(credit: Gary Raynaldo /  ©Times /  U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo at press briefing at Department of State headquarters in Washington D.C.

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

As multiple world leaders have quickly recognized Joe Biden as the U.S. Presidential-Elect,  Secretary of State Michael Pompeo boldly proclaimed Tuesday that “there will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration.”  Pompeo made the  comment during a press briefing in response to a reporter’s question about whether the State Department is preparing to work with the Biden transition team – and whether a delay could raise a potential national security risk or hinder a smooth transfer of power.  Pompeo appeared duck the  question, and  suggested instead that a transition won’t be needed.  Several foreign leaders including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel have called  to congratulate Biden. However, Trump has refused to accept the result, with his campaign kicking off launching legal challenges and continuing to make baseless claims about voter fraud and illegal votes.  Meanwhile, only four Republican senators — Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Mitt Romney (Utah), Susan Collins (Maine) and Ben Sasse (Neb.) — have congratulated Biden on his projected victory.

Congressman Eliot Engel Calls on Pompeo To Stop “Baseless and Dangerous Attacks” On Legitimacy of Election 

U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel,  the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee said in a statement Tuesday that Pompeo “shouldn’t play along with baseless and dangerous attacks on the legitimacy of last week’s election.” 

“In fact, all Administration officials should drop their false claims about electoral fraud and (the General Services Administration) should release the funding and support necessary for a smooth transition that protects our national security.  The State Department should now begin preparing for President-elect Biden’s transition.”

-Chairman Eliot Engel of New York

Chairman @RepEliotEngel on @SecPompeo’s refusal to acknowledge election result: pic.twitter.com/6qEwXYV76y

— House Foreign Affairs Committee (@HouseForeign) November 10, 2020