Michigan legislators wooed by Trump in White House see no reason not to certify results

Donald Trump invited Republican state lawmakers from Michigan to the White House, though declined to say what they discussed

Credit: AP

Republican state lawmakers from Michigan whom Donald Trump summoned to the White House on Friday in an extraordinary effort to try to set aside Joe Biden’s victory, indicated they would certify the state’s results.

The president has baselessly cast doubt on the vote in the swing state of Michigan, which he lost to Mr Biden by approximately 150,000 votes and has waged a campaign to pressure Republicans in the state to back him in reversing the outcome. 

The Trump team is said to be resting its hopes on getting Republican-controlled legislatures in battleground states to set aside the results and declare the outgoing president the winner, following a stinging series of losses in the courts.

"We have not yet been made aware of any information that would change the outcome of the election in Michigan and as legislative leaders, we will follow the law and follow the normal process regarding Michigan’s electors," Mike Shirkey, Michigan Senate Majority Leader and Lee Chatfield, House of Representatives Speaker, said in a joint statement.

Michigan State Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey adjusts his protective face mask as he arrives to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House

Credit: Reuters

“The candidates who win the most votes win elections and Michigan’s electoral votes," they wrote. 

On Saturday, Ronna McDaniel, chair of the Republican National Committee, and Laura Cox, chairperson of the Michigan Republican Party, sent a letter to the Board of State Canvassers asking them not to certify Michigan’s election results at a Monday meeting. 

Instead they ask them to adjourn for 14 days and first audit the results from Wayne County, the state’s largest county, which includes Detroit.

Mr Biden beat Mr Trump in Wayne County by more than a 2-1 margin.

Mr Trump’s tactics have drawn rebuke from at least two Republican senators, with frequent critic Mitt Romney, of Utah, saying the president was trying "to subvert the will of the people."

Once the final states certify their results, which is expected to happen in the coming fortnight, it will become an all-but impossible feat to overturn the election.

Mr Trump, however, has so far refused to concede or allow an official transition to begin, as is customary.

Twitter confirmed it will transfer control of the @POTUS account to the Biden administration after the President-elect is inaugurated on January 20, regardless of whether Mr Trump leaves the White House.

Twitter will meet transition officials of Mr Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in the coming months to discuss the particulars of how the new administration will use the social media platform.