It’s finally over — at least in Michigan. On Wednesday, a federal judge ended the hand recount of some 4.8 million ballots in Michigan, the Detroit Free Press reported. The order comes after a state court put an end to the effort by Green Party candidate Jill Stein.
According to the Detroit Free Press:
In his eight-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith said “there is no basis” for him to ignore a state court ruling that said the recount should never had started. He was referring to the Michigan Court of Appeals 3-0 ruling, which said that Green Party Candidate Jill Stein, who requested the recount, never had a shot at winning with her fourth-place finish and 1% of the vote, and therefore was not an aggrieved candidate.
Goldsmith’s ruling also bolstered some arguments that were repeatedly made by the Michigan Republican Party: that there was never any evidence that hacking or fraud occurred at the polls, and that Michigan’s voting system is so secure that not even the “Gremlins, Martians or Russian hackers” could tamper with it. That argument appeared to carry some weight with the judge.
“To date, plaintiffs have not presented evidence of tampering or mistake. Instead, they present speculative claims going to the vulnerability of the voting machinery — but not actual injury,” Goldsmith wrote, adding the potential for fraud is not enough to continue to allow the recount to proceed.
On the same day, Stein made the ridiculous claim that voting machines could be hacked by people walking around with floppy disks. She offered no evidence to back that claim up, however.
Goldsmith said that Stein raised “serious” issues, but added that a potential threat does not justify a recount.
But Stein’s lawyers say they’re not finished. The Free Press added:
Stein’s lawyers vowed an appeal, noting one has already been made with the Michigan Supreme Court.
Stein’s recount request questioned 75,000 ballots, on which Michigan voters did not vote for anyone for president. This was almost double the amount of Michigan ballots with no presidential votes in 2012, which raised suspicions, Stein’s lawyers said.
“We are deeply disappointed in Judge Goldsmith’s ruling today, which gives deference to partisan state judges in Michigan who are attempting to block the state’s recount simply because of the person who made the request, without regard for the integrity of Michigan’s electoral system,” Stein’s lawyers, Hayley Horowitz and Jessica Clarke said in a statement.
“The history of this country is one where federal courts step in to protect the constitutional voting rights of all Americans, especially when they are under attack in the states. Well today, they are under brutal attack. Backed by Michigan Republicans, Donald Trump — who himself has repeatedly alleged widespread voter fraud and a ‘rigged election’ — suddenly sees no need for a routine verification of the democratic process in Michigan. His efforts to suppress the vote count is a stunning about-face, even by Trump’s own standards.”
Oddly enough, the report says that Stein doesn’t expect to change the outcome of the election, but simply wants to test the integrity of voting systems.
Right.
It’s more likely she wants to raise money for the Green Party and delegitimize Donald Trump’s electoral victory.
Related:
- Jill Klein claims voting machines could be hacked by people walking around with floppy disks
- Bye bye: Michigan court stops recount, says Stein not an aggrieved candidate
- Report: Drunk, weepy, whiny Hillary joined recount to ‘lift her spirits’
- Hillary: Not accepting election results is a “threat to Democracy”
- It’s Over: Jill Stein Misses PA Deadline To File Recount
If you haven’t checked out and liked our Facebook page, please go here and do so.
And if you’re as concerned about Facebook censorship as we are, go here and order this new book:
