks after Biden was declared the winner on Saturday.
Biden says US faces 'dark winter,' masks needed
UPDATE 11:30 A.M.: President-elect Joe Biden is warning the United States is “still facing a very dark winter” as he unveils plans for addressing COVID-19 pandemic.
Even as hopes of a vaccine lifted stocks, Biden said Monday another 200,000 lives could be lost before it is widely available. Biden implores Americans to “wear a mask.”
Biden says he would be guided by science in laying out the framework of a pandemic response, starting with members of a task force to prepare for his administration’s transition to overseeing it.
Trump faces calls to work with Biden team on transition
The team helping Joe Biden prepare for the White House and a nonpartisan institution are asking President Donald Trump to cooperate with an orderly transition of power, despite his false claims the election was stolen.
Those requests have thrust into the spotlight a little-known agency called the General Services Administration, which is tasked with formally beginning the transition from one administration to another based on all available facts. Biden adviser Jen Psaki pressed for the Trump-appointed head of the GSA to quickly recognize Biden as president-elect. A GSA official said that step had not been taken.
Biden on Monday announced details of a task force that will create a blueprint to try to control the coronavirus pandemic.
