Brian Naylor

Presidents have awarded clemency in this way before, but it's certainly not the usual course of action. And there are unresolved questions about what might be to come.

The president-elect's team can now have government resources and officially meet with agencies as it prepares to take the reins of government.

President Trump, who still hasn't conceded, says he's "recommending" the GSA begin "initial protocols" to kick-start the transfer of power. The GSA chief says her decision was reached independently.

The General Services Administration is offering a briefing for congressional leaders behind closed doors next week.

Mayorkas, who was born in Havana, came to the U.S. with his family as a political refugee. He was U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services chief in the Obama administration.

Michigan, among the states where the Trump campaign has falsely alleged fraud, is scheduled to certify its results on Monday. GOP Sen. Mitt Romney and others have criticized the planned meeting.

National security experts argue for a smooth transition, which some administrations have accomplished, but any transition between President Trump and President-elect Joe Biden may be rocky.

It's up to General Services Administrator Emily Murphy to allow the flow of resources to the president-elect. The GSA referenced the contested 2000 election as precedent for its decision.

President-elect Biden has begun work on getting his administration in place, but the Trump administration has yet to hand him the keys to begin the transition formally.

A federal judge ordered the U.S. Postal Service to sweep its facilities for any ballots in North Carolina and Pennsylvania amid reports of ballots left behind or delivered late in some states.

Millions of outstanding votes have yet to be tallied, including in the key states of Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

The decision means about 127,000 ballots cast by drive-through voting in the Houston area will be counted. It follows similar rulings by a federal judge and the Texas Supreme Court.

Data show on-time delivery of first-class mail continues to lag, including in many swing states.

The executive order strips protections for thousands of federal workers. The administration says it's needed to get rid of "poor performers," but critics call it an attack on nonpolitical employees.

A record volume of election mail has moved through the U.S. Postal Service ahead of Election Day. And while there have been some delays, experts say voting by mail has gone relatively smoothly so far.

As the election draws closer, a record number of Americans are voting early. So far, fears about delays in ballots being returned through the mail haven't materialized.

Democrats boycotted the vote, pointing to what they called the damage she would do to health care, and reproductive and voting rights, and the fact the vote took place amid the presidential election.

The U.S. Postal Service said it agreed to the settlement with Montana because "it has always been our goal to ensure that anyone who chooses to utilize the mail to vote can do so successfully."

Republicans are bringing supporters of Judge Barrett to testify, while Democrats call on advocates for issues they believe are threatened by Barrett's confirmation to the Supreme Court.

Thursday was the fourth and final day hearings for President Trump's nominee. Next up in the process is the committee vote on Oct. 22.