President Donald Trump on Tuesday night continued to perpetuate election fraud propaganda even amid concerns that the false claims had put at risk the lives of officials involved in securing the election Georgia, which has been a central target of the President’s ire amid his election loss last month.
The President shared a post on Twitter that included comments from a voting systems implementation manager in Georgia, Gabriel Sterling, who called on the President to condemn the death threats that grew from efforts he has waged to promote claims of voter fraud. Those efforts, according to Sterling, are “inspiring acts of violence” that endanger the lives and wellbeing of key state officials, including Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, among others.
“Mr. President, you have not condemned these actions or this language,” Sterling said on Tuesday, adding that he and the Secretary of State had received death threats amid Trump’s effort to sow discord and deny the integrity of the vote in Georgia.
Rather than back down from his attacks on the two Republican state officials, Trump doubled down with even more venom — directly mentioning the governor who he formerly endorsed — and suggesting that Kemp and Raffensperger must be “afraid” of what voter fraud would be revealed in the Peach State even after a recount of ballots in Georgia confirmed President-elect Joe Biden as the state’s winner.
“Rigged Election. 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!!!” Trump tweeted.
President Trump’s attacks on local officials have typically been directed at Democratic leaders. In April, the President targeted Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) for measures taken in her state to combat the spread of coronavirus. Months later, Trump’s attacks on the governor were cited as potentially inciting an alleged plot to kidnap the Democratic leader that was foiled by federal authorities.
Trump’s most recent attacks show that he is willing to extend that rage to leaders within his own party who refuse to kowtow to his election falsehoods.
“Someone is going to get hurt, someone is going to get shot, someone is going to get killed,” Sterling said on Tuesday. “And it’s not right.”
