Trump vows 'major investigation into voter fraud'

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON

President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will seek an investigation into claims of voter fraud amid criticism after he said without providing any evidence that three to five million illegal voters cost him the popular vote.

"I will be asking for a major investigation into VOTER FRAUD," Trump wrote in an early-morning tweet.

The investigation, he said, will look at alleged voters registered in two states, undocumented migrants who allegedly cast ballots, and votes from deceased persons.

"Depending on results, we will strengthen up voting procedures!" Trump added.

While the new American president surpassed the Electoral College threshold to secure the presidency in the Nov. 8 vote, he overwhelmingly lost the popular vote with the official tally putting him nearly 3 million votes behind Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

That has been a source of consternation for the American president, leading him to reiterate unsubstantiated claims that millions of voters cast ballots illegally.

After speaking to lawmakers and telling them that three to five million voters voted illegally, he drew a strong rebuke from Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham who said he needs to "knock it off".

"That shakes confidence in our democracy -- he needs to disclose why he believes that," Graham said while speaking to CNN.

House Speaker Paul Ryan also dismissed Trump's assertion, saying he has seen no evidence that supports the mass voter fraud Trump has alleged.

All state races as well as the national capital's results have been verified without evidence to back Trump's claims.

Following Trump's early Wednesday tweet, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted said his office has already looked into voter fraud claims.

"We conducted a review four years ago in Ohio and already have a statewide review of 2016 election underway. Easy to vote, hard to cheat," Husted said before offering Trump a series of suggestions that hinged on giving states greater access to federal data.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters Tuesday Trump made his claims "based on studies and evidence presented to him”.

Spicer did not provide evidence to substantiate the claim, only saying "It's a belief he [Trump] maintains".