US President Joe Biden has extended the executive order imposing a state of emergency for an additional year due to the perceived threat of “foreign interference in US elections”.
WASHINGTON – Sputnik: In a statement released by the White House, Biden remarked, “I am extending for one more year the national state of emergency declared by Executive Order 13848 due to the threat of foreign intervention in US elections and the undermining of public confidence in them.”
He went on to add, “While there has been no evidence that any foreign nation altered the voting results or the vote tallying in any US election, foreign powers have historically sought to exploit the free and transparent American political system.”
This state of emergency protocol has been in effect since September 12, 2018, when it was instituted by the administration of former President Donald Trump.
The United States has been on high alert concerning foreign interference since reports emerged about potential meddling in the 2016 US presidential elections. The state of emergency, initiated by the Trump administration in 2018, seeks to counter and protect the US electoral system from foreign influence.
Under this state, various mechanisms and agencies can take heightened measures to secure the electoral infrastructure and processes. The move by President Biden emphasizes continuity in ensuring the integrity of the US democratic process.
