East Central Texas News

President Donald Trump should stay the course because he actually won the election, despite ample evidence otherwise, and he certainly should not resign, said Anderson County GOP Chair Paul D. Stephenson during a recent interview.

"Not no, but HELL NO!!!!" said Stephenson of Palestine during an East Central Texas News email interview.

The Republican party needs to step up and show more support for the president, said Stephenson.

President Donald Trump during a visit to Springfield, Missouri in August 2017 | whitehouse.gov

"The GOP needs to grow a back bone and stand up to those cheating Democrats," said Stephenson, "Had they before now, we wouldn't be in this situation."

There is no working with President-elect Joe Biden, said Stephenson.

"How can you un-commit a murder?" said Stephenson, "You can't, so suck it up and take what comes."

The Black Lives Matter movement and people who identify as "Antifa" are going to "do their thing no matter who becomes president," said Stephenson.

"IE: Trump because he won!" Stephenson continued. "IE: Biden because they're coming after us."

Anderson County Republican headquarters in Palestine was vandalize in October when someone threw blue paint on the building, according to the organization's Facebook page.

Stephenson's comments come during Trump's continued efforts to overturn results from the Nov. 3 General Election.

President Trump's legal challenges have largely failed and his efforts to get Republican state lawmakers to throw out election results and appoint electors who will vote for him has run into resistance.

Meanwhile, the transition from Trump's administration to Biden's is moving forward with, among other things, Biden announcing cabinet appointments and erection of the scaffolding for Biden's inauguration underway in front of the White House.

On Monday, U.S. General Services Administration Administrator Emily W. Murphy sent a letter to Biden letting him know that that her office will begin the formal presidential transition.

Murphy also "strongly" urged Congress "to consider" amendments to the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 over issues that arose in this presidential election that she said now require clarity.

"These are issues that the Constitution, federal laws, and state laws leave to the election certification process and decisions by courts of competent jurisdiction," said Murphy in her letter to Biden, "I do not think that an agency charged with improving federal procurement and property management should place itself above the constitutionally-based election process"

Later in the day, Trump tweeted his support for Murphy.

"I want to thank Emily Murphy at GSA for her steadfast dedication and loyalty to our Country," President Trump said across two Twitter posts Monday afternoon. "She has been harassed, threatened, and abused – and I do not want to see this happen to her, her family, or employees of GSA. Our case STRONGLY continues, we will keep up the good fight, and I believe we will prevail! Nevertheless, in the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same."

The nation needs a Trump win, said Stephenson said.

"If Trump doesn't win, kiss this country goodbye," he said.