One of Colorado’s nine electors is requesting a national intelligence briefing regarding the Russian governmentap ties to Donald Trump before casting his vote in the Electoral College.
Micheal Baca, a Democratic elector Trump from winning the presidency, and nine other electors of the 538-member Electoral College Monday to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.
“The electors require to know from the intelligence community whether there are ongoing investigations into ties between Donald Trump, his campaign or associates, and Russian government interference in the election, the scope of those investigations, how far those investigations may have reached, and who was involved in those investigations,” according to the letter, which was . “We further require a briefing on all investigative findings, as these matters directly impact the core factors in our deliberations of whether Mr. Trump is fit to serve as president of the United States.”
The letter follows the Friday that concluded with “high confidence” that the Russian government influenced the election to help Trump win. Trump Sunday, calling it “ridiculous.”
“Trump’s willingness to disregard conclusions made by the intelligence community and his continuing defense of Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin demand close scrutiny and deliberation from the Electoral College,” the letter states.
The electors who signed the letter also asked Trump to provide evidence that he and his advisers “did not accept Russian interference” and repudiate the actions.
In an interview, Baca declined to comment Monday about the letter but confirmed he signed it.
The signers represent six states and the District of Columbia. Only one is a Republican.
The electors are scheduled to meet Dec. 19 to cast formal Electoral College votes from the states. Colorado’s nine electoral votes will go to Democrat Hillary Clinton — although Baca and others are for a consensus alternative candidate to Trump. At least 37 Republican electors pledged to support Trump in other states would need to defect to force the question to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Baca and other electors acknowledge their repeated efforts — under the group Hamilton Electors — have little chance of success.
The Colorado electors are required under state law to vote for the candidate that wins the state’s popular vote — in this case Clinton, who beat Trump by 4.85 percentage points, according to. If they don’t, they will be replaced and could face a misdemeanor criminal charge for dereliction of duty, according to the secretary of state’s office.
Two other Colorado electors are and will appear in federal district court Monday afternoon to seek an injunction to block its enforcement.
Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams has rejected the move, calling it “an arrogant attempt by two faithless electors to elevate their personal desires over the entire will of the people of Colorado.”