Nearly five dozen electors addressed DNI James Clapper by letter, asking for information on nonexistent Russian US election interference.
Others may join them. Only one was from a state Trump carried (Texas), all others from Hillary-won states – including 17 from California, six from New York and five from Massachusetts – meaning they’ll vote for her on Monday no matter whether DNI complies with their request or not, regardless of what information Clapper may or may not have.
Trump won 306 Electoral College votes to Hillary’s 232, her’s heavily concentrated in the northeast, mid-Atlantic and west coast. He won 30 states to her 20 – 270 EC votes needed to be elected.
It would take 37 electors, from states he won, to deny him their vote, thereby throwing the process to House members to elect the president.
Republicans control the body by a 241 to 194 seat margin – 218 votes needed for one of the top three candidates to emerge victorious.
Despite media created hysteria over alleged Russian electoral interference for Trump, it’s likely, but not certain, he’ll retain his triumph. Clearly, pro-Hillary forces want him denied.
In their letter, electors cited what never would hold up under close independent scrutiny, saying
“(t)he United States intelligence community…concluded with ‘high confidence’ that a foreign power, namely Russia, acted covertly to interfere in the presidential campaign with the intent of promoting Donald Trump’s candidacy.”
“During the campaign Russia actively attempted to influence the election outcome through cyber attacks on our political institutions and a comprehensive propaganda campaign coordinated through Wikileaks and other outlets.”
“Trump’s willingness to disregard conclusions made by the intelligence community and his continuing defense of Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin demand close scrutiny and deliberation from the Electoral College.”
These “serious concerns…must be addressed before we cast our votes.”
“The Electors require to know from the intelligence community whether there are ongoing investigations into ties between Donald Trump, his campaign or associates, and Russian government interference in the election, the scope of those investigations, how far those investigations may have reached, and who was involved in those investigations.”
“We further require a briefing on all investigative findings, as these matters directly impact the core factors in our deliberations of whether Mr. Trump is fit to serve as President of the United States.”
“Additionally, the Electors will separately require from Donald Trump conclusive evidence that he and his staff and advisors did not accept Russian interference, or otherwise collaborate during the campaign, and conclusive disavowal and repudiation of such collaboration and interference going forward.”
They want a negative impossible to prove, outrageous to request it.
What’s going on is unprecedented, the stuff you’d expect from banana republics, America on a fast track toward joining their ranks, already embodying most of their worst features.
Dumping Trump is a long shot at best, the attempt indicating he’ll continue getting a rough ride if he overcomes the current hysteria, taking office as president after all is said and done.
Looking ahead, perhaps the republic will never be the same again – deplorable depths reached I never could have imagined long ago.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected].
His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.” http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.
