Four years ago, Georgia found itself embroiled in a contentious battle as then-President Donald Trump and his allies sought to overturn his election loss. The state's election officials, including Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and individual poll workers, faced a barrage of attacks ranging from harassment to physical threats and legal action.
Fast forward to the present day, and concerns about a potential repeat of these assaults on election workers have led to the establishment of a new legal defense fund. This initiative, spearheaded by allies of Raffensperger, aims to provide legal assistance to election officials who may be targeted, harassed, or sued for simply carrying out their duties in this crucial battleground state.
The Election Defense Fund has already raised close to $2 million, with a target of reaching $5 million. Ryan Germany, a former general counsel in Raffensperger's office and a key figure in the fund, emphasized the importance of supporting election officials who uphold the law and fulfill their responsibilities.
Germany highlighted the fund's dual purpose of aiding officials facing unwarranted legal challenges and pursuing legal action against those who seek to obstruct or contest this year's election results. With the specter of a potential contested outcome looming, the fund aims to ensure that election officials receive the necessary backing for carrying out their duties diligently.
Meanwhile, Trump and his supporters have already begun laying the groundwork to challenge the election results in case of a defeat. This anticipated effort is expected to unfold both in and out of court, particularly in states where the margins are narrow. Notably, Trump lost Georgia to Joe Biden in 2020 by a margin of just under 12,000 votes.
