It is a recording of a telephone conversation that reveals the pressure exerted by the former American president. The script of this call, published on Thursday, December 21, by the American newspaper The Detroit News, which dates back to November 17, 2020, shows that Donald Trump put pressure on Republican officials in Michigan to dissuade them from accepting the results confirm the American presidential election in the state, in which his democratic opponent Joe Biden was clearly ahead.
Speaking to Republican election officials in the northwestern US state of Wayne County, Reps. Monica Palmer and William Hartman, who had just voted to certify their county's presidential election results, Mr. Trump said: “We have to fight for our country,” “we can.” .” “Don’t let these people steal our country.”
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“Don’t sign the document”
The chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, Ronna McDaniel, originally from Michigan, also took part in the exchange and, in turn, told the two election workers: “If you can, go home tonight, do not sign the document.” (… ) We will arrange lawyers for you.” After his agreement, the then Republican president added: “We will take care of it.” »
In response to this call, the two election officials left the certification meeting without signing the document. The next day, they unsuccessfully tried to reverse their vote in favor of certification, saying they were pressured, The Detroit News reports.
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“What I said and repeated publicly at the time (…) is that there was sufficient evidence to warrant an audit,” Ms. McDaniel responded in a press release following the release of the recording. For his part, Mr. Trump's campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, told the newspaper that the ex-president intends “to diligently ensure compliance with the law and ensure the integrity of the election, including through investigations into the rigged and stolen 2020 presidential election.”
The 77-year-old former US head of state and candidate for the 2024 presidential election is mired in legal matters. Specifically, he is scheduled to go on trial in March in Washington, New York, on charges of unlawful attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Mr. Trump is also facing election pressure charges in the state of Georgia, where, according to a recording of a phone call, he asked Brad Raffensperger, a senior official in that state, to “find” nearly 12,000 ballots in his name. catch up.
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