A recording of a November 2020 phone call between then-President Donald Trump, RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel, and two Michigan Republican officials has been reviewed by the Detroit News. It shows just how involved Trump was in attempting to overturn the 2020 election, in which he was defeated by President Joe Biden.
Concerning Comments
“We’ve got to fight for our country,” Trump said on the recordings of the call, which were made by a person present with the two Michigan election officials. “We can’t let these people take our country away from us,” the former President continued.
The Players Involved
Trump was speaking to Monica Palmer and William Hartmann, two Republican members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers. He was attempting to convince them not to sign the certification of the 2020 presidential election.
Official Involvement
Ronna McDaniel, chairwoman of the Republican National Committee and a Michigan native, joined Trump in pressuring the two election workers. “If you can go home tonight,” she said in the recording, “do not sign” the certification of the election. “We will get you attorneys.”
Rapid Events
According to records reviewed by the Detroit News, the call between Trump, McDaniel, and the election workers happened just 30 minutes after a meeting between the Wayne County Board of Canvassers ended on November 17, 2020.
Potential Outcome
-
Illustration. Image credit: Joseph Sohm via Shutterstock If Palmer and Hartmann had bowed to the pressure from Trump and McDaniel, the election results in Michigan could have been undermined. While the two election workers refused to sign the official certification paperwork, the state board managed to certify the election on November 23, 2020.
Unacceptable Opposition
Illustration. Image credit: Shutterstock According to Chris Thomas, who was the director of elections in Michigan for more than thirty years, there was no legal reason for Palmer and Hartmann to block certification of the election.
Free and Fair
Illustration, Image credit: mikeledray via Depositphotos Despite Trump’s claims, there is no evidence of cheating or fraud in the 2020 election in Michigan. In fact, Trump actually performed better in Detroit, the center of Trump’s accusations of fraud, in 2020 than in 2016.
Makes no Sense
Illustration. Image credit: Shutterstock There was a slight discrepancy in Detroit: About 150 fewer absentee ballots were tabulated than there were names in the poll books. “If the ballots had been illegally counted,” explained Jonathan Brater, Michigan’s election director, “there would be substantially more, not slightly fewer, ballots tabulated than names in the poll books.”
Legal Troubles
Illustration. Image credit: Potashev Aleksandr / Shutterstock.com The recording adds yet more evidence to the mounting pile being used to back Trump’s federal indictment for election interference. It also could mean legal ramifications for McDaniel.
Not Alone
Image by Depositphotos.com Trump didn’t just attempt to interfere in the Michigan election. He also personally pressured election officials in Georgia and Arizona.
More from AllThingsFinance
Image by palinchak via Depositphotos.com Jack Smith urges Judge Aileen Cannon for a speedy trial in a classified documents case involving ex-President Trump: Jack Smith continues pushing Judge Cannon, reminding her that “the speedy trial clock” is ticking
Defamation lawsuit against Kari Lake advances while people compare her to Rudy Giuliani
Image by lev radin / Shutterstock.com Kari Lake loses First Amendment right to accuse Maricopa County recorder; Arizona Republic ponders if she’s channeling Rudy Giuliani in her sleep : Defamation lawsuit against Kari Lake advances while people compare her to Rudy Giuliani
More Democrats are flipping in a crucial swing state than Republicans
Image by palinchak via Depositphotos.com In Pennsylvania, a significant number of registered Democrats flipping is sending an unflattering signal to President Biden: More Democrats are flipping in a crucial swing state than Republicans
