Trump campaign layoffs begin despite RNC support for president’s electoral fraud allegations

The Republican National Committee has begun a round of layoffs of staff brought on for the election campaign, even as Donald Trump continues to dispute the results.

Despite being in a fundraising drive to challenge Joe Biden’s victory, the layoffs were announced on Monday, blindsiding staff, CNN reports.

Most of the layoffs are of staffers assigned to the RNC-Trump Victory program, a joint fundraising venture between the party and the Trump campaign, which served as the field program in the run-up to the election.

A “large portion of staff” were laid off according to the report — something to be expected after an election, but not an encouraging sign given the party’s apparent wish to pursue legal challenges to results in certain states.

RNC chair Ronna McDaniel is especially vocal in her support of the president’s unfounded allegations of widespread voter fraud and claims that the election was stolen from him.

The Independent reached out to the RNC for comment. A spokesperson says: “It is typical procedure for a party committee to downsize after an election. We will have all the resources we need for litigation and recounts, as well as the critical runoffs in Georgia to hold the Senate. The RNC will pursue every instance of voting irregularity or fraud to the fullest extent.”

In 2000, large numbers of RNC staff were dispatched to Florida when the vote count there was contested, eventually leading to George W Bush becoming president. CNN reports that a similar operation is not happening this year.

However, some RNC staffers will head to Georgia in advance of the two Senate runoffs in that state on 5 January.

Mr Biden was declared president-elect on Saturday when vote counts confirmed that he had amassed 290 electoral college votes, with Pennsylvania and Nevada putting him over the 270 needed to win.