Tensions reached a boiling point in Georgia on Wednesday as threats of violence by angry Trump supporters and Twitter jabs by the president increased as the state neared its second and final recount deadline.
Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s Republican secretary of state who has been on the receiving end of death threats, said the election results will be recertified on Friday.
Gov. Brian Kemp, who has been tagged “hapless” by President Trump for not illegally interfering in the race, will also have to sign off on the recount results.
All of Georgia’s 159 counties are expected to make Wednesday’s deadline.
The state is undergoing its third tally of votes, following the initial count and a hand recount that led to President-elect Joe Biden being certified as the winner. Trump requested the recount, as he is entitled to do under state law, because Biden’s margin of victory was less than 0.5 percentage points. Biden was ahead of Trump by more than 12,000 votes.
Since Election Day, Trump has spread theories about Georgia’s voting system being rigged.
He’s riled up supporters in the Peach State who have staged multiple protests at the state Capitol, marching up and down the block while waving big American flags and holding blue Trump 2020 signs.
During a recent trip to Atlanta, some of Trump’s faithful followers spoke to the Washington Examiner. All refused to acknowledge his defeat.
While hanging on to the hope of victory is one thing, some Republican state officials are saying the devotion is going too far and putting election workers at risk.
“It’s. All. Gone. Too. Far.
It has to stop. Mr. President, you have not condemned these actions or this language.
All of you who have not said a damn word are complicit in this.”
Georgia election official condemns death threats against workers.pic.twitter.com/WvUkqqY2io
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) December 2, 2020
On Tuesday, Gabriel Sterling, a high-ranking Georgia election official, lashed out at Trump for failing to condemn escalating threats of violence against workers overseeing the voting system.
“It has to stop,” said Sterling, a Republican. “Mr. President, you have not condemned these actions or this language.”
Sterling, who has faced threats himself, added that elections are the “backbone of democracy, and all of you who have not said a damn word are complicit in this. It’s too much.”
Sterling, whose voice was shaking as he spoke, asked Trump to “step up” and “stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of violence.”
“Someone is going to get hurt. Someone is going to get shot. Someone is going to get killed,” he said.
Georgia’s Republican Party Chairman David Shafer on Wednesday suggested to the Washington Examiner that Democrats are to blame for the escalation.
“I would not be surprised if the threats against Secretary Raffensperger are from Democrats trying to distract him from pursuing the 250 election-related investigations he has opened.” Shafer said. “But whomever is responsible should be prosecuted.”
The comments come as some Georgia Republicans are sounding the alarm ahead of Trump’s planned visit to the state on Saturday to campaign for Republican Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue.
“Will be going to Georgia for a big Trump Rally in support of our two great Republican Senators, David and Kelly. They are fantastic people who love their Country and love their State. We must work hard and be sure they win. #USA,” Trump tweeted Wednesday.
Will be going to Georgia for a big Trump Rally in support of our two great Republican Senators, David and Kelly. They are fantastic people who love their Country and love their State. We must work hard and be sure they win. #USA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 2, 2020
However, the outgoing president’s denials of defeat could threaten the party’s ability to win the two crucial Senate races.
Perdue and Loeffler face Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock in Jan. 5 matchups that will determine which party controls the Senate.
Republicans have expressed concern that Trump will use Saturday’s stage to amplify his allegations of widespread voter fraud.
Loeffler and Perdue have backed Trump’s allegations of widespread voter fraud and sided with the president instead of the state’s Republicans, who have claimed the voting system is legitimate.
Trump on Tuesday once again called Georgia’s election “rigged.”
“Rigged election,” he tweeted. “Show signatures and envelopes. Expose the massive voter fraud in Georgia. What is Secretary of State and @BrianKempGa afraid of. They know what we’ll find!!!”
On Monday, he blasted Kemp for not stepping in to “overrule” Raffensperger’s certification of Biden’s win in the state. On Sunday, Trump told Fox News that he was “ashamed” of endorsing Kemp.
The GOP bashing could come back to haunt Perdue and Loeffler.
Earlier this week, Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan backed Kemp and Raffensperger and warned that Republicans could risk “alienating voters” by spreading misinformation about election fraud ahead of the two crucial runoff races.
Brendan Buck, once a top adviser to former House Speaker Paul Ryan, told the Associated Press that Trump is hampering efforts in Georgia.
“The president has basically taken hostage this race,” Buck said.
