By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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Exactly four years ago, President-elect Joe Biden welcomed vice president Mike Pence to the White House, saying the meeting was to offer support "for a smooth, seamless transition of power."
A picture of the meeting was posted on the former vice president's now archived Obama administration Twitter account.
It shows Biden with a hand on Pence's shoulder during the meeting on November 10, 2016—just a week after Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton to become the president-elect and Pence became vice president-elect.
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A statement issued after the meeting and linked in that tweet said that Biden and Pence had spoken about "their time working together in Congress and their friendship dating back many years."
It added that Biden also discussed with his successor "a number of specific policy portfolios that have been a critical focus for him during his time in office, including NATO and eastern Europe and expanding access to the middle class."
The statement also reiterated that Biden had "offered his full support" to ensure a smooth transition of power at the end of President Barack Obama's second term in early 2017, and had also extended a dinner invitation to Pence and his family.
Four years on, Pence is now the outgoing vice president, but has yet to extend the same courtesy to Biden or vice president-elect Kamala Harris.
Days after The Associated Press and major networks called the race for Biden after he was projected to clinch more than the 270 electoral college votes needed to win, Trump has not conceded, but has vowed to fight the election outcome in court.
Rather than working towards a smooth transfer of power in January, the president has blocked government officials from cooperating with Biden's transition team, the AP reported.
Few in the Republican Party have acknowledged Biden's victory as the president continues to falsely claim the election was stolen and air unsubstantiated allegations about widespread voter fraud.
Attorney General Bill Barr on Monday authorized the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) to investigate the claims of voter fraud. Barr's authorization prompted Richard Pilger, the DOJ's Director of the Election Crimes Branch, to tender his resignation hours later, The New York Times reported.
Meanwhile, Pence has kept a fairly low profile since Election Day, but has rallied behind the president on Twitter.
"Told @VP Team Today, "it ain't over til it's over.. and this AIN'T over!" President @realDonaldTrump has never stopped fighting for us and we're gonna Keep Fighting until every LEGAL vote is counted!" Pence tweeted Monday.
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