Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) is dismissing President Donald Trump’s call to “overrule” the state’s “obstinate secretary of state” Brad Rafffensperger (R) in regard to the state’s signature matching requirements.
In a statement to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a spokesperson for Kemp, Cody Hall, said, “Georgia law prohibits the governor from interfering in elections. The Secretary of State, who is an elected constitutional officer, has oversight over elections that cannot be overridden by executive order.”
“As the governor has said repeatedly, he will continue to follow the law and encourage the Secretary of State to take reasonable steps – including a sample audit of signatures – to restore trust and address serious issues that have been raised,” he continued.
In a tweet on Monday morning, Trump said, “Why won’t Governor [Brian Kemp], the hapless Governor of Georgia, use his emergency powers, which can be easily done, to overrule his obstinate Secretary of State, and do a match of signatures on envelopes. It will be a ‘goldmine’ of fraud, and we will easily WIN the state.”
….Also, quickly check the number of envelopes versus the number of ballots. You may just find that there are many more ballots than there are envelopes. So simple, and so easy to do. Georgia Republicans are angry, all Republicans are angry. Get it done!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 30, 2020
“Also, quickly check the number of envelopes versus the number of ballots. You may just find that there are many more ballots than there are envelopes. So simple, and so easy to do. Georgia Republicans are angry, all Republicans are angry. Get it done!” he added.
Twitter added a warning to the president’s tweet that said his claim is “disputed.”
Trump has previously assailed Raffensperger, who he called an “enemy of the people” and a “disaster.”
He also took aim at Kemp as he said, “The governor’s done nothing. He’s done absolutely nothing. I’m ashamed that I endorsed him.”
Kemp and Raffensperger have repeatedly said they have not found evidence to support the president’s claim of widespread fraud in the state.