Thread by @mkraju

GOP reaction to Trump refusal to commit to a peaceful transition: Many downplaying it, insisting there will be a peaceful transition while others point to Hillary Clinton’s remarks suggesting that Biden “should not concede under any circumstances,” though she’s not the candidate

Tillis on Trump: “Look there's going to be an orderly transition of power but if you've got spare time today go ask every Democrat member and ask them if they stand with Hillary Clinton who says that Biden shouldn't accept the result under any circumstances if he doesn't win.”

Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham downplayed it, saying: “It will happen,” referring to an orderly transition. “I’m not worried about that. It’s the least of my concerns,” he told me

Graham: “If there's a court challenge to the election, it will be decided in court. And the loser of the challenge will accept the results.” When asked about Dem concerns they are pushing a SCOTUS nominee now to help tilt outcome of any election dispute: “We need a full court.”

Sen. John Cornyn said it was not appropriate for Trump to refuse to commit to a peaceful transition of power. “No,” Cornyn told me when asked if it was appropriate.

Asked if GOP would do something about it if he won’t leave office: “I’m not going to answer a hypothetical.”

Sen. Grassley on whether Trump should commmit to peaceful transition: “Is your question any different than what Hillary Clinton told Biden, don't concede the election?’ No, it's very clear whether Biden wins ... this presidency ends on January the 20th under the Constitution.”

Asked Sen. Cramer why shouldn’t the president reassure the American public that there will be a peaceful transition. “Because he's a candidate on the ballot in a very not just hotly contested, but a chaotic election cycle...

“...where his opponent, you know, hangs out in the basement and and his advocates are all to create chaos in the streets in hopes of creating a chaotic election and, consequently, a chaotic transition,” Cramer said

After he pointed to HRC comments and was reminded she’s not a candidate, Cramer said: “The President speaks in overly extreme manners on occasion, I didn't find what he said last night to be overly extreme quite honestly.”

“We always have a peaceful transition of power, but you know why aren't y'all focusing on the fact that the Democrats never accepted the 2016 election results,” Marsha Blackburn says of Trump’s comments. Reminded that HRC conceded, Blackburn said: “The acceptance hasn't happened”