Charlie Crist urges officials to start presidential transition

crist
The head of the GSA, Emily Murphy, has yet to certify President-elect Joe Biden as the winner.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist has joined a growing list of politicians urging the General Service Administration to begin a peaceful presidential transition in response to the agency’s delay.

“A smooth and peaceful transition of power between presidential administrations is a hallmark of American democracy,” Crist said in a news release. “Every sitting President in modern American history has participated in this process to ensure the continuity of government, regardless of party affiliation.’

The GSA is the government agency responsible for upholding presidential transition. The head of the GSA, Emily Murphy, has yet to certify President-elect Joe Biden as the winner, despite the former Vice President crossing the 270 electoral vote mark more than 10 days ago.

By not declaring a winner, Murphy has stalled the launch of the official transition process.

The transition is also being halted by President Donald Trump’s administration, with officials saying they will not give Biden the classified presidential daily briefing on intelligence matters until the GSA makes Biden’s transition process official.

“The delay we are seeing from the GSA and the White House to begin this process is unprecedented,” Crist said. “We are in the middle of a global pandemic, and every day of delay is precious time lost. The current Administration has the opportunity to bring this country together and save countless lives in the months to come. It’s time to move the process of peacefully transitioning power forward.”

Crist is joined by a number of representatives from both parties calling for the GSA to take action. Naples Republican Rep. Francis Rooney wrote in an op-ed published Sunday by The Hill that Trump’s reluctance to leave quietly threatens American tradition and democracy’s reputation abroad and urges Trump to concede.

“By questioning the integrity of the 2020 election without reliable proof of wrongdoing we undermine the principles of free and fair elections and leave our country distracted and exposed to our enemies,” Rooney said in the op-ed.

Kelly Hayes

Kelly Hayes studied journalism and political science at the University of Florida. Kelly was born and raised in Tampa Bay. A recent graduate, she enjoys government and legal reporting. She has experience covering the Florida Legislature as well as local government, and is a proud Alligator alum. You can reach Kelly at [email protected].


2 comments

  • Cipher This

    November 19, 2020 at 11:04 am

    ““A smooth and peaceful transition of power between presidential administrations is a hallmark of American democracy,” Crist said….”

    Over and over again, I’m seeing these calls for “A smooth and peaceful transition of power”, and, almost to a person, no one is recognizing or admitting to what the Administration, prior to Trump’s Administration, perpetrated on President Trump and his Administration.
    PROTIP: It was odious…

    President Trump has every right, to every possible legal remedy, under Constitutional law, to contest this latest election, and to attempt to actually win this latest election by attempting to point out numerous issues that may or may not overturn the tentative election results as they currently stand.

    All this handwringing nonsense being foisted on the American people, by go-along-to-get-along politicians, needs to cease. Let the process play out. Let every State Governor take care of that State’s issues. Let the Federal Government continue to operate, as it is operating just fine on a day by day basis, and may the rule of law and the Constitution prevail over all…

  • James Robert Miles

    November 19, 2020 at 5:55 pm

    So far Trump is losing just about every case he has started. His cases mostly have NO MERIT and are being laughed out of court! This election dispute nonsense is all part of Trump’s plan to start a civil war. He claimed even before the first vote was cast that if he didn’t win than the election is fixed! His sucker and loser followers can’t accept that the U.S. is not interested in becoming a fascist state, at least not yet! To continue to support this whiny loser is to be against everything that the U.S. once (before Trump) stood for. Trump needs a diaper change and a very long stay in a mental institution as do most of his follower’s. The sooner Trump is GONE the sooner America can get back to some degree of normalcy!

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