U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. (Photo: AP)

Washington, September 26 (RHC)-- U.S. President Donald Trump's refusal to commit to accepting the results of November’s election if his rival Joe Biden wins, has sparked widespread alarm among Democrats and progressives.  

Vermont independent Senator Bernie Sanders said that with this election, the future of American democracy is at stake.  Sanders said: “We must ensure, in this unprecedented moment in American history, that this is an election that is free and fair, an election in which voters are not intimidated, an election in which all votes are counted, and an election in which the loser accepts the results.”

In related news, on Capitol Hill, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the Senate Homeland Security Committee he’s seen no evidence of the widespread voter fraud claimed by President Trump among mail-in ballots.  Wray said: “We have not seen, historically, any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election, whether it’s by mail or otherwise.”

The FBI director’s testimony came as a U.S. attorney and an FBI field office in Pennsylvania issued an unusual statement claiming they’re investigating reports of tampering with nine military ballots. The U.S. attorney says the ballots were “improperly opened,” with votes cast for Donald Trump “discarded” by elections officials.  The Trump campaign then seized on the announcement, saying: “Democrats are trying to steal the election.”

Loyola Law School professor Justin Levitt questioned the timing of the announcement, telling NPR: “It is the vital duty of government not to announce partial facts and 'potential issues' in pending investigations.  Indeed, it’s quite improper to announce the fact of an inquiry.  And grotesquely improper to announce whom the ballots were cast for, as if that mattered in the investigation.”