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Judge orders Michigan recount to begin at noon Monday

DETROIT (AP) - Michigan must begin its presidential recount at noon Monday, a federal judge ruled in a late-night order that could make it more likely the state will complete the count ahead of a Dec. 13 deadline.

In his ruling early Monday morning, Judge Mark Goldsmith rejected an effort by state officials to delay the hand-counting of about 4.8 million ballots.

Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein argued that a law is unconstitutional that requires a break of at least two business days after the Board of Canvassers' final action on a recount request. Goldsmith found that Stein had "shown the likelihood of irreparable harm" if the count was delayed even by two days and rejected the state's arguments about the cost to taxpayers.

Republican Donald Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton by 10,704 votes, or two-tenths of a percentage point, in Michigan. Stein received about 1 percent of the vote.

Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette, the Trump campaign and super PACs have filed separate lawsuits asking state courts to prevent the recount, arguing that Stein, as the fourth-place finisher, is not "aggrieved" because she has no chance of winning in a recount.

The Green Party also wants recounts in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Stein has argued, without evidence, that irregularities in the votes in all three states suggest that there could have been tampering with the vote, perhaps through a well-coordinated, highly complex cyberattack.

Elections officials in the three states, all narrowly won by Trump, have expressed confidence in their results. Even if all three recounts happen, none were expected to give Clinton enough votes to emerge as the winner.

FILE - In this Sept. 21, 2016 file photo. Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein delivers remarks at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Green Party-backed voters dropped a court case Saturday night, Dec. 3, 2016, that had sought to force a statewide recount of Pennsylvania's Nov. 8 presidential election, won by Republican Donald Trump, in what Green Party presidential candidate Stein had framed as an effort to explore whether voting machines and systems had been hacked and the election result manipulated. (Christopher Dolan/The Citizens' Voice via AP, File) The Associated Press
Mark Brewer, an attorney for Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, addresses the Michigan Board of State Canvassers regarding Stein's request of a statewide presidential election recount, Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/David Eggert) The Associated Press
Attorney Mark Brewer, who appeared on behalf of Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, addresses the Michigan Board of State Canvassers regarding Stein's request of a statewide presidential election recount, Friday, Dec. 2, 2016 at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Mich. (Julia Nagy/Lansing State Journal via AP) The Associated Press
Attorney Mark Brewer, who appeared on behalf of Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, addresses the Michigan Board of State Canvassers regarding Stein's request of a statewide presidential election recount, Friday, Dec. 2, 2016 at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Mich. (Julia Nagy/Lansing State Journal via AP) The Associated Press
Election lawyers Gary Gordon, right, and John Pirich, left, who appeared on behalf of Donald Trump's presidential campaign, address the Michigan Board of State Canvassers regarding a request of a statewide presidential election recount by Green Party candidate Jill Stein, Friday, Dec. 2, 2016 at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Mich. (Julia Nagy/Lansing State Journal via AP) The Associated Press
Board of State Canvassers Chair Jeannette Bradshaw, second from right, waits a recess of the Michigan Board of State Canvassers meeting regarding a request of a statewide presidential election recount by Green Party candidate Jill Stein, Friday, Dec. 2, 2016 at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Mich. (Julia Nagy/Lansing State Journal via AP) The Associated Press
Election lawyers Gary Gordon, right, and John Pirich, left, who appeared on behalf of Donald Trump's presidential campaign, address the Michigan Board of State Canvassers regarding a request of a statewide presidential election recount by Green Party candidate Jill Stein, Friday, Dec. 2, 2016 at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Mich. (Julia Nagy/Lansing State Journal via AP) The Associated Press
Election lawyers Gary Gordon, right, and John Pirich, left, who appeared on behalf of Donald Trump's presidential campaign, address the Michigan Board of State Canvassers regarding a request of a statewide presidential election recount by Green Party candidate Jill Stein, Friday, Dec. 2, 2016 at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Mich. (Julia Nagy/Lansing State Journal via AP) The Associated Press
Board of State Canvassers Vice-Chair Norman D. Shinkle, right, talks to board member Colleen Pero during a recess of the Michigan Board of State Canvassers meeting regarding a request of a statewide presidential election recount by Green Party candidate Jill Stein, Friday, Dec. 2, 2016 at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Mich. (Julia Nagy/Lansing State Journal via AP) The Associated Press
Michigan Board of State Canvasser Colleen Pero questions attorney Mark Brewer, who appeared on behalf of Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein's request for a statewide election recount, Friday, Dec. 2, 2016 at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Mich. (Julia Nagy/Lansing State Journal via AP) The Associated Press
Board of State Canvassers member Julie Matuzak, right, talks to board chair Jeannette Bradshaw during a recess of the Michigan Board of State Canvassers meeting regarding a request of a statewide presidential election recount by Green Party candidate Jill Stein, Friday, Dec. 2, 2016 at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Mich. (Julia Nagy/Lansing State Journal via AP) The Associated Press
Election lawyers John Pirich, left, and Gary Gordon, who appeared on behalf of Donald Trump's presidential campaign, address the Michigan Board of State Canvassers regarding a request of a statewide presidential election recount by Green Party candidate Jill Stein, Friday, Dec. 2, 2016 at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Mich. (Julia Nagy/Lansing State Journal via AP) The Associated Press
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