A federal judge just effectively terminated a recount of the Nov. 8 today on a presidential election that started three days ago yet failed to reveal fraud or significantly alter results. –Detroit News
Here’s how the ruling went down:
Start Counting. Keep Counting. Stop Counting? Michigan's election recount hearing set to start in Detroit. Will judge change course?
— Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016
Hallroom chatter in Michigan recount: Some think the judge has been cornered & he’ll have to end the recount; some say he’ll keep pushing.
U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith is ready to take the bench in #Michiganrecount. And we are … OFF!
— Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016
Michigan recount Schuette’s lawyer John Bursch up first: 6th circuit couldn’t have been more clear, this is case about michigan election law
Schuette lawyer talking about Bush v Gore case; says US Supreme Ct. clear on this: federal courts must defer to state in election matters.
Judge just asked AG atty John Bursch: has the Mich. Supreme Court ruled on this? his answer: not yet. state high court hasn’t heard case.
AG atty Bursch: “This is the law of Michigan, there is no dispute about that.” Unless, of course, Stein appeals to MI Supreme Ct.
AG atty Bursch shifts to Jill Stein, and whether she’s an “aggrieved party.” Appeals ct. says no, so do Republicans & Trump.
AG atty Bursch: purpose of recount law is to change the outcome of the election. Judge: ‘how do we know that?’
AG atty Bursch: state's top election official says goal of recount law is to change outcome, not to see if there's a problem;
— Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016
AG atty Bursch: court has already held that it's not right to make taxpayers pay millions for a recount that's not justified
— Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016
AG atty Bursch: Stein’s “entire purpose is to audit the Michigan system.” That’s not what our recount law is for.
Michigan recount hearing: Judge: how do we know that Stein only got 1%; what if she got more but fraud took place?
Judge to AG atty: what if Stein got 20% of the vote; is that enough for her to say she was aggrieved?
MI Rep Party atty now up: the michigan courts have ruled, he says, urges judge to end the recount.
MI Rep Party Atty: State court has concluded: "it's very unlikely that 2 million mistakes have been made"
— Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016
Judge continues to press: is there any court case that says recounts must produce a change in the outcome in order for them to be allowed?
Michigan Rep. Atty: recounts should be used to figure out who should have won the election. “Aggrieved means someone who has been harmed”
Mich. Rep. Atty: Aggrieved does not apply to someone who came in 4th place. #Michiganrecount law is being misused by Jill Stein.
— Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016
“This candidate is not aggrieved in any sense of the word” Mich. Rep Atty says of Jill Stein; urged judge to dissolve ruling & end recount.
Pro-recount atty up: ” It’s quite possible that a recount (in Michigan) would reveal a winner.” Not Stein. she doesn’t expect that.
Pro-recount atty: Michigan recount law isn’t just about changing outcome; can also be used to show fraud in election system.
Judge Goldsmith discusses cost of recount to taxpayers. Asks Stein atty what she thinks of that? Answer:the law “explicitly” allows for that.
Stein atty notes #Michiganrecount battle not over. “the state court decision is not final.” going back to appeals court.
Judge asks Stein atty: What do you want now? I ordered immediate recount. What’s your issue now ? notes there’s no federal right to recount.
Stein atty: “There is no way of knowing whether fraud occurred without conducting the recount.”
Judge Goldsmith to Stein atty: Why are you coming to court now w hen you knew about the deficiencies beforehand?
— Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016
Judge Goldsmith to Stein atty: you could have addressed Michigan's vulnerable voting machines months ago. Why didn't you? why now?
— Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016
Judge to Stein atty: is there anything about the recount that will tell us whether there was cyber attack or if machinery malfunctioned?
Stein atty: the recount can raise clear flags about whether something went wrong, triggering a forensic audit.
Stein atty just ended. says Michigan law allows for recounts, and that it should be continued. AG atty is now up, in a rebuttal.
Judge Goldsmith asks about voting machine problems in Detroit; says he’s read about problems. AG atty says not as many as being reported.
AG atty: the court of appeals has spoken. there is no right for stein to have a recount. that’s the end of the story.
AG atty to Judge Goldsmith: you might be the 1st judge in history to order recount for a candidate who took 1% of the vote.
— Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016
Recount shows so far: 10 counties have been recounting; 66 total vote change between Clinton & Trump so far.
— Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016
Election lawyer: “I have not known of anyone to come in and say i believe the system has been compromised or hacked”
Stein atty: It is way to early to say whether any fraud can be ruled out.
Stein atty: Until the Michigan State Supreme Court weighs in, the recount must continue as ordered by the federal court.
MI AG atty: "dont' become the first federal court in the country to order a recount … for a candidate who lost by 2 million votes."
— Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016
MI AG atty seeks bond: it's costing $500,000 a day for recount. it's not right to impose that kind of "irreparable harm" on the citizens.
— Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016
Stein atty: Sec of state doesn’t want recount, so don’t trust $5 million cost or other numbers being thrown by folks who just don’t want it.
Stein atty: No bond should be set.
Judge Goldsmith orders recess for 20 minutes. he will issue a written order or rule from the bench: ‘I understand the time sensitivity’
Judge Goldsmith will issue a written opinion on whether to let Michigan presidential election recount continue, or end. Stay tuned.
— Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016