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Georgia and Arizona officials testify at Jan. 6 committee hearing | June 21

CBS News・2 minutes read

Former President Trump pressured state officials to overturn the 2020 election results, but faced resistance from Arizona Speaker Bowers for being unconstitutional. The pressure campaign included threats, protests, and false claims of voter fraud, highlighting the impact on election integrity and democracy.

Insights

  • Former President Trump pressured state officials to overturn the 2020 election results, but Arizona House Speaker Bowers resisted, deeming it unconstitutional and illegal.
  • Despite Trump's claims, Arizona's audit found no evidence of fraud, highlighting his efforts to influence state election officials to alter results.
  • Witnesses detailed Trump's pressure tactics on state officials, emphasizing threats, intimidation, and protests to reverse election outcomes.
  • The scheme to replace legitimate electors with fake ones involved Trump, his campaign, and the RNC, with legal and White House counsel concerns about its legality.
  • Witnesses faced threats, harassment, and intimidation due to false election fraud claims, with Trump's persistence in promoting the "big lie" disrupting lives and democracy.

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Recent questions

  • What were the main themes discussed at the hearing?

    The main themes discussed at the hearing revolved around former President Trump's pressure tactics on state officials to overturn election results, the lack of evidence of fraud in Arizona's audit, and the broader impact of Trump's efforts to influence state election officials. Witnesses testified against Trump's scheme to subvert democracy by creating fake electors, highlighting the threats and pressure exerted on state officials to reverse election outcomes. The hearing emphasized Trump's persistence in pushing false election claims and the dangerous public pressure faced by state officials.

  • How did Arizona House Speaker Bowers respond to Trump's pressure campaign?

    Arizona House Speaker Bowers resisted Trump's pressure campaign to replace electors, deeming it unconstitutional and illegal. Despite Trump's claims that Bowers acknowledged the election was rigged and that he won Arizona, Bowers stood firm against the pressure tactics to alter election results. Bowers asked for evidence to support claims of fraud but found none provided, leading him to reject the legal theories presented by Trump's associates. Bowers emphasized the rule of law and his oath in declining to support decertification of electors, highlighting his commitment to upholding the integrity of the election process.

  • What legal strategies did Trump's campaign employ?

    Trump's campaign employed legal strategies such as attempting to convince state legislators to appoint Trump electors despite losing the popular vote. Efforts included pressuring state officials through social media, protests, and threats to reverse election outcomes. The campaign aimed to create fake electors and replace legitimate ones, coordinating with the RNC to organize these efforts in swing states. Despite the lack of evidence to support their claims, Trump and his allies persisted in pushing conspiracy theories about voter fraud, leading to threats against election workers and challenges in dispelling misinformation.

  • How did Secretary Raffensberger respond to Trump's claims of fraud in Georgia?

    Secretary Raffensberger refuted Trump's claims of fraud in Georgia with evidence from investigations, proving the falsehood of the allegations. Despite wanting President Trump to win the 2020 election, Raffensberger emphasized the successful and smooth election process in Georgia, confirming Joe Biden's victory by approximately 12,000 votes. Raffensberger and Mr. Sterling conducted frequent briefings to counter disinformation and clarify the truth about the election process, facing challenges due to the wide-reaching platform of President Trump's false claims. Despite threats and pressure, Raffensberger stood firm in following the law and constitution, highlighting the importance of upholding election integrity.

  • What impact did Trump's false claims have on election workers?

    Trump's false claims of election fraud had a significant impact on election workers, leading to threats, harassment, and intimidation. Witnesses like Andrea Shea Moss faced false accusations and attacks, affecting their lives significantly. The witness and her mother, Ruby Freeman, experienced loss of reputation, security, and safety due to the false accusations made by President Trump during a call with Secretary Raffensberger. The witness gained weight and stopped going out, while her mother had to leave her home for safety, showcasing the detrimental effects of the lies on their lives. The harassment and threats faced by election workers highlighted the dangers of spreading misinformation and the importance of protecting those involved in upholding election integrity.

