SEATTLE — A federal appeals court has rejected an effort by two Democratic presidential electors from Washington state who sought to ensure they won’t get fined if they ignore the results of the popular vote in a longshot bid to deny Donald Trump the presidency.
Bret Chiafalo and Levi Guerra filed an emergency appeal after U.S. District Judge James Robart ruled against them on Wednesday. But the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday declined to grant them an emergency injunction pending their appeal, saying they failed to show they were likely to win their lawsuit.
The electors took a voluntary pledge to vote for their party’s nominee — Hillary Clinton — if she won Washington, which she did. But they say they might join with other so-called “Hamilton electors” from both parties to choose some other candidate when the Electoral College meets next Monday, saying Trump is unfit for office.
Washington law says electors who break their pledge can be fined up to $1,000.
