In a recent revelation, a newly-discovered audio recording from 2020 is making waves, shedding light on former President Donald Trump’s alleged pressure on two Republican canvassers in Wayne County, Michigan not to certify the 2020 election results.
According to quotes published by The Detroit News, the audio captures a phone call on November 17, 2020, where Trump, alongside Republican National Committee (RNC) chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, reportedly urged canvassers Monica Palmer and William Hartmann not to certify the election.
During the call, Trump emphasized the need to “fight for our country,” expressing concerns about the election results. McDaniel is reported to have told the canvassers, “If you can go home tonight, do not sign it… We will get you attorneys.” Trump, assuring support, stated, “We’ll take care of that.”
As a result of this pressure, Palmer and Hartmann left the canvassers meeting without signing the official statement of votes for Wayne County. The following day, they attempted to rescind their votes in favor of certification, filing legal affidavits claiming they were coerced.
The potential impact of their actions, had they been successful, could have cast doubt on the statewide certification of Michigan’s 2020 election. Craig Mauger, a reporter from The Detroit News, revealed that the obtained audio covers only about four minutes of what could be an 11-minute call, leaving the full context and content of the conversation unclear.
CNN’s Marshall Cohen, analyzing the situation, described the audio as “clearly powerful evidence” of Trump pressuring the canvassers. Cohen highlighted Trump’s attempts to peddle false claims and sway the canvassers against certification. Although they tried to reverse their votes, the certification process had already been set in motion.
Cohen cautioned about a potential repetition of such tactics, stating, “He might try to overturn it again” if Trump faces unfavorable poll standings. He emphasized the importance of the tape, noting its alignment with a pattern of Trump’s attempts in various states, including Georgia, Arizona, and Michigan, to influence individuals to break their oaths to the Constitution and overturn lawful election results.
CNN anchor Pamela Brown added crucial context, explaining that Trump would have needed three states to flip in order to unlawfully win the election. She pointed out the significance of understanding the pattern around these phone calls in different states.
In response to the audio recording, Cohen highlighted the quick reaction from the Trump campaign, suggesting that the revelation has unsettled them. The unfolding controversy surrounding the audio recording raises important questions about the integrity of the electoral process and the lengths to which political figures may go to influence election outcomes.