Former U.S. Sen. John McCain’s wife, Cindy, is joining a growing chorus of moderate Republicans who are calling for President Trump to formally concede he lost the election to Joe Biden.
Speaking to CNN, McCain reflected on the moment her late husband refuted a supporter who mischaracterized then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama and how that type of honor has been eroded in the current political climate.
“I think we have delved into fear and inability to stand up to people who are really bullies in the arena,” she said.
Following her announcement, late Monday, Trump hinted at the reality of a transition when he tweeted an order for the General Services Agency chief to release funds the Biden-Harris transition team has been requesting.
I want to thank Emily Murphy at GSA for her steadfast dedication and loyalty to our Country. She has been harassed, threatened, and abused – and I do not want to see this happen to her, her family, or employees of GSA. Our case STRONGLY continues, we will keep up the good...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 23, 2020
McCain also debunked rumors of voter fraud and a conspiracy to unseat Trump while praising state and local officials who have stood by the integrity of elections they oversaw and have certified, including in Arizona.
“Now it’s time to make sure it does happen and we do reward those who do right with civility and democracy and not play into the hands of those who believe that there’s some kind of conspiracy,” she said.
McCain is part of the Biden-Harris transition team but has said previously she hasn’t thought about a role in a future administration beyond that.
While Trump has previously tweeted Biden won, various lawsuits on his behalf contesting ballots have been filed. The overwhelming majority of those suits have been summarily dismissed, including at least one with prejudice.
