A Federal Judge Has Halted The Michigan Recount, Despite The Efforts Of Jill Stein

Despite Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein’s fundraising and legal efforts, her attempt to force a recount in Michigan came to a close late Wednesday when a federal judge removed a temporary restraining order against the state’s Board of Elections. Along with her campaign’s recently aborted attempt to necessitate a recount in Pennsylvania, the news from Michigan means Stein’s Wisconsin recount is all that remains.

According to CNN, U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith determined Stein’s “asserted right to a recount is just a restatement of her right to participate in a fair election, free from tampering or mistake.” Noting that she “[hadn’t] presented evidence of tampering or mistake,” the judge concluded that all Stein and her colleagues had done in the State of Michigan Court of Appeals on Tuesday was “present speculative claims going to the vulnerability of the voting machinery — but not actual injury.”

Stein took to Twitter Thursday morning to express her disappointment, saying “it’s disheartening a judge gave in to Donald Trump and Michigan Republicans.”

Despite the loss in Michigan, however, the Green Party leader’s efforts in Wisconsin continue on unperturbed following several Trump supporters’ failed attempts to halt the recount there. And while Stein’s campaign did withdraw from Pennsylvania over the weekend, they have since filed a lawsuit in federal court hoping to kick-start a statewide recount there.

Stein raised over $7 million in late November following a report identifying potential voting machine hacks in key swing states — including Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Once the recount effort gained enough steam, members of Hillary Clinton’s campaign team offered their support while President-elect Donald Trump railed against the legal maneuverings with assorted tweets and conspiracy theories.

(Via CNN)