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Summary

00:00

Trump's Pressure Tactics to Overturn Election

  • Witnesses at a hearing discussed former President Trump's attempts to pressure state officials to overturn the 2020 election results.
  • Former President Trump claimed that Arizona House Speaker Bowers acknowledged the election was rigged and that he won Arizona.
  • Bowers, however, resisted Trump's pressure campaign to replace electors, deeming it unconstitutional and illegal.
  • The broader theme of the hearing highlighted Trump's efforts to influence state election officials to alter election results.
  • Arizona's audit found no evidence of fraud despite Trump's claims.
  • The committee aimed to have more Republicans involved, but Kevin McCarthy did not cooperate, missing a bipartisan opportunity.
  • The hearing focused on Trump's pressure tactics on state officials to overturn election results.
  • The witnesses stood against Trump's scheme to subvert democracy by creating fake electors.
  • The hearing emphasized the threats and pressure Trump exerted on state officials to reverse election outcomes.
  • The committee highlighted Trump's disregard for violence threats and his persistence in pushing false election claims.

18:42

Trump's Pressure Campaign to Stop Electoral Count

  • Judge Carter described President Trump's pressure campaign to stop the electoral count targeting all tiers of federal and state elected officials.
  • The campaign aimed to convince state legislatures to certify competing electors to ensure Trump's reelection based on the false claim of massive election fraud.
  • President Trump's attorney general, Bill Barr, informed him that the claims of fraud were baseless and dangerous to democracy.
  • The pressure campaign escalated to include threats, intimidation, and protests against state and local officials who refused to comply.
  • Efforts involved legal strategies, such as attempting to convince state legislators to appoint Trump electors despite losing the popular vote.
  • Republican officials in several states, like Georgia and Arizona, recognized the proposals as unlawful and unconstitutional.
  • President Trump intensified pressure through social media, urging supporters to contact state officials and demand actions like decertification.
  • The pressure campaign included targeted outreach to state legislators, with Trump's lawyers and allies contacting them frequently.
  • State officials faced dangerous public pressure, including protests and threats, leading up to the January 6th Capitol attack.
  • Witnesses from Arizona, Georgia, and local elections workers testified to the impact of the pressure campaign on their lives and the integrity of the election process.

36:37

Giuliani's Unsubstantiated Claims Spark Legal Concerns

  • Mr. Giuliani claimed in a call that there were hundreds of thousands of undocumented people and thousands of dead people who allegedly voted in the election.
  • Speaker Bowers asked Mr. Giuliani for evidence of these claims, but no evidence was ever provided during or after the call.
  • Mr. Giuliani requested an official committee hearing at the Capitol to present evidence, but Speaker Bowers refused, deeming the evidence insufficient.
  • Mr. Giuliani mentioned a legal theory in Arizona that could remove President Biden's electors and replace them with Trump's, which Speaker Bowers found legally dubious and against his oath.
  • Mr. Giuliani emphasized that they had theories but lacked evidence to support their claims, which Speaker Bowers found concerning.
  • Mr. Giuliani wanted the Arizona legislature to dismiss Biden's electors and replace them with Trump's, citing Arizona law, but Speaker Bowers refused due to lack of evidence and legal concerns.
  • During a meeting with Mr. Giuliani and his associates, Speaker Bowers and other Republican legislators pressed for evidence of election fraud, which was not provided.
  • Mr. Giuliani asked his associate for proof of election fraud, but she admitted they had theories but no concrete evidence.
  • Dr. Eastman later asked Speaker Bowers to decertify the electors based on Article 2, Section 1, which Speaker Bowers rejected as it would violate his oath.
  • Representative Biggs asked Speaker Bowers to support decertification of electors on January 6th, which Speaker Bowers declined, citing the rule of law.

54:58

Illegal scheme to replace electors in states.

  • No legal pathway exists in state or federal law to execute certain requests.
  • Acting beyond authorized capacity as a legislator is forbidden.
  • President Reagan's inaugural address was included in a public statement due to admiration for him.
  • The fake electors scheme involved replacing legitimate Biden electors with fake ones.
  • President Trump and his campaign were directly involved in advancing the plot.
  • The RNC assisted in coordinating efforts to organize fake electors in swing states.
  • Some campaign lawyers believed convening electors in states Trump lost was inappropriate.
  • The White House counsel's office deemed the plan potentially illegal.
  • Fake electors met in several states and submitted votes falsely asserting they were duly elected.
  • The Trump campaign took steps to ensure physical copies of fake elector votes were delivered to Washington.

01:14:39

Arizona Testimony Exposes Election Fraud Conspiracy

  • Republican state house speaker in Arizona testifies about voter fraud, Giuliani and Ellis lack evidence.
  • Testimony reveals involvement of Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows, in election activities.
  • Senator Ron Johnson implicated in activities on January 6th to bring alternate elector information.
  • Pressure campaign detailed as a precursor to January 6th violence.
  • White House lawyers acknowledged the illegality of convening alternate electors.
  • Threats to state and local officials highlighted, connecting to January 6th events.
  • Election workers faced threats immediately after the election in Maricopa County, Arizona.
  • Failed legal and electoral attempts led to leaning on state Republican officials for support.
  • Jacob Chansley, known as the QAnon shaman, unlawfully present in Arizona legislative building on January 6th.
  • Ongoing election fraud claims pose a threat to democracy, with individuals seeking public office subscribing to false theories.

