Schumer Wants FL Governor Rick Scott To Recuse Himself From FL Recount Procedures

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Sunday urged Gov. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) to recuse himself from recount procedures in Florida following midterm elections that resulted in three tight races ― including one in which Scott is a candidate.

Schumer suggested any role Scott would play as governor in the recounts represents a major conflict of interest, given that he is challenging Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson in the Senate race that is one of those still up in the air. Unofficial returns give Scott a razor-thin lead.

“Scott should recuse himself immediately,” Schumer said on CNN’s “State Of The Union.” “He has a self-interest in jaundicing this election. He should be out of it all together.”

Florida officials announced on Saturday the recounts in the races for the Senate seat, the governor’s office and for agriculture commissioner.

The margin separating Scott and Nelson in their race has narrowed to less than the 0.25-percentage-point threshold that triggers a manual recount, in which votes are counted by hand.