Trump-Biden transition updates: Trump continues to tout he won election at Ga. rally

The president was in Georgia to campaign for the senatorial runoff races.

President Donald Trump is slated to hand over control of the White House to President-elect Joe Biden in 45 days.


0

Biden says he’s likely to ask the country to wear a mask for 100 days

Biden revealed that on Inauguration Day he will ask the public to wear a mask for 100 days in order to slow the spread of COVID-19, he said in an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper Thursday.

He added that he will impose a mask-wearing mandate in federal buildings and during interstate transportation.


"It is important that we in fact, the president and the vice president, we set the pattern by wearing masks," Biden said. "But beyond that, where the federal government has authority I'm going to issue a standing order that in federal buildings, you have to be masked and in transportation, interstate transportation, you must be masked, in airplanes and buses, etc."

"My inclination is, in the first day I'm inaugurated, to say I'm going to ask the public for 100 days to mask. Just 100 days to mask, not forever -- 100 days. And I think we'll see a significant reduction if that occurs with vaccinations and masking to drive down the numbers considerably," he added.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle and John Verhovek


Biden spoke with Fauci, asked him to stay on in current role

In the first clip of his interview with CNN, Biden said he spoke with Dr. Anthony Fauci Thursday afternoon, asking him to stay on in his role -- where he's served under several presidents.

"I asked him to be a chief medical adviser for me as well, and be part of the COVID team," Biden said.

The president-elect also weighed in on whether he'd take a COVID-19 vaccine and allow the public to view the process, saying he'd be "happy to do that," after Fauci says a vaccine is safe.

"When Dr. Fauci says we have a vaccine, that is safe, that's the moment in which I will stand before the public," Biden said.

"People have lost faith in the ability of the vaccine to work. Already the numbers are really staggeringly low. And it matters what a president and vice president do," he added.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle and John Verhovek


Ga. launches investigation into Fla. attorney after recorded comments

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced that his office has launched an investigation into Florida attorney Bill Price after he attempted to register to vote "fraudulently" in the state of Georgia ahead of Senate runoffs.

"Those who move to Georgia just to vote in the Senate runoffs with no intention of staying are committing a felony that is punishable with jailtime and hefty fines. They will be found, they will be investigated, and they will be punished," Raffensperger said in a statement Thursday.

ABC's Atlanta affiliate WSB reported Wednesday night on the Florida attorney giving a speech earlier this month before members of the Bay County Republican Party. He said he would be moving to his brother's address in Hiram, Georgia, register to vote and then encouraged other Republicans to try to game the system as well, including by registering at his brother's address too.

The speech was recorded in a now-deleted Facebook Live video, but WSB reporter Nicole Carr recorded the stream shortly before it was deleted. According to WSB, the speech was given about a half an hour after the election was called by the networks for Biden on Nov. 7.

Raffensperger had previously launched investigations into several voting rights groups -- the most prominent being the New Georgia Project -- asserting they've been trying to register ineligible voters to vote in Georgia for the runoff.

He, and other state Republican officials, have repeatedly warned that it's a felony to register to vote in Georgia if the voter is not intending to establish residency, threatening investigations and prosecutions for anyone who attempts to break the law to register to vote in the runoff.

Monday is the deadline to register to vote in Georgia for the Jan. 5. runoff -- races which will determine the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.

-ABC News' Quinn Scanlan


White House communications director resigns

White House communications director Alyssa Farah resigned from her role Thursday.

Her last day is Friday, ABC News has confirmed.

Farah had previously served as press secretary for both the vice president and the secretary of defense before her current position. The Washington Post was the first to report the news.

The White House released a statement Thursday evening from Farah who said she is leaving "to pursue new opportunities." The statement makes no mention of the presidential election.

-ABC News' John Santucci and Benjamin Siegel