Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp calls the charges against Trump a “stupid” distraction and insists the trial will not take place until after the 2024 election
- “We don’t have to focus on stupid things that aren’t going to happen before this election,” Republican Gov. Brian Kemp said in Atlanta on Friday
- Trump was indicted this week just 10 miles from where Kemp was speaking at a conservative conference in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia
- Also told the GOP to move on from 2020: “Complaints won’t help us win.”
Georgia’s Republican governor faced the indictment of Donald Trump in his state on Friday – but said the legal troubles are “stupid” and a way for Democrats to distract Republicans from choosing the best candidate in 2024.
The question was asked by conservative radio host Erick Erickson at his conference in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, after he vowed not to raise the issue with presidential candidates at the event because it would overshadow their programs.
Kemp said he couldn’t comment much on the prosecution because he’s likely to be a witness to the case, but dismissed the matter as something that could wait until after the 2024 presidential election.
“One thing is certain about these charges — in my opinion, in my opinion — this trial, regardless of the dates anyone is asking for, will not happen before the election,” Kemp pointed out during his question-and-answer session with Erickson of The Gathering conference in London Buckhead area of Atlanta.
He added, “And the Democrats want us to focus on things like that so we don’t focus on Joe Biden’s record.”
Republican Gov. Brian Kemp told a conservative conference in Atlanta on Friday when asked about Trump’s latest impeachment, “We don’t have to focus on stupid things that aren’t going to happen before this election.”
The conference is taking place just 10 miles from the Fulton County Jail, where Trump must surrender before next Friday on charges of racketeering related to his efforts to overturn the results of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election.
The Fulton County grand jury voted Monday night to indict Trump and 18 co-defendants on 41 counts. Now Trump faces his fourth indictment in less than a year.
At the heart of the allegations is a call Trump made with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, in which he told him to “find 11,780 votes,” which was exactly the amount he needed to get the state’s 2020 election results to change favor.
Kemp claims, “It should be such an easy path.” [Republicans] to win back the White House. But if we look in the rearview mirror.’
“We need to focus on the future and not on something that happened three years ago,” he said in reference to Trump’s insistence that he won the 2020 presidential election and the ensuing litigation in the years that followed.
“We don’t need to focus on stupid things that aren’t going to happen before this election,” the Georgia governor added. “We can take care of that later – after we win.”
Instead, he advises Republicans, “Tell the people what we are for.” And then we have to have a candidate who can win the election.”
A Fulton County grand jury voted Monday to indict Trump on 41 counts with 18 co-defendants related to efforts to overturn the results of Georgia’s presidential election. The latest indictment is Trump’s fourth indictment in less than a year
Kemp said the trial would not take place until after the 2024 election and urged his party to abandon the 2020 election, telling Conservative radio host Erick Erickson (pictured left): “Complaints will not help us win.”
Kemp says the “ground zero” for the 2024 election is Georgia and said the state is vital to Republicans if they want to retake the White House in 2024.
“I didn’t know a decade later that we would be Ground Zero, but the road to the White House is through Georgia,” he said. “If we don’t win the state, we don’t win the White House.” And I thought it was important to get our presidential nominee to Georgia so he could talk to our people and get exposure here.”
But he had a clear message for the roughly 500 participants at the conference: “Complaining will not help us win.”
“You can believe what you want about the 2020 election.” “That’s your right, I understand that, I have no problem with that,” Kemp said. “But the thing is, that was three years ago. And if you’re still mad about it, stop complaining, sign up as a campaign worker, become an election observer, get involved in the process, knock on the door, call. Do something that will help us win in 2024.”