Pennsylvania fights Green Party recount bid in federal court
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania election officials want a federal judge to throw out a Green Party-backed lawsuit that seeks a recount of paper ballots cast in Pennsylvania’s Nov. 8 presidential election and an inspection to make sure election software wasn’t hacked.
Thursday’s court filing says Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein lacks the necessary standing to challenge the election result because any change won’t make her the winner. The state’s lawyers also call it “rank speculation” to suggest that Russian hackers somehow flipped the vote.
The lawsuit is part of a broader effort by Stein to recount votes in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, states where Republican Donald Trump won narrowly over Democrat Hillary Clinton. Stein got about 1 percent or less in those states.
A hearing is scheduled for Friday in the case.