said he has questions about the election results and he hopes a recount might answer. (Photo by Illinois Radio Network)
By Eric Stock
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said its ‘highly likely’ a recount of the presidential election will change the outcome, but if Green Party candidate Jill Stein is willing to put up the money, where’s the harm?
PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with Durbin on WJBC.
“There’s nothing wrong with asking the question, going through the legitimate asking of that question,” Durbin said. “You have to put money on the table to do it.”
Durbin said he’d like to know the full extent of Russian involvement in the election, after WikiLeaks published hacked Democratic Party emails in the days and weeks before the election.
“I don’t care whether you are Democrat or Republican, I don’t want any country messing with American’s elections,” Durbin said. “If there’s any evidence of that let’s get it out. If there’s not, let’s clear up any conspiracy rumors about it.”
Stein is seeking recounts in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan, even though she says there’s no evidence of voter fraud.
The Green Party has filed court papers in Pennsylvania which includes analysis from a University of Michigan computer scientist who says electronic voting machines could’ve been manipulated by malware.
Trump transition
Durbin said he’ll give all of President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet appointments and leadership hires a fair shake, even though he has reservations about several of them, including Army Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn as National Security Adviser.
“He called President Obama a coward in his speech at the Republican convention. I thought that was over the line, but in fairness there were charges flying back and forth on both sides,” Durbin said. “I’m prepared to give him a clean slate. I want to hear what he has to say about the security of the United States.”
Flynn’s appointment doesn’t require Senate confirmation.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
