The meeting comes one a day after Trump’s lawyers claimed the campaign is just beginning its fight.
A delegation of Republican state lawmakers from Michigan arrived in Washington on Friday as part of President Donald Trump’s Hail Mary attempt to usurp the results of the election he lost.
Trump has baselessly cast doubt on the presidential election in Michigan, which he lost by approximately 150,000 votes, and has waged a campaign over the past two weeks to pressure Republicans in the state to back him in reversing the outcome.
It is unclear how many GOP legislators will visit the White House, but the group is expected to include Michigan state Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield. Jason Wentworth, who is succeeding Chatfield as speaker, was also spotted at the D.C. airport.
Shirkey and state Sen. Tom Barrett were met by a throng of protesters and reporters outside Reagan National Airport upon their arrival Friday. The pair passed through the airport without talking to the media. Earlier this week Shirkey told Bridge Michigan, a nonprofit news outlet, that the idea the legislature would defy the voters is “not going to happen.”
It was initially unclear whether Chatfield will also be in attendance, but early in the afternoon he confirmed that he would accept the audience with the president.
“No matter the party, when you have an opportunity to meet with the President of the United States, of course you take it,” he tweeted. “I won’t apologize for that. In fact, I’m honored to speak with POTUS and proud to meet with him.”
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said during a Friday morning CNN interview that she received a text message from Chatfield that he had not yet committed to going to the White House,
“I know these individuals, who are people who respect the rule of law, and the rule of law is quite clear here,” Benson, a Democrat, said. “And the will of the voters is also quite clear.”
The meeting comes one a day after the Trump campaign dropped its final federal lawsuit in Michigan and falsely declared victory after local election officials briefly declined to certify the results in the county that includes Detroit. Those election officials quickly relented, voting unanimously to certify the county’s results.
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A delegation of Republican state lawmakers from Michigan have arrived in Washington as part of President Donald Trump’s Hail Mary attempt to usurp the results of the election he lost https://t.co/szdhj1MEkk
— POLITICO (@politico) November 20, 2020
Good piece from @Richard_Primus. Also worth considering POTUS liability under 18 USC 599, 600. As well as, of course, conspiracy law. https://t.co/W8MCWYndNT
— Benjamin Wittes (@benjaminwittes) November 20, 2020
This can get as loud as @LeeChatfield and @SenMikeShirkey would like. https://t.co/9oqft370Qy
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) November 20, 2020
Breaking News: After a White House meeting, Michigan lawmakers said they would honor the outcome of the state’s election process, another blow to President Trump. https://t.co/Fn1o2k3Kxw
— The New York Times (@nytimes) November 21, 2020
Trump is considering inviting Republican state legislators form Pennsylvania to the White House.
The people of Pennsylvania chose @JoeBiden. Remind @JakeCorman and @RepBenninghoff who they work for.
Call Jake Corman: 717-787-1377
Call Kerry Benningoff: 717-783-1918— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) November 21, 2020
They don't get credit for taking a meeting they know they shouldn't have taken just because they emerged from it unwilling to join the President in some last minute coup joyriding. https://t.co/5ae9o6yo2h
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) November 20, 2020
Notice there's not a word here about what the President said. https://t.co/JIQZwe8ftv
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) November 20, 2020
We are dealing with the President of the United States as if he is a dangerous, mentally ill person barricaded in his home. Which he is. Which he has been for four years. https://t.co/ZLAbldznnZ
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) November 20, 2020
If @SenMikeShirkey is remembered at all after today, it'll be as the guy who let Trump try to talk him into a coup.
He could have entered history as a profile in courage for refusing the meeting and standing up for the Constitution and the will of his voters – but he didn't. https://t.co/oPKeUuLCRZ
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) November 20, 2020
“Threats and intimation” really jumping out https://t.co/Ai1fjlQCh7
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 20, 2020
No, actually one doesn't.
Particularlys when it's in furtherance of a criminal enterprise in an effort to steal an election.
But you do you, boo.
P.S. He can't pardon state crimes. https://t.co/muE7AGnZqJ
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) November 20, 2020
Just FYI, after 48 hours of high-level conversations with Michigan Rs & Ds, it's clear the results will stand. Joe Biden will receive the state's 16 electoral votes. There is no alternative under MI statute. This Trump/Michigan GOP meeting is a sideshow on par w/ Rudy's presser.
— Tim Alberta (@TimAlberta) November 20, 2020
The very fact that they flew to DC means that they were indeed entertaining the idea. Something must have changed their minds. Probably the thought of jail time. Scumbags. They could have said no over the phone instead of wasting taxpayer money flying to DC and spreading COVID>
Michigan elected officials reject pressure from president to break the law so he can steal presidency. Pressuring lawmakers to break the law is a high crime committed in front of multiple witnesses. This is far worse than Watergate, another plot that failed. https://t.co/sEcltOTJbO
— stuart stevens (@stuartpstevens) November 21, 2020
So these folks are saying they used this meeting to press Trump for further COVID assistance and that somehow justifies the trip to DC to meet with him. Sorry, that doesn’t wash. If they were really looking for something from Trump and DC lawmakers, they could have done their negotiating by telephone. Or they could have waited till the new president is installed in January. Whether they went to DC with noble intentions or not, the trip does look bad.
Trump is now rumored to be seeking a meeting with PA lawmakers too. Hopefully, they will decline. Yesterday, the lieutenant governor and legislature leaders were on tv attempting to assure the public that they will abide by the certified results of the PA election as will the state’s EC members. We shall see. Certification of the results is due to take place Monday, but Trump and his surrogates are seeking to block that certification. If the results are not certified by the deadline, a predominantly Republican legislature will pick the electors who could then disregard the will of the people and vote for Trump.
I am hoping the powers in Harrisburg do the right thing. If they choose to disregard the will of the people in PA, there will be hell to pay.
Michigan GOP legislators appear at Trump Hotel after White House meeting https://t.co/B2PboFLPPB pic.twitter.com/YvPpRSo3Lf
— The Hill (@thehill) November 22, 2020
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