Tenn. Gov. Bill Haslam is one of 40 former officials who have signed a statement urging President Donald Trump’s administration to begin the transfer of power.TN Photo Services (File)Share:FacebookTwitterEmail
A group of 40 political leaders — including former Gov. Bill Haslam, former Sen. Bill Frist and former Congressman Zach Wamp — are calling on President Donald Trump to start the process of handing over power to President-elect Joe Biden. But the vast majority of Republicans in the state legislature are saying they stand “unequivocally” with the president as he continues to make unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud in several key states.
The National Council on Election Integrity, a bipartisan group that includes former elected leaders, cabinet officials and military leaders, issued a statement Thursday saying “the outcome of the presidential election is clear” and that it is time for the Trump administration to plan for a transition as required under federal law.
The group pointed to the last time a presidential race was contested — in 2000, when the candidates sparred over the results in Florida — as proof the nation’s security is at risk when the transition process is delayed.
“Sixteen years ago, the 9/11 Commission stressed how a truncated transition between the administrations of President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush created national security vulnerabilities,” the group says wrote. “We should not repeat that mistake. Planning and preparation for the transition must begin immediately.”
