White House: Trump Team Still Hasn't Signed Transition Docs
Source: Daily Beast
Published Nov. 23 2024 5:53PM EST
A White House administration official says President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team still hasn’t signed the key documents needed to facilitate the transfer of power. Responding to questions from NBC reporter Monica Alba, President Joe Biden’s press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed Thursday that the president-elect’s representatives still have not completed the necessary memoranda of understanding (MOU) to begin the transition process.
“As you know, the president, President Biden, met with the president-elect to show that transition of power and obviously offering any assistance needed to make sure that happens in a way that is peaceful, obviously, and efficient,” said Jean-Pierre.
She added that their teams “continue to stay in touch,” and that Biden’s chief of staff Jeff Zients has “consistently reiterated” a desire to work together and ensure Trump’s people “have what they need.” “Those conversations continue, and we want this to go smoothly, and that’s what we’re trying to get to,” said Jean-Pierre.
In the absence of signed MOUs from Trump’s transition team, the current government cannot begin the process of providing briefings or security clearances for incoming officials.
Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/white-house-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-says-trump-team-still-hasnt-signed-transition-docs/
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al_liberal
(487 posts)And skip it.
Igel
(37,541 posts)It constrains and makes clear requirements for access to federal help and places floors on what must be provided. (Whether or not they're all that legally binding is a question because at some point there must be *some* coordination if it's wanted even if all the legal niceties aren't met, otherwise the law is shooting the government in the foot.)
The laws cannot be a constraint on what the incoming administration does, at least not on Trump/Vance, because if they win the EC vote they're to be inaugurated and that's pretty much that.
Whether the law's a constraint on the Senate ... Okay, that's laughable. The Senate will confirm or not. At that point, the transition's over.
If Trump appoints acting whatevers post-inauguration, then that's also post-transition.
I could guess Trump's motivation, but it would be just my guess.
Girard442
(6,887 posts)...yet his toadies, being toadies, are afraid to take any kind of initiative.
ShazzieB
(22,612 posts)There are also other scenarios I could believe, such as TSF refusing to cooperate because he think he's above such "petty details." But his being too mentally incompetent to actually do anything is believable, too.
jimfields33
(19,382 posts)Another hint he’s not president. The media is acting like he’s the president already. I’m sick of it. We don’t need to hear daily about trump. It’s bad enough at the end of January we have to hear about him for four years.
Where is the President Biden daily news?????
Tadpole Raisin
(1,977 posts)No matter what they do we are minimizing what that means - just playing along and trying to be agreeable.
ariadne0614
(2,174 posts)Biden, the media, and every Democrat with access to a microphone should be raising Hell, and explaining why this is a BFD to the public! It’s one more brazen signal that the orange thug has no intention of faithfully executing his duty to the law. What’s next? Will he replace “the Constitution of the United States” with his own name in the oath of office at the inaugural?
Tadpole Raisin
(1,977 posts)something that blows me away but I/we pay attention and the average American does not.
In The American President Lewis Rothschild said that Bob Rumson was the only one doing the talking because President Sheperd didn’t want to respond to lies. Yes it’s only a movie but have we learned nothing in the last few decades?
If TSF taught us anything it’s that you need to control the media. He didn’t do anything for the people but he did do that. He campaigned every month of every year and didn’t just kick it into high gear in the traditional time frames.
So to modify an old saying: No good deed goes unpunished, especially if no one knows about it.
It’s time to up the game or the country loses for good.
azureblue
(2,729 posts)IOW, no signature, no transition, Trump doesn't take office.
Tadpole Raisin
(1,977 posts)they can receive a security clearance and that the incoming administration can get intelligence briefings.
Biden can’t and won’t deny TSF from taking office on Jan 20 and once he does take office he can just order his nominees to receive security clearances just like he did in his first administration when members of his family failed the security review.
It’s all to hide damning information about his nominees from being revealed, to Congress in the confirmation hearings (which he also wants to circumvent) or to the public so he can have free reign to whatever extent he can get away with it. He doesn’t care about the transition process because he is going to ignore it anyway.
Show me where the law says that if he doesn’t sign he can’t take office. Maybe it is a norm or a law without teeth, but he will take office.
GPV
(73,393 posts)azureblue
(2,729 posts)That Supreme Court decision gives him the freedom to do what he wants to, without penalty. He could simply declare rump's administration illegal, if he wants to.
