US Election: Donald Trump takes counting to court

Donald Trump’s campaign has launched a legal blitz across three states to challenge the election results as Joe Biden closes in on the votes he needs for victory.

Protestors take to the streets as results of the presidential election remain uncertain on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

Donald Trump’s campaign has launched a legal blitz across three states to challenge the election results as Joe Biden closes in on the 270 electoral college votes he needs for victory.

As counting on the second day swung the contest Mr Biden’s way, the Trump campaign initiated legal challenges in the key states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

It came after the President suggested fraud was behind Mr Biden catching up with him in swing states because of mail-in votes.

“Last night I was leading, often solidly, in many key States, in almost all instances Democrat run & controlled,” Mr Trump tweeted.

“Then, one by one, they started to magically disappear as surprise ballot dumps were counted. VERY STRANGE, and the ‘pollsters’ got it completely & historically wrong!”

In another tweet he said: “They are finding votes all over the place — in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan. So bad for our country.”

The Trump campaign has demanded a recount in the swing state of Wisconsin, which is ­allowed because the margin was less than one percent.

“There have been reports of irregularities in several Wisconsin counties which raise serious doubts about the validity of the results. The President is well within the threshold to request a recount and we will immediately do so,” Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien said.

The Trump campaign has also sued both Michigan and Pennsylvania to halt counting until it was given “meaningful access” to counting locations.

“President Trump’s campaign has not been provided with meaningful access to numerous counting locations to observe the opening of ballots and the counting process, as guaranteed by Michigan law,” Mr Stepien said.

However Mr Trump questioned what good such a move would be. “Our lawyers have asked for ‘meaningful access’, but what good does than do?” he tweeted. “The damage has already been done to the integrity of our ­system, and to the Presidential Election itself.”

Mr Trump on election night said he would challenge the results in the Supreme Court.

He said that by continuing to count the votes, Democrats were stealing the election.

“This is a fraud on the American public, this is an embarrassment to our country, we were getting ready to win this election, frankly we did win this election,” the President said.

“This is a very big moment ... we will be going to the US Supreme Court ... we want all voting to stop … it’s a very sad moment.”

Mr Trump did not say what ­argument his lawyers would be making to the court to persuade it to hear the case.

Senior Biden adviser Bob Bauer said any move to go to the Supreme Court would result in defeat for the White House.

“If at some point he arrives before the Supreme Court with a novel proposition that ballots that were lawfully cast by eligible ­voters, but not yet counted by the time Donald Trump wanted them counted — that somehow they don’t count anymore, he will be in for one of the most ­embarrassing defeats a president has ever ­suffered before the highest court of the land,” he said.

Mr Biden said the count should continue in all states: “No one’s going to take our democracy away from us — not now, not ever.”

Legal experts also questioned whether the President would have a case in the Supreme Court.

Ohio State University election law professor Edward Foley tweeted: “The valid votes will be counted. “(The Supreme Court) would be involved only if there were votes of questionable validity that would make a difference, which might not be the case.”

Cameron Stewart is also US contributor for Sky News Australia