Bill Schuette, Michigan’s Republican attorney general, filed a lawsuit Friday on behalf of his state to stop a Democrat-backed effort to recount the results of the presidential election.
“Mich voters rejected Dr. Jill Stein’s candidacy and her refusal to accept verified results poses an expensive & a risky threat to MI taxpayers,” Schuette tweeted Friday of the Green Party nominee who has spearheaded the multi-state push for a recount.
“It is inexcusable for Stein to put MI voters at risk of paying millions and potentially losing their voice in the Elec College,” he said in another tweet.
Stein received roughly 50,000 votes in Michigan, amounting to 1.1 percent of support in the state. President-elect Trump won Michigan’s 16 electoral votes with 47.6 percent of the vote.
Backed by Hillary Clinton’s campaign, Stein is seeking a recount in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, all states that Trump won.
Critics have accused Stein of initiating a costly and needless process in order to exact political punishment on Trump, with no realistic expectation that the outcome of the race could change.
States are supposed to send certified election results to the Electoral College by Dec. 19 so electors can vote officially for the president. Legal challenges, such as Stein’s recount push, must be resolved by Dec. 13.
Today I am filing suit to stop @DrJillStein‘s frivolous, expensive recount request.
— Bill Schuette (@SchuetteOnDuty) December 2, 2016
It is inexcusable for Stein to put MI votes at risk of paying millions and potentially losing their voice in the Elec College.
— Bill Schuette (@SchuetteOnDuty) December 2, 2016
I have filed an emergency motion with the Mich Supreme Court to bypass the Court of Appeals to ensure a timely process.
— Bill Schuette (@SchuetteOnDuty) December 2, 2016
