Bob Bauer, a senior adviser to President-elect Joe Biden, is blasting President Donald Trump after The Washington Post published audio of a phone call he had with Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
During the phone call, Trump can be heard pressuring Raffensperger to “find” votes to change the state’s presidential election results.
In a statement on Sunday, Bauer said, “We now have irrefutable proof of a president pressuring and threatening an official of his own party to get him to rescind a state’s lawful, certified vote count and fabricate another in is place.”
“It captures the whole, disgraceful story about Donald Trump’s assault on American democracy,” he added.
Read the statement below:
.@JoeBiden’s senior advisor Bob Bauer is accusing Pres. Trump of “pressuring and threatening” the Georgia Secretary of State, noting that the act is just another example of his ongoing “assault on American democracy.” https://t.co/vwDGRiuJeN pic.twitter.com/E2t82bNNzT
— Marianna Sotomayor (@MariannaReports) January 3, 2021
The Washington Post published an excerpt of Trump’s call with Raffensperger where he can be heard telling the secretary of state that “the people of Georgia are angry, the people in the country are angry” about the election results.
“There’s nothing wrong with saying, you know, um, that you’ve recalculated,” he added.
He continued to press Raffensperger on a series of baseless allegations of widespread fraud in Georgia as he asked whether ballots were shredded or voting machines were tampered with.
Raffensperger and his general counsel, who was also on the call, quickly shot down Trump’s claims as they defended the integrity of the state’s election.
Trump then said, “I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have, because we won the state.”
Trump’s comments during the call drew swift criticism on social media.
Check out some of the reactions below:
Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Senate Democrat, says President Trump's call with Georgia Secretary of State "merits nothing less than a criminal investigation."
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) January 3, 2021
Rarely do Americans witness directly for themselves such brazen corruption. Though ham-handed in this case, it is still a most dangerous betrayal of the nation, one that most Republicans in Washington have enabled and encouraged for years. Replace them. https://t.co/uta31jtii3
— Evan McMullin 🇺🇸 (@EvanMcMullin) January 3, 2021
.@realDonaldTrump's call to the Ga. SOS
— Rep. Hank Johnson (@RepHankJohnson) January 3, 2021
was far from "perfect." In fact, it is a violation of state and federal law. Tomorrow, I will introduce a resolution of Censure. Trump should resign NOW! https://t.co/Jor1AmFDh0
Are you guys serious? @HawleyMO @tedcruz @BillHagertyTN You know better. Denounce this criminal demagogue.
— Anthony Scaramucci (@Scaramucci) January 3, 2021
Transcript and audio: Trump call with Georgia Sec. of State Brad Raffensperger – The Washington Post https://t.co/uaz15ZKLV7
Trump’s contempt for democracy is laid bare. Once again. On tape.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) January 3, 2021
Pressuring an election official to “find” the votes so he can win is potentially criminal,
And another flagrant abuse of power by a corrupt man who would be a despot, if we allowed him.
We will not. https://t.co/YH7VtLJn3x
Trump’s contempt for democracy is laid bare. Once again. On tape.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) January 3, 2021
Pressuring an election official to “find” the votes so he can win is potentially criminal,
And another flagrant abuse of power by a corrupt man who would be a despot, if we allowed him.
We will not. https://t.co/YH7VtLJn3x
Trump’s phone call threatening Georgia’s Sec of State to change election results is outrageous and clearly shows he is profoundly unfit for office.
— Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) January 3, 2021
Read my full statement 👇 pic.twitter.com/A6rOAE77ep
This is absolutely appalling. To every member of Congress considering objecting to the election results, you cannot- in light of this- do so with a clean conscience. #RestoreOurGOP https://t.co/5UzrK4G0Jn
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) January 3, 2021
Ever notice this forever impeached president cannot help but project himself with others? "Rigged" elections, "highly improper," and "extraordinarily" corrupt all can be adjectives for this disgraced and outgoing president. https://t.co/C0OQPf7Pzi
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) January 3, 2021
This is clearly an impeachable offense and I believe there is nothing under the law giving Trump immunity from criminal process and indictment for this conduct.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 3, 2021
The law and order party is a farce. https://t.co/u4qJU7Kq0O
TRUMP CALL: @AOC tells us “I absolutely think it's an impeachable offense and if it was up to me, there would be articles on the floor, quite quickly “
— Erik Wasson (@elwasson) January 3, 2021
Hey @SenTedCruz and his gang:
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 3, 2021
You want to investigate election fraud? Start with this: https://t.co/u3K1ijtfCx
.@GaSecofState is an honorable man. Some of us know what it's like to stand up when it's easier to show your belly. https://t.co/QrVtID8cCE
— Denver Riggleman – Coalition of the Sane (@RepRiggleman) January 3, 2021
A big thank you to @GaSecofState for staying strong during this wild call with @realDonaldTrump . Just amazing. The conspiracy claims and accusations he has failed to uphold his duty leveled by POTUS are sad and so destructive. https://t.co/8pwREmCPLQ
— Paul Mitchell (@RepPaulMitchell) January 3, 2021
Biden won the state by 11,779 votes. However, Trump has made baseless allegations that there was widespread fraud that tilted the result in Biden’s favor.