Pennsylvania Judge: Stein Recount ‘Borders on the Irrational’

Former Green Party nominee Jill Stein’s quest to force voting recounts in three key states suffered another crushing blow Monday: Pennsylvania will be having none of it.

Following President-Elect Donald Trump’s stunning victory over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton on Nov. 8, Stein announced her intention to seek election recounts in three battleground states that fell to Trump: Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Although Wisconsin expects to conclude its recount Monday evening, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled Friday to dismiss Stein’s call. Now Pennsylvania has followed suit.

“Suspicion of a ‘hacked’ Pennsylvania election borders on the irrational.”

“Dr. Stein has repeatedly stated that she has sought a Pennsylvania recount to ensure that every vote counts,” U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond wrote in Philadelphia. “Granting her later than last-minute request for relief, however, could well ensure that no Pennsylvania vote counts. Such a result would be both outrageous and completely unnecessary; as I have found, suspicion of a ‘hacked’ Pennsylvania election borders on the irrational.”

In his 31-one page opinion, Diamond shot down Stein’s efforts and noted that there were “at least six separate grounds” compelling him to deny her recount request in Pennsylvania. Trump carried the state by a margin of more than 44,000 votes over Clinton, thus making it highly unlikely that a statewide recount could produce a victory for Clinton.

The deadline for submitting any state recount results would be Tuesday, thus making Stein’s Pennsylvania crusade impractical.

[lz_ndn video= 31732865]

Although Stein made a point of calling for election “integrity” during her highly publicized recount demands, Diamond dismissed her theories.

[lz_related_box id=”252391″]

“Most importantly, there is no credible evidence that any ‘hack’ occurred, and compelling evidence that Pennsylvania’s voting system was not in any way compromised,” Diamond wrote.

Diamond added that granting Stein’s request would make it impossible for Pennsylvania to meet the Tuesday deadline, “thus inexcusably disenfranchising some 6 million Pennsylvania voters” by blocking Pennsylvania from participating effectively in the Electoral College.

As of Sunday, the Wisconsin recount had netted Clinton 25 votes. Trump won the Badger State by roughly 22,000 votes.