Trump calls for 'major probe' into voter fraud

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for "a major investigation" into "voter fraud" in the 2016 election, after his claims earlier this week, without citing any evidence, that millions of illegal votes were cast during the November polls.

"I will be asking for a major investigation into VOTER FRAUD, including those registered to vote in two states, those who are illegal and ... even, those registered to vote who are dead (and many for a long time). Depending on results, we will strengthen up voting procedures!" Trump wrote in two consecutive tweets.

Trump's comments on voter fraud came Monday during a meeting with Congressional leaders.

On Tuesday, Trump's press secretary vigorously defended Trump's statement about illegal voters, though neither Trump nor his surrogates could provide evidence that any substantial illegal voting had occurred or influence the popular vote.

Trump lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by nearly 3 million votes in the presidential polls, but won the Electoral College and thus the presidency.

Trump, however, has seemingly been fixated on the popular vote, tweeting after the election in November that, "In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally."

--IANS

soni/vm