In a recent development, a leaked phone call between former President Donald Trump and two Michigan canvassers has come to light, shedding new light on the pressure applied by Trump and his team to influence the certification of the state's election results. The audio recording of the call has not been released publicly, as the whistleblowers who provided it have requested that it remains confidential for the time being.
While it was previously known that Trump had made a phone call regarding the certification, the details revealed in the leaked transcript are raising eyebrows. The phone call took place after the canvassers had initially voted against certification but later changed their votes following criticism from their peers. During the call, Trump reportedly made false claims, alleging that the vote count in Detroit was rigged or fraudulent.
This newly emerged audio recording has the potential to play a significant role in a special counsel's case examining possible election subversion. Notably, it bears similarities to a controversial phone call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger earlier this year. Trump has a tendency to describe such calls as 'perfect,' despite the widespread concerns surrounding them.
The Trump campaign has issued a statement in response to the leaked phone call, although it does not directly address the contents of the call itself. The statement asserts that all of Trump's actions were carried out in pursuit of his duty as president to ensure election integrity and investigate alleged election irregularities.
Interestingly, Ronna McDaniel, Chair of the Republican National Committee and a Michigan native, was also involved in the phone call. Reports suggest that she played an integral role in convincing the canvassers not to sign the certification. According to the Detroit News, McDaniel urged them to refrain from signing and promised legal assistance if needed. Notably, the canvassers ultimately decided against signing the certification, even though it was later determined that their signatures were not necessary for its validity.
In response to her involvement in the phone call, McDaniel has released a statement defending her actions, stating that she believed there was ample evidence warranting an audit of the election results. This appears to be her justification for advocating against the certification during the call.
It is crucial to note that this leaked phone call contributes to a larger pattern of Trump's attempts to pressure state and local officials across the country to interfere and block the certification of election results. As the special counsel's case continues to unfold, the information revealed in this phone call could prove to be pivotal in understanding the extent of Trump's involvement in election subversion efforts.
As the investigation proceeds, it remains to be seen whether the audio recording will be publicly released, exposing the full details of what transpired during the phone call.
