According to reports Donald Trump made attempts earlier today to have Georgia Republican Governor Brian Kemp interfere in the state’s 2020 presidential election results. The Washington Post and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution both broke news of the incident.
Trump apparently contacted Kemp by phone on Saturday, requesting that Kemp call for a special session in the Gorgia legislature to overturn the outcome of the November election. Joe Biden won the state by over 12,000 votes. Trump hoped that the state would select electors that would vote for him in the electoral college, in contradiction to the actual vote totals from the people of Georgia.
Kemp was also asked by Trump to order an audit of signatures on absentee ballot envelopes, however Kemp can only provide recommendations as he does not have the authority to interfere in the electoral process on the behalf of Trump. The AP reported that both a senior government official in Georgia, as well as an individual close to the White House who was familiar with the matter verified the account of the call.
Requests from a President to have states overturn their actual popular votes is unprecedented in American politics. Such incredible measures should require strong and overwhelming evidence of election tampering, lest it be an authoritarian attempt to gain power. Such evidence has yet to be presented in the courts.
Trump Frustrated with Kemp
After failing to sway Kemp, Trump took to Twitter complaining about his failure to secure signature verifications. Kemp responded:
Trump has apparently been frustrated with Kemp since the election, claiming on Fox News that he had “done nothing” to help in Georgia. Trump also said, “I’m ashamed that I endorsed him.” As well as calling Kemp a “moron” and “nut job”.
This comes as the Trump campaign continues to allege voter and election fraud despite providing no evidence that has stood up in the court of law. In fact a third vote count was completed today, once again confirming Joe Biden won the state. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger will again certify the election results in favor of Biden.
Possible Runoff Implications
Some Trump loyalists, including Atlanta lawyer Lin Wood, are attempting to convince voters in the state to not vote in the Senate runoffs on January 5th due to the “rigged” elections. As stated by Sidney Powell at a rally in Atlanta, “I would encourage all Georgians to make it known that you will not vote at all until your vote is secure — and I mean that regardless of party.”
Whether or not these calls of protest will have any effect on the election is unknown, but if there were any at all it would likely hurt Republicans more than Democrats. A Reuters/Ipsos poll taken from November 13-17 revealed that nationwide 68% of Republicans said they were concerned that the election was “rigged”. Only 16% of Democrats and one-third of independents answered the same.
Tonight President Trump is holding a rally in Valdosta Georgia, presumably in support of the Georgia Republican Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler.
Comments