As political leaders in Georgia and across the nation digest the full audio of President Donald Trump’s conversation with Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, there has been widespread criticism of the president’s actions from Democrats. Some are even calling for a criminal investigation or impeachment.
Some Republicans have backed Raffensperger. Most members of the party, however, have been silent or refuse to say whether they believe the call was problematic. A few even questioned the secretary of state’s decision to record the conversation.
Here is roundup of some of the reactions, culled by statements in media interviews or via social media.
U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Lithonia: “@realDonaldTrump’s call to the Ga. SOS was far from ‘perfect.’ In fact, it is a violation of state and federal law. Tomorrow, I will introduce a resolution of Censure. Trump should resign NOW!” (Via Twitter)
Republican U.S. Sen. David Perdue: “I don’t think that it’s going to affect our election. I’m still shocked that a member of the Republican party would tape a sitting president and then leak that. That’s disgusting in my view.” (Via Fox News)
Republican U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler: “My sole focus is on tomorrow, Jan. 5th, everything’s at stake for this country.” (At her Tuesday event)
David Shafer, Republican Party of Georgia chairman: “Mind boggling that @GaSecofState and his lawyers would secretly record and release a confidential settlement conference with the President. I have made open records requests to the Secretary of State which have never been acknowledged or answered. This is lawlessness.” (Via Twitter)
State Elections Board member David Worley, a Democrat: “As the senior member of the Board, I am today writing to request that your office open an investigation into January 2 , 2021 telephone call with President Donald J. Trump and others to determine whether violations of the provisions of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated which prohibit solicitation to commit election fraud have occurred. (Via the New York Times)
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jon Ossoff: “That is a direct attack on our democracy, and if David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler had one piece of steel in their spine, one shred of integrity, they would be out here defending Georgia voters from that kind of assault.” (At his Sunday rally)
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Raphael Warnock: “Georgia elected @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarrris. That’s a fact. @KLoeffler has a responsibility to speak out against these unsubstantiated claims of fraud, defend Georgia’s elections, and to put Georgia ahead of herself. But she hasn’t. And she never will.” (Via Twitter)
U.S. Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux, D-Suwanee: “The United States of America is a democracy, not a dictatorship. Donald Trump is trying to change the outcome of the presidential election by strong-arming and bullying our elections officials into subverting out democracy. This is an outrage. I will use every power in my authority to reject Trump’s desperate attacks on Georgia’s voters and our elections.” (Statement via email)
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois: “This disgraceful effort to intimidate an elected official into deliberately changing & misrepresenting the legally confirmed vote totals in his state strikes at the heart of our democracy and merits nothing less than a criminal investigation.” (Via Twitter)
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York: “I absolutely think it’s an impeachable offense and if it was up to me, there would be articles on the floor, quite quickly.” (In media interview)
Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, a Republican: “I am 100% certified to tell you that it was inappropriate. And it certainly did not help the situation. It was based on misinformation, it was based on, you know, all types of theories that have been debunked and disproved over the course of the last 10 weeks.” (Via CNN)
State Sen. Jen Jordan, D-Atlanta: “I appreciate Fulton County DA @FaniWillisForDA‘s willingness to look into Trump’s conduct of Trump. But person that should immediately open investigation into Trump’s attempts to overturn election is state’s chief legal officer, @Georgia_AG Chris Carr.” (Via Twitter)
Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis, a Democrat: “Like many Americans, I have found the news reports about the President’s telephone call with the Georgia secretary of state disturbing. It is my understanding from news reports that a member of the State Election Board has requested that the secretary’s Elections Division investigate the call, after which the board can refer the case to my office, and the state Attorney General.” (Statement via email)
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