Judge Blocks Further Certification Of PA Election Results

King of Prussia PA

25 November, 2020

1:34 PM

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PENNSYLVANIA — As the Trump campaign's election lawsuit gasps for life, a Pennsylvania state judge has temporarily blocked any further steps in the certification of the election results until a newly scheduled hearing takes place on Friday. The move comes just two days following the Monday deadline for counties to submit certified election results to the Pennsylvania Department of State. Gov. Tom Wolf announced Tuesday that the state had already certified the results. But the order, signed by Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Judge Patricia A. McCullough, says the stay applies "to the extent that there remains any further action to perfect the certification of the results." McCullough's order also cites "new allegations raised" in the latest court filing submitted by President Trump's legal team just before midnight Tuesday night. Read the full order issued Wednesday here. Democratic state officials say the order has no consequence to Tuesday's appointment of Pennsylvania's 20 electors to the Electoral College. "This order does not impact yesterday's appointment of electors," Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said on Twitter Wednesday. "We will be filing an appeal with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court momentarily." Pennsylvania certified the results from the election Tuesday, Gov. Tom Wolf confirmed. Wolf said he signed the Certificate of Ascertainment for the slate of electors for Joe Biden. A hearing will take place at 11:30 a.m. Friday. Specifically, the new language in the Trump campaign filing targets the legality of Act 77, the legislation passed in bipartisan fashion in the Pennsylvania state legislature in Oct. 2019. That legislation allowed for voters to cast mail-in ballots without providing a reason, opening the door for the massive influx of mail-in ballots in the primary and general elections once the pandemic struck. "The sitting president's remarks today were devoid of reality," Shapiro added. "The election is over. Pennsylvania has certified results & declared Joe Biden the winner of our Commonwealth. Lying through a cell phone at a fake hearing changes nothing." RELATED: Trump's Appeal Rejected As PA Certification Deadline Looms The latest order comes after the Trump campaign has suffered repeated losses in court at both the federal and state level in Pennsylvania. A federal judge threw out the campaign's election lawsuit over the weekend, and multiple appeals over the ensuing 48 hours were rejected.