Senator James Lankford, a Republican from Oklahoma, has vowed to “step in” if former vice president Joe Biden isn’t granted access to intelligence briefings by Friday.
Lankford made his threat during an interview with radio station KRMG which aired on Wednesday.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has stated they would not interact with the Biden campaign until the General Services Administration (GSA) made an “ascertainment” on who won the election.
Despite the media coronation of Biden as ‘president-elect,’ the GSA has thus far not determined the Democrat has officially won the presidential election.
President Trump has refused to concede the race and has waged legal challenges in several pivotal swing states where he currently trails in the vote count.
Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) on when Biden will get access to intel briefings, which Trump has been blocking:
“If that’s not occurring by Friday, I’ll step in … so that regardless of the outcome of the election, whichever way it goes, people can be ready for that actual task.” pic.twitter.com/QCT9x0qyRd
— The Recount (@therecount) November 12, 2020
RELATED: Kayleigh McEnany Predicts Election Lawsuits Will Hit Supreme Court As She Fires Back At Fox News
Senator James Lankford Will ‘Step In’ to Assure Biden Gets Intelligence Briefings
Granting the president-elect access to daily intelligence briefings is a part of the normal transition process. But then, we aren’t operating during a normal election year.
“There is no loss from him getting the briefings and to be able to do that,” Lankford counters.
“If that’s not occurring by Friday I will step in as well, and to be able to push and to say this needs to occur so that, regardless of the outcome of the election … people can be ready for that actual task,” he continued.
Lankford, meanwhile, has defended the President’s right to pursue litigation to resolve the contested election.
“President [Trump] is fully in his right to ask for recounts and for every legal question to be fully vetted and resolved,” he tweeted.
“It is important for the 71 million Americans that voted for President Trump that at the end of all this their questions are answered.”
President @realDonaldTrump is fully in his right to ask for recounts and for every legal question to be fully vetted and resolved. It is important for the 71 million Americans that voted for President Trump that at the end of all this their questions are answered.
— James Lankford (@jameslankford) November 12, 2020
RELATED: Here’s How Biden’s Pick for Chief of Staff Ron Klain Once Responded To Elections Being Rigged
Chuck Grassley Joins In Calls For Biden to Receive Intel Briefings
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) concurred with Lankford in calling for Biden to receive the daily intelligence briefings.
“I would think – especially on classified briefings – the answer is yes,” he told a CNN reporter on Capitol Hill when asked about the matter.
New – Sen. Chuck Grassley, who is the most senior Republican in the Senate, told me that President-elect Joe Biden should have access to classified briefings to prepare for the transition.
“I would think – especially on classified briefings – the answer is yes,” Grassley said.
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) November 12, 2020
In a recent interview, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany predicts the Trump campaign’s election lawsuits will reach the Supreme Court in weeks.
“I think at this point, it probably will make its way up to the Supreme Court,” McEnany said.
Will the GSA certify the results prior to that?
President Trump has been religiously tweeting accusations of fraud and updates on his campaign’s numerous legal challenges to the election results in key swing states.
