Election official assails Trump
Georgia Republican lashes out at rhetoric that has triggered threats of violence.
ATLANTA — A top Georgia election official on Tuesday lashed out angrily at the rhetoric surrounding the election and the threats of violence that have resulted, specifically calling on President Trump to rein in his supporters.
Gabriel Sterling is a Republican who oversaw the implementation of the state’s new voting system. During a routine news conference at the state Capitol to provide an update on the recount of the presidential race requested by Trump, Sterling admonished the president and Georgia’s two U. S. senators, who are both locked in tight runoff races against Democrats and have called on GOP Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to resign over claims that he mishandled the election.
“Mr. President, you have not condemned these actions or this language. Senators, you have not condemned this language or these actions,” Sterling said, visibly angry. “This has to stop. We need you to step up, and if you’re going to take a position of leadership, show some.”
People have been driving in caravans past Raffensperger’s home, have come onto his property and have sent sexualized threats to his wife’s cellphone, said Sterling. Raffensperger and Sterling both have police off icers stationed outside their homes, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has said it’s investigating possible threats against officials to determine their credibility.
Sterling said his anger hurt. Someone’s going to get shot. Someone’s going to get killed,” Sterling said.
Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said in a statement Tuesday evening, “No one should engage in threats or violence, and if that has happened, we condemn that fully.”
The campaigns for Republican U. S. Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeff ler both issued statements Tuesday evening condemning violence but also criticizing election officials, according to news outlets.
“Like many officials, as someone who has been the subject of threats, of course Senator Loeff ler condemns violence of any kind. How ridiculous to even suggest otherwise,” Loeff ler campaign spokesman Stephen Lawson said. “We also condemn inaction and lack of accountability in our election system process — and won’t apologize for calling it out.”