New details are emerging about Donald Trump’s pressure campaign on election officials in Georgia as he sought to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election (watch above).
“When the right answer comes out, you’ll be praised.” That’s what the then-president said in late December to Frances Watson, the chief investigator of the Georgia Secretary of State’s office, according to audio first obtained by The Wall Street Journal. Trump added, “Something bad happened.“
Analysis: New audio reinforces Trump’s blatant pressure campaign to overturn the election https://t.co/L1czfLkdN0
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) March 11, 2021
The Wall Street Journal provides additional details:
During the call, Mr. Trump told Ms. Watson that she had the most important job in the country at the time and urged her investigators to review signatures going back several years, according to the recording. While her audit was focused on Cobb County, he said she should look at Fulton County, the state’s most populous county that includes most of Atlanta. “If you can get to Fulton, you are going to find things that are going to be unbelievable,” he said.
On the call, Trump also called voting rights activists Stacey Abrams “really really terrible” and claimed his narrow loss in Georgia didn’t make any sense.
Another explosive tape of Trump committing felony election fraud in real time, authenticated by the Wall Street Journal https://t.co/PNRBB0QLH2
— Laurence Tribe 🇺🇦 ⚖️ (@tribelaw) March 11, 2021
Watson, the investigator, seemed flattered by Trump’s request, saying:
“I can assure you that our team and the [Georgia Bureau of Investigation], that we are only interested in the truth and finding the information that is based on the facts.” She added, “I do know that you are a very busy, very important man and I am very honored that you called. And quite frankly I’m shocked that you would take time to do that, but I am very appreciative.”
The new audio echoes a taped call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger that The Washington Post released in early January. On that call, Trump berated Raffensperger and told him to “find 11,780 votes.” Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has launched a criminal investigation and convened a grand jury to look into “potential violations of Georgia law prohibiting solicitation of election fraud, the making of false statements to state and local bodies, conspiracy, racketeering, violation of oath of office and any involvement in violence or threats related to the election’s administration.”
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis who is investigating whether former President Donald Trump illegally interfered with Georgia’s 2020 election, hired Atlanta lawyer John Floyd, a national authority on racketeering, to ‘provide help as needed’ https://t.co/Vh6s8ARuKi pic.twitter.com/uvweaqGiiq
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 6, 2021