Election Archives

North Carolina Supreme Court passing for now on ruling if ballots in close race are valid

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina Supreme Court has dismissed a request by the trailing candidate in an close race for a seat on the court to rule now on whether well over 60,000 ballots should be removed from the tally. The justices on Wednesday ordered that the appeals of Republican Jefferson Griffin should be heard by the local trial court, as state law directs how appeals of protests rejected by the State Board of Elections should be handled. Current Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs leads Griffin by 734 votes. Riggs has recused herself from the court’s deliberations. It’s possible the case could ultimately return to the justices.… Continue Reading

Senate confirms Marco Rubio as secretary of state, giving Trump the first member of his Cabinet

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has confirmed Marco Rubio as secretary of state, giving President Donald Trump the first member of his Cabinet. The vote was unanimous. Senators went back to work Monday night in the Capitol after Trump’s inauguration. Rubio is among the least controversial of Trump’s nominees. Another pick, John Ratcliffe for CIA director, is also expected to have a swift vote, as soon as Tuesday. Action on other Trump Cabinet picks, including former combat veteran and Fox News host Pete Hegseth for defense secretary, is expected later in the week. It’s typical for the Senate to confirm some of a new president’s top Cabinet positions on Inauguration Day.… Continue Reading

Trump issues sweeping pardon of 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants, including rioters who attacked police

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he is pardoning about 1,500 of his supporters who have been charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack, using his sweeping clemency powers on his first day back in office to dismantle the largest investigation and prosecution in Justice Department history. The pardons were expected after Trump’s yearslong campaign to rewrite the history of the Jan. 6 attack that left more than 100 police officers injured and threatened the peaceful transfer of power. Trump says he is also commuting the sentences of six defendants, though the White House did not immediately provide further details.… Continue Reading

Trump, in his inaugural address, rips into the country’s past leaders and makes sweeping promises

By STEVE PEOPLES, NICHOLAS RICCARDI and BILL BARROW Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump’s second inaugural address sounded a lot like his first, with a sweeping indictment of the country he inherits and grand promises to fix its problems. Eight years ago, Trump described “American carnage” and promised to end it immediately. On Monday, he…… Continue Reading

Trump will issue executive orders to remake immigration policies but they will face challenges

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump will sign a series of executive orders designed to beef up security at the southern border by relying more on the U.S. military and redefining who gets to become an American. That’s according to an incoming White House official. But the actual execution of such a far-reaching immigration agenda is certain to face legal and logistical challenges. Many of the steps echoed previous ones during Trump’s first administration that also faced lawsuits. Others marked sweeping new strategies that are expected to elicit pushback in the courts. That includes an effort to end the constitutional right to automatic citizenship for anyone born in the U.S.… Continue Reading

Trump swearing-in will move inside Capitol Rotunda because of intense cold

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office from inside the Capitol Rotunda on Monday due to forecasts of intense cold weather.Inaugural planners are discussing the possibility of moving Trump’s swearing-in inside due to the extreme temperatures and icy winds, the person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the planning before a final announcement was made. The Rotunda is prepared as the inclement weather alternative for each inauguration and a final decision would be up to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies in consultation with the Trump, the person said.… Continue Reading

Bondi in her confirmation hearing says Trump was ‘targeted’ by Justice Department investigations

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, Pam Bondi, has insisted at her Senate confirmation hearing that Trump was targeted by years of investigations. Bondi pledges she would not “politicize” the Justice Department if confirmed as the country’s chief federal law enforcement officer. Bondi’s statements Wednesday echoed Trump’s claims the Justice Department had been weaponized against him. Democrats are concerned the Republican president-elect will look to use the agency’s law enforcement powers to exact retribution against his adversaries, including the investigators who investigated him. Bondi s a former Florida attorney general. Bondi says she would work to restore confidence and integrity to the Department of Justice.… Continue Reading

Special counsel Jack Smith has resigned after submitting his Trump report, Justice Department says

WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith has resigned from the Justice Department after submitting his investigative report on President-elect Donald Trump. It was an expected move that comes amid legal wrangling over how much of that document can be made public in the days ahead. The department disclosed Smith’s departure in a court filing Saturday, saying he had resigned one day earlier. The resignation, 10 days before Trump is inaugurated, follows the conclusion of two unsuccessful criminal prosecutions against Trump that were withdrawn following Trump’s White House win in November. At issue now is the fate of a two-volume report that Smith and his team had prepared about their twin investigations on Trump.… Continue Reading

Approaching winter weather cancels North Carolina inauguration ceremony

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s public inauguration ceremony scheduled for Saturday for new Gov. Josh Stein and other statewide elected officials has been canceled because of approaching winter weather. The state inaugural committee announced the decision Wednesday. It was supposed to be held on the grounds of the old Capitol building in Raleigh. Stein and Council of State members were to be sworn in publicly. A little snow with sleet and freezing rain is anticipated for Friday and Saturday. Stein and several Council of State members already have taken their official oaths in private or in small ceremonies. A block party for Saturday also was canceled but may be rescheduled.… Continue Reading

North Carolina justices block certification of election outcome in race for one of its own seats

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Supreme Court has blocked the certification of a November election result for one of the seats on its court so it can review legal arguments by a trailing candidate. The Republican-dominated court on Tuesday issued the temporary stay sought by GOP candidate Jefferson Griffin. He is trailing Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs by just 734 votes. Griffin wants over 60,000 ballots removed from the tally because he contends they were cast improperly. Without the stay, the state was prepared to issue a certificate for Riggs on Friday confirming her victory. The stay was issued after a federal judge said a state court should consider Griffin’s litigation.cc… Continue Reading