FarPoint
(14,775 posts)Trust nothing and prepare for everything where chaos is involved.
ramedy
(186 posts)Why is Biden giving these shitbags the time of day?
Drop the keys on the floor in the foyer and leave.
FFS.
calimary
(90,067 posts)Why should they be above all this? Why are we supposed to make exceptions for them?
Rules are RULES. And they’re in place for a reason.
FBaggins
(28,706 posts)The act puts almost all of the obligations on the outgoing administration. There is not rule saying the incoming administration had to do anything. The closest is essentially “if you want X then you have to do Y”
They’re saying “we ain’t doing Y. Feel free to leave off X”
BumRushDaShow
(169,862 posts)SUMMARY
Presidential Transition Enhancement Act of 2019
This bill makes changes intended to smooth the transfer of executive power during presidential transitions.
The bill provides for the detailing of legislative branch employees on a reimbursable basis to office staffs designated by the President-elect or Vice President-elect with the consent of the supervising Member of Congress.
The bill extends support provided by the General Services Administration (GSA) to the President- and Vice President-elect for up to 60 days after the inauguration.
By September 1 of a year during which a presidential election occurs, the GSA shall enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with each eligible candidate, which shall include the conditions for administrative support services and facilities. To the maximum extent practicable, an MOU shall be based on MOUs relating to previous presidential transitions. Each MOU shall include an agreement that the eligible candidate will implement and enforce an ethics plan to guide the conduct of the transition beginning on the date on which such candidate becomes President-elect. The plan shall be published on the GSA website.
By September 15 of a year during which a presidential election occurs, each agency shall ensure that a succession plan is in place for each senior noncareer position in the agency.
I know the legal beagles often cite the weight and meaning behind the term "shall".
S.394 - Presidential Transition Enhancement Act of 2019
Example change -
``(A) In general.--Each
memorandum of understanding under paragraph (1) shall
include an agreement that the eligible candidate will
implement and enforce an ethics plan to guide the
conduct of the transition beginning on the date on which
the eligible candidate becomes the President-elect.
``(B) Contents.--The ethics plan shall include, at a
minimum--
``(i) a description
of the ethics requirements that will apply to all
members of the transition team, including any
specific requirement for transition team members
who will have access to nonpublic or classified
information;
``(ii) a description of how the transition
team will--
``(I) address the role on the
transition team of--
``(aa) lobbyists registered
under the Lobbying Disclosure
Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1601 et
seq.) and individuals who were
former lobbyists registered
under that Act; and
``(bb) persons registered
under the Foreign Agents
Registration Act of 1938 (22
U.S.C.
[[Page 134 STAT. 141]]
611 et seq.), foreign nationals,
and other foreign agents;
``(II) prohibit a transition team
member with conflicts of interest
similar to those applicable to Federal
employees under section 2635.402(a) and
section 2635.502(a) of title 5, Code of
Federal Regulations, related to current
or former employment, affiliations,
clients, or investments, from working on
particular matters involving specific
parties that affect the interests of
such member; and
``(III) address how the covered
eligible candidate will address his or
her own conflicts of interest during a
Presidential term if the covered
eligible candidate becomes the
President-elect;
``(iii) a Code of Ethical Conduct, which each
member of the transition team will sign and be
subject to, that reflects the content of the
ethics plans under this paragraph and at a minimum
requires transition team members to--
``(I) seek authorization from
transition team leaders or their
designees before seeking, on behalf of
the transition, access to any nonpublic
information;
``(II) keep confidential any
nonpublic information provided in the
course of the duties of the member with
the transition and exclusively use such
information for the purposes of the
transition; and
``(III) not use any nonpublic
information provided in the course of
transition duties, in any manner, for
personal or private gain for the member
or any other party at any time during or
after the transition; and
``(iv) a description of how the transition
team will enforce the Code of Ethical Conduct,
including the names of the members of the
transition team responsible for enforcement,
oversight, and compliance.
``(C) Publicly available.--
The transition team shall make the ethics plan described
in this paragraph publicly available on the internet
website of the General Services-
(snip)
FBaggins
(28,706 posts)“which shall include the conditions for administrative support services and facilities”
The highlighted portions are not legal requirements that the incoming administration must comply with… they are merely conditions IF they want to receive the services offered.
