Overview
This call involved President Trump, his legal team, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, and staff, discussing the results of the 2020 Georgia presidential election. The discussion focused on allegations of voter fraud, disputed numbers, and requests for further investigation or data sharing to resolve disagreements ahead of an upcoming Senate election.
Allegations and Disputed Data
- President Trump and his team asserted widespread fraud, citing examples such as alleged forged signatures, out-of-state voters, vacant addresses, and ballots counted multiple times.
- Specific numbers mentioned included: 250,000–300,000 “mysteriously” dropped ballots, 18,000 allegedly scanned ballots at State Farm Arena, 18,325 ballots from vacant addresses, and up to 5,000 votes by deceased individuals.
- Trump’s team referenced allegations of ballot shredding and Dominion machine tampering in Fulton County.
- Secretary Raffensperger’s office repeatedly denied these claims, stating most numbers were incorrect and prior audits, recounts, and investigations found no substantial fraud.
Verification and Investigations
- The Secretary of State’s office detailed prior efforts: 100% hand recount, machine recount, and point-by-point testimony before the state legislature and Congress.
- State officials said law enforcement and GBI/FBI investigations found no evidence supporting Trump’s main fraud allegations, specifically regarding ballot scanning and ballot shredding.
Requests and Proposed Next Steps
- Trump’s team insisted on signature verification in Fulton County, access to additional state data, and further investigation of specific allegations, suggesting that such steps could change the election outcome.
- The Secretary of State’s team maintained certain data is protected by law but agreed to sit down with Trump’s attorneys to review specific claims and explain why their data is considered inaccurate.
- Confidentiality agreements were discussed as a means to allow some data review by the President’s attorneys.
Legal and Political Statements
- Trump and his attorneys emphasized public anger, Republican voter backlash, and the potential impact on Georgia’s upcoming Senate runoff if issues weren’t resolved quickly.
- The Secretary of State and staff committed to continue reviewing any specific credible allegations but stood by the certified election results.
Decisions
- Attorneys to meet and review disputed voter data: Both sides agreed lawyers would meet to examine four key vote categories and compare findings.
- Secretary of State’s office to explain findings: State attorneys will show why contested vote counts are considered inaccurate.
Action Items
- TBD – Ryan (Secretary of State’s office) & Kurt (Trump’s attorney): Coordinate a meeting to review data and disputed vote categories.
- TBD – Chris (Secretary of State’s attorney) & Kurt: Schedule and conduct the detailed legal review requested.
Questions / Follow-Ups
- Will the state provide additional data access under confidentiality?
- What are the results of any further law enforcement reviews into the specific incidents alleged?