‘Totally mystifying’: Pelosi slams ‘Trumpian’ federal office blocking Biden’s transition

Speaker blasts Trump coronavirus adviser for calling for violence over president’s election defeat

Speaker Nancy Pelosi slammed an obscure federal government office that has yet to unlock authorities that would allow President-elect Joe Biden access to reams of classified and other plans as part of a normal transition process.

The California Democrat was referring to the Government Services Administration (GSA), which is following an order from Donald Trump to block the Biden transition team from all of the typical abilities an incoming president would be granted, in order to be as ready as possible to take over after being sworn in. Mr Trump is claiming, despite a slew of federal courts through out his lawsuits, that there was a coordinated plot in key swing states by Democrats to “steal” what he calls a “rigged” election.

He and his campaign have yet to release any proof, which several judges have noted in tossing their challenges.

Notably, the speaker replied “yes” when asked if she sees the House taking on an expanded role in trying to foster a smooth transition process. 

But she did not elaborate.

The chamber is slated to convene on 6 January to certify the Electoral College vote.

President-elect Joe Biden, after winning Georgia following a hand recount, has well over the 270 electoral votes to become president on 20 January.

He leads Mr Trump 306-232, the same margin by which Mr Trump defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Mr Trump and his backers have claimed for four years his was a decisive — even historic — win. But now he claims Mr Biden did not take the election, though judges repeatedly have disagreed with his team’s complaints about a lack of GOP ballot-counting observers being allowed in vote-counting rooms, as well as other thin gripes.

Meantime, she also criticized one of Mr Trump’s coronavirus advisers, Scott Atlas, for a tweeting calling for violence over Mr Trump’s apparent loss.

When the speaker brought up that tweet, she blurted out: “Oh, my God.”