BumRushDaShow
(169,862 posts)E.g., -
The Act directs the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies responsible for conducting background investigations to conduct those investigations expeditiously, with the goal of providing appropriate security clearances before inauguration for the individuals that the President-elect has identified for high level national security positions, including secretaries and undersecretaries of cabinet-level agencies. The law also requires that the president-elect be given a classified summary as soon as possible after the election on threats to national security, covert military operations, and pending decisions on possible uses of military force. The White House Transition Coordinating Council is tasked with conducting interagency emergency preparedness and response exercises.
Separately, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004[3] allows each eligible candidate, before the election, to submit security clearance requests for prospective transition team members who will need access to classified information. The law directs that background investigations and security clearance determinations for these individuals be completed, to the fullest extent practicable, by the day after the date of the election.
FBaggins
(28,706 posts)Senator Warren (and others) had the context of an irresponsible Trump administration and how they should constrain it as it leaves after a presumed 2020 loss… so all if the requirements that “need” to occur are on the outgoing administration.
They didn’t envision a returning Trump. There is no “needs to happen” placed on the incoming administration.
All carrot - no stick
BumRushDaShow
(169,862 posts)Here is a copy of Warren's letter outlining the issues and law violations - https://www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/warren_letter_to_gsa_re_trump_transition.pdf
FBaggins
(28,706 posts)Nothing in the legislation requires anything of the new administration if they are willing to forego the assistance the act contemplates.
They expected Trump to be causing problems on the other side of the table… and the incoming administration would be responsible actors
BumRushDaShow
(169,862 posts)Under the Presidential Transition Enhancement Act, presidential candidates are “required to
develop and publicly release ethics plans for their transition teams prior to the election” — as
the relevant Senate committee explained when advancing the bill. Former President Trump himself
signed that requirement into law in March 2020. That bipartisanbill, led by Senator Ron Johnson,
was uncontroversial and passed Congress with overwhelming support. The bill adopted much of
my Transition Team Ethics Improvement Act,6 which was developed in response to the
Government Accountability Office’s 2017 findings that the first Trump Transition had ignored
ethics standards.
The Trump Transition’s ethics plan should have been published on the General Services
Administration’s (GSA) website by October 1, 2024.
(snip)
DENVERPOPS
(13,003 posts)after the last 8+ years, (or 45+ years), that the MAGAot movement has no plans what-so-ever to follow the constitution, the rules of law and order, morals, ethics in any form, etc etc
And these Quasi RepubliCONs will do it all with the complete approval of their wholly owned subsidiary: The USSC.
Just look at Trump's appointees.......it is the equivalent of putting a bunch of monkeys in a room with a basketful of hand grenades....
A Republican Aide said, to a Dem Aide, during the WBush years, WE will do, and all you can do is stand back and watch.....
It is more true today then back then...........
I wish I had a dollar for every time I have said, in the past 45+ years: "They Can't Do That"
Tadpole Raisin
(1,977 posts)and there isn’t one.
Shall do xyz or will be jailed, prohibited from taking office, prohibited from giving orders, anything? Nope, not there.
On Jan 20 at noon Biden is gone and TSF takes keys, having completely circumvented a process that was accepted by both sides forever because no one would have considered that someone would refuse.
And no one who wrote the laws put in hard and fast legal and binding STOPS that would prevent someone from doing what he is doing. It was unthinkable!
BumRushDaShow
(169,862 posts)there ARE things that can happen - i.e., a refusal to "turn over the keys", but any consequences/blowback of having that play out, is not defined.
azureblue
(2,729 posts)For Trump, but also for Biden. Under the ruling, Biden can do what he wants to. And if Biden says, no signature, then Trump doesn't get to take office, then that is what will happen, and teh courts can;t do anything about it. Likewise, if Biden says there is evidence of vote count manipulation, and he wants a nationwide recount, before letting Trump into the WH, then ------...
And with the margin down to less than 1.6%, there should be a recount and exam for vote count fraud. And you know the GOP is guilty of it.
MrWowWow
(1,461 posts)That is where this election was most likely stolen.
Polybius
(21,905 posts)DENVERPOPS
(13,003 posts)the case that Greg Palast is making..........He and Thom Hartman are highly respected investigative reporters from back in the days of the 2000 & 2004 election.........and Palast makes a pretty convincing argument about what happened in the 2024 election....
