Donald Trump wants to abolish postal voting. New York’s mayor doesn’t rule out a change of camp. All developments in the news blog.
10:10 p.m.: Donald Trump has vowed to change the way elections are conducted in the United States: “We have to get things in order in this country, including elections,” he said at an event in Long Island on Thursday. “We will do things that have been needed for a long time,” he said. “And we will deal with the elections.”
He denounced a recent law passed in California that prohibits local governments from requiring voters to show ID when they cast their ballots at the ballot box. He wants ballot papers, voting in one day, and that voters have to identify themselves and bring proof of their citizenship. The Republican had previously spoken out against postal voting.
10 p.m.: New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, does not want to rule out a switch to the Republicans. Adams was a member of the GOP from 1995 to 2002 and was asked during an appearance whether he would return to the party. He didn’t rule out that possibility: “I’m part of the American party,” he replied. “I love this country.” During the presidential election campaign, Adams was noticed because he hardly criticized Donald Trump.
4:55 a.m.: Donald Trump wants to appoint the head of the border protection from his first term, Rodney S. Scott, as commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, the higher-level agency. During his campaign, Trump promised a rapid crackdown at the border and the largest deportation program in living memory when he takes office next month. The president-elect also named Caleb Vitello, a senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement official, as the agency’s acting director.
3:50 a.m.: US President Joe Biden and his advisers are considering issuing precautionary pardons for leading figures in his administration and critics of former President Donald Trump. This is reported by the New York Times and Politico. The aim is to ward off potential retaliation from a possible Trump administration. Potential beneficiaries include Dr. Anthony Fauci, who led the Covid-19 response, retired General Mark A. Milley, who publicly criticized Trump, and future Senator Adam Schiff and former Congresswoman Liz Cheney, both prominent Trump opponents. Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and legal advisor Ed Siskel are expected to hold initial discussions to clarify the legal situation, it is said.
The idea of preemptive pardons is legally unclear. According to the New York Times, law professors see this as covered by the Constitution. Biden’s actions are under particular scrutiny after he recently pardoned his son Hunter Biden. At the same time, Trump announced that he would pardon supporters of the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
3:22 a.m.: Donald Trump has said that after taking office he will nominate former Senator David Perdue as US ambassador to China: “He will be instrumental in executing my strategy to maintain peace in the region and a productive working relationship with the Chinese leadership.” said Trump in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.
