Washington, November 7: Even as all American media networks announced Joe Biden as the next US President, Donald Trump has refused to concede his defeat. A statement was issued by his Office to announce the start of a legal battle beginning from Monday. Trump, in the statement, said he would not relent until the "vote counting norms" are upheld a fair result is declared.

The President claimed that Biden rushed to "falsely pose as the winner" as the Democrats have allegedly engineered his victory through rogue means. He claimed that his campaign would move the courts from Monday, seeking the omission of fraudulent votes registered through mail-in ballots.

“Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated," Trump said in a statement.

"The American people are entitled to an honest election: that means counting all legal ballots, and not counting any illegal ballots," Trump added. The statement was issued while he was golfing at his club in Virginia.

 

Nearly an hour earlier, Biden was declared the winner by CNN, NYT, Associated Press and Fox News after he ended up defeating Trump from the key swing state of Pennsylvania. The victory increased Biden's electoral college vote count to 284 -- above the 270 threshold required for staking claim to the presidency.

Read Full Statement Issued by Trump After Biden's 'Victory'

“We all know why Joe Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner, and why his media allies are trying so hard to help him: they don’t want the truth to be exposed. The simple fact is this election is far from over. Joe Biden has not been certified as the winner of any states, let alone any of the highly contested states headed for mandatory recounts, or states where our campaign has valid and legitimate legal challenges that could determine the ultimate victor. In Pennsylvania, for example, our legal observers were not permitted meaningful access to watch the counting process. Legal votes decide who is president, not the news media.

“Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated. The American People are entitled to an honest election: that means counting all legal ballots, and not counting any illegal ballots. This is the only way to ensure the public has full confidence in our election. It remains shocking that the Biden campaign refuses to agree with this basic principle and wants ballots counted even if they are fraudulent, manufactured, or cast by ineligible or deceased voters. Only a party engaged in wrongdoing would unlawfully keep observers out of the count room – and then fight in court to block their access.

“So what is Biden hiding? I will not rest until the American People have the honest vote count they deserve and that Democracy demands.”

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 07, 2020 11:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).