House Speaker Paul D. Ryan on Tuesday said Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein’s push for a recount is a “ridiculous fundraising and publicity stunt” and that others have already moved on from the election.
“I see the whole Jill Stein thing as nothing more than a ridiculous fundraising and publicity stunt,” Mr. Ryan said in an interview on WCLO Radio. “It is what it is and I think everybody’s moved on. The election was pretty clear, and we’re just not focused on that.”
“I don’t see any evidence of systemic fraud,” he said.
Ms. Stein is pushing for recounts in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan, which President-elect Donald Trump won by relatively narrow margins over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Ms. Stein placed fourth in the national vote.
Ms. Stein says the push is not about boosting a particular candidate, but rather demonstrating to voters there’s a fair process in place.
The Clinton campaign has indicated support for Ms. Stein’s efforts, though it’s unclear how active of a role Mrs. Clinton or her team would play.
Mr. Trump has raised concerns of his own. Without citing specific evidence, he tweeted this week that he “won the popular vote” over Mrs. Clinton if discounting the “millions” of people he said voted illegally.
He also said there was “serious voter fraud” in Virginia, New Hampshire, and California — a charge officials in the three states have denied.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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