Michigan vote recount halted; federal judge reverses his previous ruling

A federal judge has ordered an end to Michigan's vote recount days after allowing it to proceed.

U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith's ruling late Wednesday dissolves his temporary restraining order against the Michigan Board of Elections that allowed the recount to continue, CNN said.

Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein has pressed for recounts in three states — Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — and argued against a Tuesday decision by the State of Michigan Court of Appeals that stopped the recount, the network reported.

Stein took her case to federal court saying she was constitutionally entitled to a recount, CNN said. Stein also has raised concerns about vote tampering in the three battleground states, all of which Republican President-elect Donald Trump won.

But Goldsmith, deferring to the state court's interpretation, said, "Plaintiffs have not presented evidence of tampering or mistake. Instead, they present speculative claims going to the vulnerability of the voting machinery — but not actual injury," the network reported, citing Goldsmith's order.

"A recount as an audit of the election has never been endorsed by any court," Goldsmith added, CNN said.

Michigan Republican Party Chairman Ronna Romney McDaniel told the network Goldsmith's latest ruling reflected the will of the state's voters: "The courts have affirmed the stance the campaign has maintained from day one: Jill Stein, who received only 1.07% of the vote in Michigan, is not legally entitled to hijack the will of voters and drag them into an arduous and expensive publicity stunt. Jill Stein's 1% temper tantrum cost Michigan taxpayers millions of dollars and would have cost them additional millions of dollars if not for the actions of President-elect Trump, the Michigan Republican Party, and Attorney General Bill Schuette."

Stein can appeal the latest ruling with the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, CNN said.

She spoke on Facebook live after the reversal, saying "this fight is the right one and it's only just begun" and "it's not over yet," the network reported.