FEC commissioner to Trump: 'No. You don't have the power to move the election'
Trump does not have authority to delay elections.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
By Justin Wise Tweet Share More
Federal Election Commission (FEC) Commissioner Ellen Weintraub flatly stated on Thursday that the executive branch does not have the power to delay a presidential election after President TrumpDonald John TrumpGovernors' approval ratings drop as COVID-19 cases mount Gohmert says he will take hydroxychloroquine as COVID-19 treatmentVirginia governor, senators request CDC aid with coronavirus outbreak at immigrant detention facilityMORE stirred an uproar by raising the idea in an early morning tweet.
"No, Mr. President. No," Weintraub said in a statement shared on Twitter. "You don't have the power to move the election. Nor should it be moved."
"States and localities are asking you and Congress for funds so they can properly run the safe and secure elections all Americans want," she added. "Why don't you work on that?"
No, Mr. President. No. You don't have the power to move the election. Nor should it be moved. States and localities are asking you and Congress for funds so they can properly run the safe and secure elections all Americans want. Why don't you work on that? — Ellen L Weintraub (@EllenLWeintraub) July 30, 2020
Trump does not have the power to unilaterally to delay elections, but he suggested doing so in a tweet that spread unsubstantiated claims that the wider use of mail-in voting due to the coronavirus pandemic would result in the most "INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history."
"It will be a great embarrassment to the USA," Trump, who is trailing presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe BidenJoe BidenTimeline for GOP's Obama probe report slips as chairman eyes subpoenasHillicon Valley: House panel grills tech CEOs during much anticipated antitrust hearing | TikTok to make code public as it pushes back against 'misinformation' | House Intel panel expands access to foreign disinformation evidenceEditorial board of major Texas newspaper warns Trump is losing support due to pandemicMORE in national polls, said. "Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???"
The tweet, which came as parts of the U.S. experience sustained rises in coronavirus cases, marked the first time the president has publicly suggested delaying the election. Democrats, including Biden, have voiced fears in the past that Trump would attempt to take such a step.
Biden predicted in April that Trump would try to delay the election, which the president's reelection campaign dismissed at the time as a "conspiracy theory."
After Trump's tweet on Thursday morning, Republican and Democratic lawmakers quickly noted that Congress holds authority when it comes to elections. Rep. Adam KinzingerAdam Daniel KinzingerTrump takes victory lap after Tuberville defeats SessionsPentagon: 'No corroborating evidence' yet to validate troop bounty allegationsOvernight Defense: Lawmakers demand answers on reported Russian bounties for US troops deaths in Afghanistan | Defense bill amendments target Germany withdrawal, Pentagon program giving weapons to policeMORE (R-Ill.) said that he'd oppose any attempts to delay November's election. Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiHouse GOP Steering Committee selects four members for new committee positionsPelosi huddles with chairmen on surprise billing but deal elusiveHillicon Valley: House panel grills tech CEOs during much anticipated antitrust hearing | TikTok to make code public as it pushes back against 'misinformation' | House Intel panel expands access to foreign disinformation evidenceMORE (D-Calif.) also pointed to Article II of the Constitution, which says that "Congress may determine the Time of choosing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States."
Trump's tweet comes as he ramps up his attacks on mail-in voting, despite a lack of evidence that it leads to widespread voter fraud. Trump has repeatedly claimed that the moves to expand voting opportunities in some states put Republicans at a disadvantage.
Weintraub, who formerly served as the FEC chairwoman, rebutted many of the president's claims in an expansive, 60-plus tweet thread in late May focused on how mail-in voting is conducted throughout the nation.
"There's simply no basis for the conspiracy theory that voting by mail causes fraud. None," Weintraub said at the time, citing several reports on the practice.
"The *real* fraud would be if U.S. citizens were deterred from voting and our government reflected the consent of fewer of the governed," she added. "True leaders speak truth. Especially in an election season plagued by pandemic, economic uncertainty, and death, the American people deserve nothing less than the truth from our leaders."
Five states — Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Utah and Washington — currently hold elections almost entirely by mail. Meanwhile, 33 states and the District of Columbia give voters the option. Other states allow voting by mail only in certain circumstances, though the coronavirus outbreak has prompted further discussion about relaxing some of those restrictions.
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Trump does not understand limits to his authority!
Trump's fans do not understand Abuse Of Power...
With the current Republican held Senate, he has no limit since there are no consequences.
Then be there consequences for gop Senators...
The Republican Senate leadership is pretty much telling Trump to pound sand. They know how bad it sounds.
When? At most they offer Trump an apologetic denial for his more outrageous and illegal demands.
I'm expect there would be zero support for a thing like this. If Trump ever seriously tried to delay the election, I have to believe that would sink him for sure.
Looks like he's sunk. This is news tonight. From the co-founder of The Federalist Society!
"I am frankly appalled by the president's recent tweet seeking to postpone the November election. Until recently, I had taken as political hyperbole the Democrats' assertion that President Trump is a fascist...
... this latest tweet is fascistic and is itself grounds for the president's immediate impeachment again by the House of Representatives and his removal from office by the Senate"
See, that's going too far. He has taken no steps to postpone elections. Having a dumb idea is not grounds for impeachment. Shit like this is a good example of the overreactions we see in politics. I think Trump's suggestion is repugnant, but it's not an impeachable offense.
I don't think impeachment is really the point. The point I take from it is that if an arch-conservative such as the co-founder of the Federalist Society now finds Trump to be fascistic, his support is dwindling. His suggestion is indeed repugnant.