- Title: Stein sues for recount in Pennsylvania, applauds Michigan judge's decision
- Date: 5th December 2016
- Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 5, 2016) (REUTERS) GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE JILL STEIN BEING INTRODUCED AND WALKING UP TO MICROPHONE AT NEWS CONFERENCE ACROSS FROM TRUMP TOWER VARIOUS OF MEDIA AND SIGNS BEING HELD UP AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) JILL STEIN, GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE FOR U.S. PRESIDENT, SAYING: "So, to make a long story short, it's clear that the fix was against a verified vote in the State of Pennsylvania. So we are not moving to federal court to ask the court to please support and stand up for our constitutional right to vote as expressed in the decision last night by the Michigan judge." MEDIA AND PEOPLE HOLDING SIGNS (SOUNDBITE) (English) JILL STEIN, GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE FOR U.S. PRESIDENT, SAYING: "We're celebrating today a judicial decision last night in Michigan by judge Mark Goldsmith who affirmed in his decision that this recount advances our fundamental right to vote and election fairness and accuracy and that these things are the bedrock of our democracy." SIGNS BEING HELD STEIN LISTENING TO QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) JILL STEIN, GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE FOR U.S. PRESIDENT, SAYING: "So once again we urge Donald Trump to look at the facts, not to make up the facts and in fact if he takes a look at our website you will see that ever dollar raised is actually going into a segregated and dedicated recount account." 'EVERY VOTE COUNTS' SIGN (SOUNDBITE) (English) JILL STEIN, GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE FOR U.S. PRESIDENT, SAYING: "So we are here to assure Donald Trump that there is nothing to be afraid of. If you believe in democracy, if you believe in the credibility of your victory, put down your arms; end your bureaucratic obstruction; end your intimidation and join we the people of America who are calling for a democracy that serves all of us and elections that we can trust." MEDIA AND SIGNS BEING HELD UP PRESS CONFERENCE ENDS
- Embargoed: 20th December 2016 16:53
- Keywords: Jill Stein election vote recount Trump Clinton
- Location: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- City: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA0015BLZ2H3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:+++PLEASE NOTE: LIVEU QUALITY+++
Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein pressed her case on Monday (December 5) for recounts of presidential ballots in three U.S. states and locked horns with President-elect Donald Trump over her reasons for demanding them.
Stein sued Pennsylvania election officials in federal court, demanding a statewide recount hours after a federal judge in Michigan ordered a recount to begin there without delay. In Wisconsin, a recount began last week at Stein's request.
Even if all three recounts move forward, they are extremely unlikely to change the outcome of the Nov. 8 presidential election in which the three historically Democratic states helped to seal a victory for Trump, a Republican.
On Sunday, Trump proclaimed Stein's effort a failure and questioned her motives, saying on Twitter: "Just a Stein scam to raise money!"
At a news conference on Monday across the street from Trump Tower in Manhattan, Stein said every dollar she raises for the recount is going to a dedicated account for that purpose. She has raised $7.2 million, according to her website.
"We urge Donald Trump to look at the facts, not to make up the facts," Stein said.
Stein said her recount push in three "Rust Belt" states was not meant to change the outcome of the election, but that she and others have concerns about the integrity of the voting systems in three states.
Trump and his supporters have asked to end the recounts.
"We are here to assure Donald Trump that there is nothing to be afraid of," Stein said. "If you believe in democracy, if you believe in the credibility of your victory, put down your arms, end your bureaucratic obstruction."
Some voting machines in Pennsylvania lack a paper trail, making them vulnerable to hacking or other problems, she said.
Stein took about 1 percent of the popular vote, far behind Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton. She won no votes in the Electoral College, the 538-person body chosen state-by-state that actually selects the president.
Trump won a projected 306 electoral votes and is scheduled to be sworn in on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20.
Federal law requires states to resolve disputes over the appointment of electors by Dec. 13, adding pressure on Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to wrap up any recounts.
An initial request by Stein for a recount in Pennsylvania failed on Saturday after a state judge ordered her campaign to post a $1 million bond. A federal lawsuit was her next best option, she said.
"It's clear that the fix was against a verified vote in the State of Pennsylvania. So we are not moving to federal court to ask the court to please support and stand up for our constitutional right to vote as expressed in the decision last night by the Michigan judge," said Stein.
A spokeswoman for Pennsylvania election officials said they would not comment on pending litigation.
In Michigan, the state laid out a schedule for recounting presidential ballots beginning on Monday after a federal judge ordered a recount to begin at 12 p.m. ET (1700 GMT) and directed that the state complete the process by Dec. 13.
U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith issued the written order early on Monday after a Sunday night hearing in federal court in the Eastern District of Michigan.
Goldsmith ordered that, once started, the recount "must continue until further order of this court." The state had planned to wait until Wednesday to begin the recount.
In his ruling, Goldsmith wrote that "budgetary concerns are not sufficiently significant to risk the disenfranchisement of Michigan's nearly 5 million voters."
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, a Republican, filed a lawsuit on Friday to halt the requested recount in the state, which Trump won with a margin of roughly 10,700 votes. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
