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The president of the United States, Donald Trump, has pressured the governor of Georgia to call a special legislative session aimed at annulling the results of the presidential elections in that state.
Trump’s obsession with his defeat threatens to overshadow his party’s campaign to save its majority in the United States Senate.
Trump and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp spoke by phone hours before Trump appeared at a rally in Valdosta, Georgia, where Republicans hope the president will devote his energy to imploring his supporters to vote in two second-round elections. in january. 5.
As I told the president this morning, I have publicly requested a signature audit three times (11/20, 11/24, 12/3) to restore confidence in our electoral process and ensure that only legal votes are counted in Georgia. . #gapol https://t.co/xdXrhf1vI2
– Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) December 5, 2020
Sources said the president asked Kemp to order the legislative session, but the governor refused.
Trump’s request was first reported by The Washington Post.
According to a tweet from the governor, Trump also asked him to order an audit of absentee ballots for the presidential race in his state, a step that Kemp is not authorized to take because he has no authority to interfere in the electoral process on behalf. of the president.
Trump’s personal contact with the governor showed that he intends to amplify his discredited and conspiracy theories about voter fraud, even as Georgia Republicans want him to focus on the Jan.5 runoff election and encourage his supporters. to go out and vote.
They are concerned that Trump is raising so much suspicion about the Georgia election that voters will think the system is rigged and will decide not to participate in the two Jan.5 elections, where Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler are trying to defend themselves from Democrats. Jon Ossoff and Raphael. Warnock, respectively, and keep the US Senate under Republican control.
I’ll be debating tomorrow.
David Perdue will advocate for the fifth.
– Jon Ossoff (@ossoff) December 5, 2020
In his tweet, Mr. Kemp said: “As I told the President this morning, I have publicly requested a signature audit three times (11/20, 11/24, 12/3) to restore confidence in our electoral process and to ensure that only legal votes are counted in Georgia. “
A recommendation is all you can do about the electoral process. The governor does not have the authority to order an audit in the race.
Additionally, the Georgia race was certified for President-elect Joe Biden and affirmed by state Republican election officials as a fairly conducted and counted vote, without any of the systemic errors Trump alleges.
The president’s aides publicly scoffed at the idea that Trump could do anything at the Valdosta rally other than encourage Republicans to back Perdue and Loeffler.
“I think it’s the beginning of these two senators crossing the finish line,” said White House press secretary Kelly McEnany on the eve of Trump’s visit.
I was proud to vote to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
We must ALWAYS confirm to the judges who interpret the law, not try to write it.
We MUST keep judicial activism out of the bank.
– Kelly Loeffler (@KLoeffler) December 5, 2020
McEnany credited Trump with being the main driver of his party’s turnout, noting that Republicans cut the majority of House Democrats, while several vulnerable Republican senators survived the challenges by comfortable margins.
But after two pro-Trump lawyers questioned last week whether voting again is worthwhile, echoing the president’s unfounded allegations of widespread voter fraud, even Vice President Mike Pence betrayed concerns that the Republican coalition could collapse under the Trump force grievances.
“I know we all have our doubts about the last election, and I hear some of you say, ‘Just don’t vote,'” Pence said Friday, while campaigning with Perdue in Savannah. “If you don’t vote, they win.”
Republicans need one more majority seat in the Senate. Democrats need a sweep in Georgia to force a 50-50 Senate, which would place Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as the most runoff votes.
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