DETROIT – Republicans have electronically filed an appeal of a federal court ruling to move forward with Green Party candidate Jill Stein's request for a ballot recount in Michigan.
Judge Mark Goldsmith ordered the recount of the presidential votes cast in Michigan to begin Monday at noon.
"This is a Michigan issue, and should be handled by the Michigan court system,” said Michigan Republican Party Chairman Ronna Romney McDaniel. "Michigan courts should decide Michigan election law."
Stein filed a federal lawsuit Friday to try to force Michigan to conduct a recount. The move came hours after President-elect Donald Trump filed a lawsuit asking the state Supreme Court to intervene and stop Stein's request for a recount.
The GOP has filed the appeal to the 6th Circuit Court in Cincinnati, claiming the government has no right to interrupt the case on a state level. The appeal will focus on arguments for abstention of the federal court, as well as laches, arguing that Jill Stein waited until the last possible moment to file a petition for recount, and thus, cannot ask the court to enjoin.
"Jill Stein’s lack of planning should not constitute emergency action of Michigan taxpayers and clerks," McDaniel said. "This recount is a waste of time, energy, and Michigan taxpayer dollars and should be stopped immediately. We hope that when the Michigan Court of Appeals hears our case tomorrow, they will stop this unnecessary recount."
The Michigan Court of Appeals has scheduled oral arguments for 4 p.m. Tuesday.
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