The refusal of Donald Trump’s administration to admit his election defeat has left president-elect Joe Biden unable to access a raft of national security information, the Democrat has confirmed.
Four days after Pennsylvania was called in Biden’s favour, handing him victory over Trump, General Services Administration chief Emily Murphy had yet to sign the letter of “ascertainment”.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Biden is also not receiving the President’s Daily Brief (PDB), a collection of high-level intelligence that is circulated among senior government officials. “Trump could authorise that with a word,” the broadcaster adds, “but he has not done so.”
The briefings are normally sent to the president-elect to aid the transition to power, with The New York Times describing it as “the most important pipeline for them to learn about the threats facing the United States”.
Shrugging off the briefings block during a news conference yesterday, the president-elect said: “Obviously, the PDB would be useful but it’s not necessary. I’m not the sitting president now.
“Access to classified information is useful, but I’m not in a position to make any decisions on these issues anyway. It would be nice to have it but it’s not critical.”
Biden was less forgiving of Trump’s failure to concede the election, however, describing this refusal as “an embarrassment”.
“The only thing that, how can I say this tactfully, I think it will not help the president’s legacy,” he added.
-
Does Reform have a Russia problem?Talking Point Nigel Farage is ‘in bed with Putin’, claims Rachel Reeves, after party’s former leader in Wales pleaded guilty to taking bribes from the Kremlin
-
Five key questions about the Gaza peace dealThe Explainer Many ‘unresolved hurdles’ remain before Donald Trump’s 20-point plan can get the go-ahead
-
See the Northern Lights from these bucket list destinationsThe Week Recommends The dazzling displays can be spotted across Iceland, Sweden and parts of Canada
-
Five key questions about the Gaza peace deal
The Explainer Many ‘unresolved hurdles’ remain before Donald Trump’s 20-point plan can get the go-ahead
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in OregonSpeed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Russia: already at war with Europe?Talking Point As Kremlin begins ‘cranking up attacks’ on Ukraine’s European allies, questions about future action remain unanswered
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartelsspeed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feudSpeed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
‘This isn’t just semantics’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Miami Freedom Tower’s MAGA library squeezeTHE EXPLAINER Plans to place Donald Trump’s presidential library next to an iconic symbol of Florida’s Cuban immigrant community has South Florida divided
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protestersSpeed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
