Trump Focuses On Transition As Votes Are Recounted In Wisconsin
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- In just seven weeks, President-Elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office.
While Trump works to fill out his cabinet, his lawyers are working to stop recounts in three states that helped him win the election.
As CBS2's Tony Aiello reported, Mike Pence officially certified his state's 11 Electoral College votes -- paperwork that will help make him Vice President on January 20.
Things aren't going as smoothly in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin where recounts have been requested by Green Party candidate Jill Stein.
A re-tally of ballots is underway in Wisconsin to see if Trump's 22,000 vote margin is legitimate -- his campaign is fighting efforts in all three states.
At a hearing in Michigan a voter argued in favor of a recount.
"Mr. Trump a few months ago was telling everyone that the election was rigged. It's ironic that he's now saying the election was fair and no recounts are required in Michigan," Paul Dykema said.
Lawyers for the President-Elect said a recount is a waste of time, requested by the Green Party which doesn't have a chance to win.
"For a candidate who doesn't have any skin in the game because she's a fourth place finisher, it doesn't make any sense," Trump attorney, Gary Gordon said.
In New York, the parade of possible presidential staffers continued at Trump Tower.
On Friday, visitors included former Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Transition sources told CBS News that Rudy Giuliani remains in the running for Secretary of State along with upstate native General David Patraeus, Tennessee Senator Bob Corker, and 2012 nominee Mitt Romney.
"The President-Elect takes very seriously who his Secretary of State will be. It needs to be someone who reflects his vision, and his values around the world, as the President of the United States," Senior Trump Advisor Kellyanne Conway said.
Late Friday afternoon, Conway left Trump Tower in the company of Chris Christie who has expressed an interest in remaining Governor of New Jersey, but also becoming chair of the Republican National Committee.
Also Friday, Trump spoke with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, a highly unusual and probably unprecedented move since the U.S. broke diplomatic ties with the self-governing island in 1979 and shifted to diplomatic recognition of China under a so-called "one-China" policy.
China did not issue an official response, but Foreign Minister Wang Yi called the phone call a "little trick" by the Taiwanese side, CBS News reported. He called the "one-China" policy the cornerstone of the healthy development of China – US relations, adding that China hopes it won't be interfered or damaged in any way.
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