MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The required $3.5 million payment that triggered Wisconsin's presidential election recount came in just under the wire.
Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein requested the recount that concluded Monday. But before it could begin, she had to pay the estimated $3.5 million cost.
Wisconsin Elections Commission attorney Nate Judnic reported at a commission meeting Wednesday that "the money almost did not come in."
Judnic says state officials were working with banks and the Stein campaign to make sure the multi-million dollar wire transfer came in before the 4:30 p.m. deadline on Nov. 29. Judnic says confirmation of the wire transfer came at 4:26 p.m., with just four minutes to spare.
Wisconsin Elections Commission Chairman Mark Thomsen says, "It would have been a real mess if it came in at 4:31."
