Biden fractures foot after fall, will likely be in walking boot 'for several weeks'

The president-elect fell while playing with his dog.

President Donald Trump is slated to hand over control of the White House to President-elect Joe Biden in 52 days.

Nov 23, 2020, 4:16 PM EST

Trump campaign loses 5 more cases in Pa. Supreme Court

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued opinions Monday rejecting five lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign that were aimed at invalidating 8,329 ballots cast in the 2020 presidential contest over technical concerns.

Three justices wrote in the majority that, "no allegations of fraud or illegality" came up in examination of the ballots.

"While failures to include a handwritten name, address or date in the voter declaration on the back of the outer envelope, while constituting technical violations of the Election Code, do not warrant the wholesale disenfranchisement of thousands of Pennsylvania voters," Justice Christine L. Donohue wrote for the majority.

Two other justices joined Donohue, while other members of the court issued separate opinions. In one separate opinion, Justice David N. Wecht wrote that while he agrees technically deficient ballots should be counted this year, he does not believe the absence of a date on the declaration "should be overlooked as a 'minor irregularity.'"

Wecht wrote, "in future elections, I would treat the date and sign requirement as mandatory ... with the omission of either item sufficient without more to invalidate the ballot in question." Wecht concluded his concurring and dissenting opinion with the "hope that the General Assembly sees fit to refine and clarify the Election Code" in the future.

In a second concurring a dissenting opinion, Justice Dougherty, joined by Chief Justice Saylor and Justice Mundy, wrote that the justices agree the deficient ballots should be counted this year, and that ballots missing "fill out" information, such as printed name or address, should not be voided due to technical faults. However, Justice Dougherty noted that "the terms 'date' and 'sign' -- which were included by the legislature -- are self-evident," and that they "do not view the absence of a date as a mere technical insufficiency we may overlook." 

The court also ruled on a similar, separate challenge by a Republican candidate for state senate in Allegheny County contesting 2,349 ballots. The court denied that request as well.

All 10,678 ballots will count in the 2020 election.

-ABCNews' Matthew Mosk and Alex Hosenball

Nov 23, 2020, 4:10 PM EST

Biden expected to tap Janet Yellen as treasury secretary

Biden is expected to name former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen as his pick for treasury secretary sources familiar with the matter told ABC News. Yellen, would be the first woman to serve in the role if confirmed.  

PHOTO: Janet Yellen speaks during a news conference  in Washington D.C., Dec. 13, 2017.mages)
Janet Yellen speaks during a news conference in Washington D.C., Dec. 13, 2017.
Alex Wong/Getty Images, FILE

As Biden signaled when announcing he had made a decision on who would fill the role, the choice of Yellen is likely to earn approval from progressive Democrats like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who previously supported Yellen for chair of the Federal Reserve in 2013. In the last few days, leaders of progressive organizations have already signaled that should Warren not be slated for the role, Yellen would be acceptable in their minds. 

ABC News has reached out to the Biden transition team for comment. The news was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

-ABC News' Martha Raddatz, Katherine Faulders, John Santucci and Molly Nagle

Nov 23, 2020, 3:29 PM EST

Top Dems spar with GSA over transition process

Two House committees continue to battle with the General Services Administration over Administrator Emily Murphy's refusal to formally acknowledge the results of the election, which has stymied President-elect Joe Biden's transition process. 

The Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Appropriations Committee have rejected an offer from the GSA to have Murphy's deputy brief lawmakers next week, following an initial request for Murphy to brief lawmakers by Monday. 

"We cannot wait yet another week to obtain basic information about your refusal to make the ascertainment determination," top Democrats said to Murphy in a written response. "Every additional day that is wasted is a day that the safety, health, and well-being of the American people is imperiled as the incoming Biden-Harris Administration is blocked from fully preparing for the coronavirus pandemic, our nation’s dire economic crisis, and our national security."

Democrats have offered to host the briefing themselves.

Murphy's office claimed the briefing had to be moved to next week because of the closure of the GSA office due to "threatened violence against the facility."

A GSA spokesperson did not respond to ABC News' request for comment.

-ABC News' Benjamin Siegel and Anne Flaherty

Nov 23, 2020, 2:25 PM EST

Michigan meeting on whether to certify votes underway

Michigan election officials are in the process of determining whether to certify the state's election results amid GOP efforts to delay it. Trump is currently trailing Biden by more than 150,000 votes.

If the state board, comprised of two Republicans and two Democrats, is deadlocked in its vote, the Michigan Court of Appeals would intervene and likely compel certification. 

PHOTO:Wayne County Board of Canvassers discuss a motion to certify election results during a board meeting in Detroit , Nov. 17, 2020.
Wayne County Board of Canvassers, from left, Republican member William Hartmann, Republican chairperson Monica Palmer, Democrat vice chair Jonathan Kinloch, and Democratic member Allen Wilson discuss a motion to certify election results during a board meeting in Detroit , Nov. 17, 2020.
Robin Buckson/AP, FILE

The Republican vice chair of the board of state canvassers, Aaron Van Langevelde, said the board’s duty is “very clear.”

“We have a duty to certify the selection based on the returns," he said, opening the meeting to public comments. "That is very good. And we are limited to these returns, and I'm not going to argue that we're not, but I still think that people have signed up today did have a chance to speak before we act on this motion."

The board’s other Republican member, Norm Shinkle, told the Washington Post last week he is leaning toward delaying certification. 

At least three votes are needed for certification.

-ABC News' Kendall Karson

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