Federal Trial On Wisconsin Presidential Recount Begins Friday

A federal trial on Wisconsin’s presidential recount will begin Friday in Madison.

The case was brought last week by two super PACs that supported President-elect Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. The groups want to stop the recount, claiming it violates equal protection requirements and puts Wisconsin in danger of missing a federal elections reporting deadline.

They also claim the recount, in combination with other presidential recounts happening across the county, could cast doubt on the legitimacy of Trump’s victory.

Federal judge James Peterson said he plans to rule immediately after hearing arguments on whether to halt the recount. He denied an immediate, emergency stoppage of the recount last week, saying the plaintiffs didn’t prove the recount would cause irreparable harm if allowed to continue in the days before the hearing.

Elections officials have said the recount will be finished by Monday. So far, few irregularities have been found during the re-tallying.

Green Party candidate Jill Stein’s campaign requested the recount and paid the $3.5 million cost of the recount.