11.10.2020

Analyzing President Trump’s Vote Count Lawsuits

President Trump refuses to concede the election and is trying his best to leverage lawsuits and muster media support. Barry Richard was a lawyer for George W. Bush during his infamous recount battle with Vice President Al Gore–a case that made it all the way to the Supreme Court. Richard joins Christiane to offer his perspective on Trump’s legal battles.

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CAN I JUST ASK YOU TO, CAN I ASK YOU WHETHER YOU YET HAVE HEARD ANY CREDIBLE EVIDENCE OR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT MAKE YOU BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE FEEL THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS A LEGAL CASE THAT WILL STAND UP?

AND IT IS ONE THAT SEEPS TO BE QUITE WIDE IN MANY DIFFERENT STATES.

IT WOULD GIVE ANY MEANINGFUL BASIS TO THE CASES HE'S FILED.

IT SEEMS EVEN HIS OWN ALLIES KIND OF NOT GIVING US ANY MAJOR INFORMATION.

IT IS NOT ROCKY WE'RE COMING OUT BEING TOLD WITH ANY CREDIBLE HE HAD OR FACTS TO BACK IT UP.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PROCESS IS?

I CAN I'M ASKING TO YOU SPECULATE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON?

WHY DO YOU THINK THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN, PRESIDENT TRUMP, IS FOLLOWING THIS PROCESS?

THIS PATH RIGHT NOW?

HE'S EITHER GETTING BAD ADVICE OR HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE ADVICE HE'S GETTING WHICH WOULD NOT BE SURPRISING, THE FACT IS TO HAVE ANY CHANCE, YOU HAVE TO WALK IN WITH FRAUD IRREGULARITIES AND IT HAS TO BE EVIDENCE THAT WOULD AFFECT ENOUGH BALLOTS SO IT WOULD CHANGE THE ELECTION.

I HAVE NOT SO FAR SEEN EITHER ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT TRUMP SUPPORTERS ARE VERY UPSET BUT THE FACT IS THAT YOU DON'T MAKE CASES BASED ON THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE UPSET.

COURTS DON'T MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT CREDIBLE EVIDENCE.

SO THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT IS LEGAL IN PENNSYLVANIA TO COUNT MAIL-IN BALLOTS EVEN AFTER THE DAYS OF THE ELECTION.

ON SPECIFIED DAYS.

YOU SEE THAT THE PRESIDENT'S PEOPLE, MAYBE THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF, BELIEVE THAT THEY STILL HAVE A ROUTE TO OVERTURNING THIS VOTE.

AND THAT MAYBE HE CAN STAY IN OFFICE.

AGAIN, DO YOU THINK THAT IS SERIOUS OR IS IT, I DON'T KNOW, A DRIP, DRIP, DAY BY DAY ATTEMPT TO GET USED TO THE FACT THAT MAYBE HE'S LOST.

I SUSPECT AS IT ALWAYS HAPPENS, PEOPLE WILL GO BACK TO WORK AND FORGET ABOUT THIS.

IN 2000 I WAS ASKED BY A NUMBER OF REPORTERS WHETHER I THOUGHT EITHER CANDIDATE WOULD BE ABLE TO GOVERN.

AND ON MONDAY MORNING, E WILL GO BACK TO WORK AND HE'LL HAVE A PRESIDENT.

THIS MAY TAKE A LITTLE LONGER WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CORE SUPPORTERS, BUT EVENTUALLY THEY'LL GO BACK TO THEIR NORMAL CONCERNS AND WE'LL GO ON.

About This Episode EXPAND

Christiane speaks with U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal about the election. She also speaks with former EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini about what the election means for America’s place in the world. Former attorney for the George W. Bush campaign Barry Richard about President Trump’s potential lawsuits regarding the election. Walter Isaacson speaks with NYT media columnist Ben Smith.

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