Georgia Secretary of State's office launches probe into Trump's election phone call
Georgia's Secretary of State's office opened a probe yesterday into former U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the state's 2020 election results, a step that could lead to a criminal investigation by state and local authorities.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger had faced calls to open a probe after Trump was recorded in a Jan. 2 phone call pressuring Raffensperger to overturn the state's election results based on unfounded voter fraud claims.
"The Secretary of State's office investigates complaints it receives," said Walter Jones, a spokesman for Raffensperger's office, describing the investigation as "fact finding and administrative."
"Any further legal efforts will be left to the attorney general."
He said the probe, which was first reported by Reuters, was prompted by a complaint filed on Monday by George Washington University law professor John Banzhaf.
Banzhaf told Reuters he spoke with an investigator in Raffensperger's office on Monday, hours after he filed the complaint requesting a probe into Trump's potential election interference. It was his fourth such complaint to Georgia officials since the Jan. 2 call, he said.
Jason Miller, a Trump adviser, said, "There was nothing improper or untoward about a scheduled call between President Trump, Secretary Raffensperger and lawyers on both sides. If Mr. Raffensperger didn't want to receive calls about the election, he shouldn't have run for Secretary of State."
Legal experts say Trump's phone calls may have violated at least three state criminal election laws: conspiracy to commit election fraud, criminal solicitation to commit election fraud, and intentional interference with performance of election duties. The felony and misdemeanor violations are punishable by fines or imprisonment. If Trump were prosecuted, he would likely argue that he genuinely believed the election was rigged against him, the experts said, noting that criminal laws generally require a guilty state of mind or a deliberate intent to carry out a crime - and that this may be a high hurdle to clear in this case.
A large majority of the new COVID19 cases recorded in Region Seven have been recorded in Waramadong and authorities are now considering imposing a lockdown.
Speaking during a COVID-19 update yesterday, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony stated that the community remains a place of interest for the health authorities while adding that some additional testing was done there over the weekend and saw a number of new cases being recorded.
“Over the weekend we did additional testing there and unfortunately we have a number of additional cases so we have a doctor on site that has been working with the community,” he said.
Around 27 new cases were recorded in the community over the weekend and Anthony noted that those who have tested positive are in isolation at a community centre that is being used as an isolation facility.
Among the new cases were students and Anthony noted that one of four dorms would be utilized as an isolation centre for students who test positive.
In light of the new cases, he said a team that was previously in the area will be going back to the village to assess and then figure out what additional measures can be put in place.
“So there’s an ongoing discussion about those measures and we will be working with the community to ensure that we reduce the amount of cases,” Anthony said.
Additionally he noted that a lockdown is an active discussion.
The minister mentioned that the ministry is currently working out if it is logistically possible. “Some of those types of discussions have been initiated but there’s no conclusion as yet,” he stated.