Attorneys for both President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden are preparing for almost any post-election scenario, but some observers see grave danger ahead.
A panel of 100 experts -- pollsters, strategists and former federal employees -- simulated various scenarios where the president contested an election loss, taking into consideration lawsuits and recounts, and found alarming results, reported Politico.
“Virtually all ended with street-level violence and a constitutional crisis,” said a person familiar with the Transition Integrity Project's findings.
Both campaigns say they're prepared for any scenario, and both candidates say their opponent would be to blame for any post-election chaos.
“Here’s a possible outcome we should be concerned about," said Trump campaign spokesperson Thea McDonald. "Joe Biden doesn’t accept the results when President Trump wins re-election, following Hillary Clinton’s call for Biden not to concede ‘under any circumstances.'”
But the president has repeatedly signaled that he believes the Supreme Court -- to which he appointed three justices, including one confirmed just this week -- should decide a close election, and he has encouraged armed supporters to show up at likely Democratic polling locations as "observers."
“The idea that the United States of America — one of the oldest democracies and a long standing democracy — which has not had such a problem in years is now going to have a problem just because Donald Trump is inventing it is outrageous,” said David Lublin, an elections expert at American University.