Trump undercuts official who delayed transition as she gets slammed for 'unprofessional' letter
GSA head Emily Murphy's lengthy letter telling President-elect Joe Biden she is releasing transition funds to him comes with a strange set of personal remarks, including the claim she was not told how or when to authorize release the more than $7 million in those funds.
The only problem is that President Donald Trump says he is the one who told her to release the money.
"Please now that I came to my decision independently, based on the law and available facts," Murphy writes. "I was never directed or indirectly pressured by any Executive branch official–including those who work at the White House or GSA–with regard to the substance or timing of my decision."
Curiously, within minutes of the news breaking Murphy had released the funds to Biden, President Trump announced that he had, in fact, directed Murphy to release the funds.
"I want to thank Emily Murphy at GSA for her steadfast dedication and loyalty to our Country," Trump said, once again conflating himself with the nation. "She has been harassed, threatened, and abused – and I do not want to see this happen to her, her family, or employees of GSA."
"Please now that I came to my decision independently, based on the law and available facts," Murphy writes. "I was never directed or indirectly pressured by any Executive branch official–including those who work at the White House or GSA–with regard to the substance or timing of my decision."
Curiously, within minutes of the news breaking Murphy had released the funds to Biden, President Trump announced that he had, in fact, directed Murphy to release the funds.
"I want to thank Emily Murphy at GSA for her steadfast dedication and loyalty to our Country," Trump said, once again conflating himself with the nation. "She has been harassed, threatened, and abused – and I do not want to see this happen to her, her family, or employees of GSA."
The Washington Post reported Friday that Murphy "doesn't want to be disloyal to the administration that hired her," according to a senior Trump administration official.
