2016 Green Party candidate Jill Stein says Trump's recount efforts 'self-serving'

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- If the Trump campaign decides it wants a recount, it would be only the second presidential recount in Wisconsin history.

The first was four years ago for Green Party candidate Jill Stein.

Stein says her 2016 recounts were successful in improving election processes, but she questions President Trump's motives for a 2020 recount.

"There were a lot of high profile hacks that were happening in the business community, state election departments, there was reported hacks of voter databases and so on," said Stein.

She said she never intended for her recount in Wisconsin to change the election results. She said that wasn't likely anyway.

"We were doing recounts in order to improve and restore voter confidence," said Stein.

Then-candidate Trump held a 27,000 vote lead over Hillary Clinton. Stein said Clinton had already conceded the election. But Stein had concerns with a familiar topic, absentee ballots.

"An increase in absentee votes that otherwise don't have an explanation," said Stein.

She said her recount efforts in four states were a success. Old voting machines were replaced in Pennsylvania, automatic audits were implemented, and in some states she said election software could be inspected.

"It's really important to the have the software inspected as well," said Stein.

She believes President Trump's recount calls this time are not in the public interest.

"This is a very self-serving process for Donald Trump, he told us long before the election that it would be valid if he won, and it would be fraudulent if he didn't," said Stein.

Stein wanted Wisconsin to conduct a statewide hand recount in 2016. That didn't happen. Counties still have the option to do a hand recount or use the voting machines when recounting ballots.