Girard442
(6,887 posts)
bucolic_frolic
(55,178 posts)'No need to sign, I'm really inheriting power from myself, who was denied office in 2020 by a rigged and unfair election.'
Maybe that's where Trump's heading. And therefore he can invalidate everything Biden did and remove all his judges. Making sense?
azureblue
(2,729 posts)Because Biden is the key here. He holds the power.
Ligyron
(8,006 posts)Their intent is to destroy the Government and all it's agencies and institutions as we know it and replace it with a simple dictatorship.
Therefore, anything that is required, other than Trump being sworn in, will be ignored.
slightlv
(7,790 posts)
jalan48
(14,914 posts)
Marthe48
(23,185 posts)Hire somebody else.
I don't want a bunch of slackers running my country.
cstanleytech
(28,477 posts)LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(13,292 posts)His thought is if he waits long enough, people (a.k.a., adults), recognizing that T***p is not going to sign the documents, will go ahead and do what needs to be done to keep the gears of government turning. Anything that can't be totally ignored -- like security clearances -- he can do himself like he did with Jared when he couldn't pass the background check.
Besides, who need classified documents anyway? They're just a method the Deep State uses to keep him from his goal, Make America Great Again.
BTW, the MOUs contain instructions related to conflicts of interest -- like having the government pay him when his guests stay at Mar-A-Lego -- and gifts.
I wonder what it's going to cost the taxpayers to completely renovate MAL from the ground up. The helipad for Marine One is going to cost at least a half million dollars, plus the cost of leasing the land from guess who? which will go straight into his pocket.
melm00se
(5,161 posts)This allows Trump to say, in no particular order or level of veracity, that
- any hiccup in the transition will be the fault of Biden/Harris/Democrats.
- he was never presented any such legal or constitutional transition documents.
- this law is/was unconstitutional (it was passed by Democrats after all) and thus can be ignored by loyal Americans.
- this is proof that the Democrats never planned for a "peaceful transition of power" just like they accused him.
and his followers will eat that shit up with giant spoons in both hands.
Hotler
(13,747 posts)"In the absence of signed MOUs from Trump’s transition team, the current government cannot begin the process of providing briefings or security clearances for incoming officials."
So what, fuck them. Stop trying to be their friends.
MrWowWow
(1,461 posts)Last edited Sun Nov 24, 2024, 01:37 PM - Edit history (1)
-to obtain even a confidential*** security clearance. Not a one! I think that eLoon is currently bankrolling the transition team. They don't need govt. funding. They do not want to be subjected to congressional confirmation hearings either. Recess appointments is tramp's plan. So, a bunch of lunatic, mobbed-up criminals will be running the shitshow asylum soon. tramp reminds me of Goldfinger in this clip:
.
tramp transition team meeting at marred a lardo:
.
.
****
ChatGPT:
The lowest level of FBI security clearance is Confidential, which is also the lowest security clearance level across the U.S. federal government. Security clearances are generally categorized into three levels:
1. Confidential - This level applies to information that could reasonably be expected to cause damage to national security if disclosed without authorization.
2. Secret - For information that could cause serious damage to national security.
3. Top Secret - For information that could cause exceptionally grave damage to national security.
The FBI also grants access to additional classifications, such as Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) or Special Access Programs (SAP), depending on an individual’s role and the need to handle highly restricted information. These are not clearance levels but additional access requirements tied to Top Secret clearance.
vapor2
(4,523 posts)No regard for the law, rules or the constitution
Ruby the Liberal
(26,665 posts)Its rather quaint.
republianmushroom
(22,336 posts)Ask, Merrick the Meek, the head of federal law enforcement what he is going to do about it ?
MontanaMama
(24,722 posts)really been held to account? Why would consequences begin now?
JoseBalow
(9,494 posts)SWBTATTReg
(26,260 posts)Stick a finger in their eye. I'm sick and tired of their foul mouth.
Karasu
(2,003 posts)...and throw away the key.
Karasu
(2,003 posts)ReRe
(12,189 posts)"President" and his cabal see it, they don't need to sign any silly documents. Schrump is going to be a dictator/despot, after all. Did he sign the Doc when he came in the first time? Remember, Dictator-to-be Schrump doesn't answer to no one. Never has, never will.
OhioTim
(391 posts)in Trump's administration will be blamed on Biden, Harris, Clinton, Gays or any of the usual suspects.