Wolf says jabs ‘inaccurate’
HARRISBURG— After President Trump stood before a cheering crowd in Northampton County Mondayandblasted Gov. Tom Wolf repeatedly, a Wolf spokeswoman fired back, countering the Trump claims and calling one alleging interference in Trumprally planning “inaccurate.”
Trump, speaking at a campaign rally outside HoverTech International in Hanover Township, several times accused the Wolf administration of making it difficult for him to hold a campaign rally in the state.
“Your governor made it almost impossible to find a site. ... I’ll remember it, Tom,” Trump said.
Wolf spokeswoman Sara Goulet said in an email that the administration sent a letter to the Trump campaign earlier this year, asking it to abide by masking and social distancing guidelines. No response was received, Goulet said.
“Outside of that, the administration has had no contact with the Trump campaign about its events,” Goulet wrote. “The Trump campaign is under no obligation to reach out to the administration when it is planning visits. We believe the campaign works directly with the owners of property or local officials when planning. Again, what the president said is inaccurate.”
Trump also hinted that questionable activity occurs when Philadelphia votes are counted. And he said, in the context of Philadelphia vote counting, “We are watching you, Gov. Wolf.”
Goulet said Trump’s attacks were baseless and “an insult to the thousands of state and county employees across Pennsylvania who are diligently preparing for an efficient and accurate vote count.”
Pennsylvania, she said, will have an election that is safe, secure and fair “no matter what the president would have you believe.”
Trump also told the thousands attending the rally that Wolf “has got your whole commonwealth shut down.”
“This is patently untrue,” Goulet wrote. “The commonwealth has been open for months with common sense mitigation efforts like mask-wearing in place. The president may not agree with science, but that is what Pennsylvania is using to guide decisions to save lives, not giving in to the virus and encouraging people to gather unprotected and risk their lives and the lives of those around them.”