In a recent development, a recorded phone call has emerged, revealing former President Donald Trump pressuring election officials in Michigan not to certify the results of the 2020 election. The call, reported by The Detroit News, features Trump urging two Republican election officials in Wayne County to refrain from certifying their county's results. Wayne County is home to Detroit, a Democratic stronghold.
According to The Detroit News, Trump made the call after a meeting where the two officials initially voted against certification before later reversing their decision. In the recorded conversation, Trump allegedly said, 'We've got to fight for our country. We can't let these people take our country away from us.' The officials admitted that Trump had indeed contacted them.
The implications of this recording could be significant, particularly for Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is pursuing felony charges against Trump for attempting to overturn his election loss. While it is unclear if Smith has obtained the tape, it could serve as critical evidence in the upcoming trial, scheduled for March.
The recording is part of a pattern of Trump placing pressure on election officials across the country to disregard their duties and block the certification of results in key states. In Michigan, Trump allegedly attempted to convince the Detroit election canvassers that the results were tainted, stating, 'Everyone knows Detroit is crooked as hell.'
Other excerpts from the call published by The Detroit News reveal the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, Ronna McDaniel, advising against signing the certification papers. Trump responded, 'We'll take care of that,' raising questions about the need for attorneys if no wrongdoing was involved.
Furthermore, Trump made false claims about having 'more votes than people' to persuade the officials to block certification. This claim has been thoroughly debunked as a baseless conspiracy theory. Despite these efforts, the officials were unable to rescind their votes, and the results were ultimately certified, upholding President Joe Biden's victory in Michigan.
McDaniel defended her actions, stating that she only sought an audit of the results before certification to ensure election integrity. However, the Trump campaign has vigorously pushed back against any allegations, maintaining that Trump's actions were in line with his duty as the president to uphold the law and safeguard election integrity.
As this latest development unfolds, it highlights the narrow line between lawful actions and attempts to manipulate election outcomes. The significance of this recording in revealing Trump's efforts to sway election officials underscores the potential legal consequences he may face in the future.
