For Jill Stein, it’s time to put her money where her mouth is. After raising $6.5 million and taking steps to initiate recounts in a trio of states Hillary Clinton lost in the Nov. 8 presidential election, Stein has to now pay for the recounts. The estimated costs vary for the three states where she’s fueling recount efforts —Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin — but combined, it’s within the amount of money Stein has raised so far. Stein on Tuesday met the 4:30 CT filing deadline and paid the nearly $3.5 million required for a recount, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Earlier in the day, fringe independent presidential candidate Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente withdrew his petition for a recount. The recount starts Thursday. In Michigan, Stein has until Wednesday to request a formal recount and must pay $973,250 to underwrite the costs, according to the Michigan secretary of state’s office. Her campaign on Monday notified the Michigan Board of State Canvassers of its intent to request — but has yet to file paperwork. Michigan officials expect Stein to pay the fee and initiate the recount before the deadline.
In Pennsylvania, where Stein has filed a lawsuit for a recount and is also conducting a precinct-by-precinct push, state officials estimate that a recount would cost Stein $500,000, if she is successful in getting a court to order one.
The core costs of the recounts, excluding legal fees, would come to nearly $5 million, well within the amount of money Stein has raised since the election and almost double the $3.5 million she raised during the presidential campaign itself. Stein’s campaign estimated Tuesday afternoon that its total costs would be something close to $9.5 million. That number includes “payments to states, lawyers, volunteer recruitment and other technical assistance,” according to a campaign fact sheet.
Full Article: Jill Stein gets her recount bill – POLITICO.