Experts are clearly on edge as news breaks that the two top Republican officials from the state of Michigan are flying to DC to meet with President Donald Trump "at his request," according to a Washington Post reporter, and local Michigan news outlets.
And some are warning of a possible "coup."
Even The New York Times is reporting: "Trump tries to subvert the election, inviting Michigan G.O.P. lawmakers to the White House."
"After failing repeatedly in court to overturn election results, President Trump is taking the extraordinary step of reaching out directly to Republican state legislators as he tries to subvert the Electoral College process," the Times says.
Michigan by law is required to certify its election results Monday, November 23. President-elect Joe Biden won the state by 3 percentage points and over 150,000 votes. There are no credible reports of fraud and yet Trump has declared himself the winner.
Some are worried the lawmakers could use the legislature to substitute Trump-supporting Electoral College electors, thereby swinging the state back to Trump.
Here's what some experts, including journalists, are saying:
Longtime progressive talk show host:
Now he's moving to his 12th Amendment strategy. Time to absolutely raise the alarm. https://t.co/14rPWOnq8N— Thom Hartmann (@Thom Hartmann) 1605808886.0
Professor of political science:
This is appallingly destructive. https://t.co/yh9LJ2vjIJ— Julie Novkov (@Julie Novkov) 1605808875.0
Award-winning MSNBC host:
This is really nuts. He is actually, actively attempting a coup. Stuart Stevens called it sedition the other night… https://t.co/qGzp0Fm9r4— Chris Hayes (@Chris Hayes) 1605806445.0
Writer, editor, and historian:
I am sincerely frightened at where this is going to end. https://t.co/5qj8sG41T3— Dr. Audra J. Wolfe (@Dr. Audra J. Wolfe) 1605808749.0
Editor at The Nation:
I need someone to explain why this isn't election tampering. I need someone to explain why the Dems hair isn't on f… https://t.co/1AmHqHcexl— Dave Zirin (@Dave Zirin) 1605806434.0
Former Senior Advisor to Speaker Pelosi, and former Special Assistant to President Obama:
Criminal conspiracy in plain sight. https://t.co/9iSaaPfz6y— Jesse Lee (@Jesse Lee) 1605807528.0
NYT columnist:
I hope Congress is prepared to subpoena them right after https://t.co/a7ATPGOHmU— Michelle Goldberg (@Michelle Goldberg) 1605809664.0
Bloomberg Opinion writer:
Not good at all. Long past time for Republicans in the Senate to put an end to it. Even the handful who have been… https://t.co/IDMBdPNLT9— Jonathan Bernstein (@Jonathan Bernstein) 1605808445.0
Former Elizabeth Warren staffer:
They couldn't make this any more coup like if they tried. The Four Seasons Total Coup is still an attempted coup!… https://t.co/s28XfKl32g— Max Berger (@Max Berger) 1605809333.0
Writer at Daily Kos Elections:
Michigan's state legislature has operated under GOP minority rule for practically the entire decade since their cur… https://t.co/LPI6S56Nnz— Stephen Wolf (@Stephen Wolf) 1605809507.0
Yale Law School Professor of Law and Professor of Philosophy:
In. Broad. Daylight. https://t.co/QmCc0Ttiqv— Scott Shapiro, Jurisprudential Guardian (@Scott Shapiro, Jurisprudential Guardian) 1605807879.0
Think tank:
The president is trying to launch a coup. https://t.co/La8x3GrZ9L— African American Policy Forum (@African American Policy Forum) 1605806983.0
Former Editor-in-Chief of LIFE magazine:
who else will be in the room? Barr? https://t.co/jESxc2NP9C— Bill Shapiro (@Bill Shapiro) 1605807086.0
