The Michigan presidential election recount is set to begin Monday after a federal judge cleared the way — despite objections from President-elect Donald Trump.
U.S. District Court Judge Mark Goldsmith, acting on a suit by Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein, ordered the recount to begin by noon Monday, Politico reports. The order came just after midnight on Monday.
Stein's bid for the recount could have been thwarted by Trump's objections, according to Politico. It would have delayed the recount until Tuesday or Wednesday. The delay could have jeopardized the completion of the recount in time for the Dec. 19 deadline for the Electoral College to officially vote.
"Plaintiffs here have shown a credible threat that the recount, if delayed, would not be completed by the 'safe harbor' day," wrote Goldsmith. "The fundamental right invoked by Plaintiffs — the right to vote, and to have that vote conducted fairly and counted accurately — is the bedrock of our Nation.
"Without elections that are conducted fairly – and perceived to be fairly conducted – public confidence in our political institutions will swiftly erode."
The official result in Michigan showed Trump winning over Hillary Clinton by a 10,704-margin. Stein finished in fourth place with about 1 percent of the vote. The Trump campaign had filed a lawsuit as the fourth place finisher had no chance of winning in a recount, according to ABC News.
But Goldsmith found Stein had "shown the likelihood of irreparable harm" if the recount was delayed by even two days, according to the network news.
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