Stein still stands to benefit under losing recount effort

(AP) — Green Party candidate Jill Stein's efforts to force a recount of the presidential race in three states where she admittedly doesn't think the result would change has led to questions about her motives and criticism that she's just trying to raise her profile and fatten her own coffers.

Stein maintains that the recounts aren't about trying to make Clinton president, but about instilling confidence in the results in the face of unsubstantiated claims of potential security breaches.

The loudest critics are Trump supporters, who argue that Stein is secretly working with Clinton's campaign in a destined-to-fail attempt to steal the election.

The Wisconsin Republican Party filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission alleging the recount amounts to illegal coordination with Clinton.

Trump on Sunday called the recount, "Just a Stein scam to raise money!" His supporters voiced their displeasure during Stein's news conference Monday outside Trump Tower, with one heckler yelling "Jill Stein is a common criminal."

Clinton intervened and supported a lawsuit in Wisconsin filed by Stein seeking a hand recount, and the state Democratic Party solicited volunteers to help watch the ballots being recounted.

Stein has also hired lawyers to fight legal battles in all three states, including Pennsylvania where the Green Party filed a federal lawsuit on Monday seeking a statewide recount.

In addition to raising more money, Stein has also bolstered her name recognition — while also drawing the ire of Trump — with the historic multi-state recount effort.