Ex-Trump Intelligence Chief Dan Coats Among 20 New Republicans Calling Biden President-Elect

 President Trump’s former Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats is among a group of prominent Republicans now acknowledging Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election, referring to him as the president-elect and calling on the administration to begin the transition process.

In a statement released Thursday, the bipartisan Council on Election Integrity stated that, while Trump is still attempting to upend the result through legal avenues, “the outcome of the election is clear.”

“The laws that govern peaceful transitions in our country require an ‘apparent’ winner in the presidential race,” the statement continues, asserting “that criterion has been met” and urging the General Services administration to “release the funds, facilities, and other services necessary to start a smooth and efficient transition.”

The 40-member group includes Coats, former George W. Bush administration Homeland Security Sec. Michael Chertoff, former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and over a dozen other former Republican former officials.

The statement refers to Biden as “President-Elect Joe Biden” and urges the administration to allow him to receive intelligence briefings, something even Trump allies in the Senate have said is a reasonable, and critical, national security measure.

“Our national security demands that the president-elect and new administration be fully prepared to meet the challenges facing the country without delay,” the statement says of the matter, concluding, “Planning and preparation for the transition must begin immediately.”

Forbes has reached out to the White House for comment.

KEY BACKGROUND

The General Services Administration, whose formal ascertainment of Biden’s apparent victory is necessary for the transition to begin, has refused to get out in front of the president amid his lack of a concession. Trump has also refused to allow Biden to receive intelligence briefing even though they are often given to major party presidential nominees and were given to George W. Bush shortly after the contested 2000 election.

TANGENT

Former RNC Chair Michael Steele, former Rep. Susan Molinari (R-N.Y.), former Rep. Tom Ridge (R-Pa.), former Defense Sec. Chuck Hagel, all of whom endorsed Biden, are among the Republicans in the group. Also included are former Kentucky Sec. of State Trey Grayson and Reps. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.), Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.), Steve Renacci (R-Ohio), Steve Gunderson (R-Wisc.), Reid Ribble (R-Wisc.), Deborah Pryce (R-Ohio), Connie Morella (R-Md.), Charles Boustany (R-La.) and Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.)

CRUCIAL QUOTE

“I think there are enough Republicans who have already spoken out… to be able to get things done,” Biden stated Tuesday, even as just five Republican senators and ten Republican House members have acknowledged his victory. Biden dismissed the lack of recognition from the administration as “not of much consequence” and said it “does not change the dynamic at all” because the transition is “well underway” and “nothing’s going to stop that.”

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), one of Biden’s closest allies in Congress, and Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-Va.) have both said they have had private conversations with Republicans in which they privately acknowledge the result despite their public silence. Coons predicted that more Republicans would come forward publicly “as it is clear there is no possible pathway for the president to overturn these results.”