01:28:00

Trump's Pressure Campaign in Georgia Election

  • Donald Trump showed a lack of concern for threats of violence, similar to previous incidents involving Mike Pence, indicating a willingness to do anything to win the 2020 election.
  • President Trump's pressure campaign against state officials extended to all key battleground states, with a particular focus on Georgia.
  • On January 6th, President Trump, despite being warned by his Attorney General, insisted on finding just over 11,000 votes in Georgia, claiming fraud.
  • Georgia's Secretary of State, Raffensberger, confirmed wanting President Trump to win the 2020 election but emphasized the successful and smooth election process in Georgia.
  • Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election in Georgia by approximately 12,000 votes, confirmed through various recount methods.
  • Following the election, Secretary Raffensberger and Mr. Sterling had to address false allegations of voter fraud made by President Trump and his allies.
  • Mr. Sterling, in response to threats received by election workers, made an emotional plea to President Trump to stop inspiring violence, which was not acknowledged by Trump.
  • Despite efforts to dispel false claims, President Trump and his allies continued to push conspiracy theories about voter fraud in Georgia, leading to threats against election workers.
  • Detailed analysis of surveillance tapes from State Farm Arena on election night disproved the conspiracy theory of fraudulent ballot counting, showing normal ballot processing procedures.
  • Secretary Raffensberger and Mr. Sterling conducted frequent briefings to counter disinformation and clarify the truth about the election process in Georgia, highlighting the misleading tactics of President Trump's attorneys.

01:43:37

Challenges of combating misinformation under Trump

  • Despite efforts to combat misinformation, Mr. Sterling faced challenges due to President Trump's wide-reaching platform.
  • People were hesitant to believe factual information due to the influence of the President's false claims.
  • Mr. Sterling likened the struggle to emptying an ocean with a shovel, emphasizing the frustration.
  • Even personal interactions with family members showed the challenge of changing beliefs influenced by the President.
  • President Trump persistently promoted false claims of election fraud, despite thorough investigations proving otherwise.
  • The former President's claims of fraud in Georgia were debunked by senior law enforcement officials and the Department of Justice.
  • President Trump pressured state officials to accept his false claims, even after being informed of their lack of merit.
  • The President's Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, made persistent efforts to set up a call between President Trump and Secretary Raffensberger.
  • The call between President Trump and Secretary Raffensberger lasted over an hour, with the President pushing debunked claims of fraud.
  • Secretary Raffensberger refuted the President's claims with evidence from investigations, proving the falsehood of the allegations.

01:59:40

Trump pressures officials, spreads false election claims.

  • President Trump insinuated that law enforcement officers investigating false claims were either dishonest or incompetent.
  • The President suggested criminal liability for those not going along with claims of election fraud.
  • A lawyer sanctioned for false claims of election fraud was retweeted by the President.
  • The lawyer's tweet implied that not supporting Trump's claims could lead to jail time.
  • President Trump accused officials of shredding unsigned, corrupt, and illegal ballots.
  • The President pressured officials to find 11,780 votes to secure his victory in Georgia.
  • Threats and doxxing were directed at Secretary Raffensperger and his family.
  • Despite threats, Secretary Raffensperger stood firm in following the law and constitution.
  • President Trump continued to press for votes even after the call with Secretary Raffensperger.
  • Election worker Andrea Shea Moss faced threats and false accusations after the 2020 election.

02:19:18

False Accusations Lead to Harassment and Threats

  • Giuliani accused the witness and her mother of passing a USB drive in a video.
  • President Trump made false allegations about the witness and her mother during a call with Secretary Raffensberger.
  • Trump accused the witness's mother 18 times during the call.
  • Witness felt horrible and blamed herself for the attacks on her family.
  • Witness's mother, Ruby Freeman, lost her reputation and sense of security due to false accusations.
  • Witness gained 60 pounds and stopped going out due to the impact of the lies on her life.
  • Witness's mother had to leave her home for safety for approximately two months.
  • People showed up at the witness's grandmother's house looking for her and her mother.
  • No permanent election worker or supervisor in the State Farm Arena video is still working in Fulton County.
  • The witness and her mother faced harassment and threats for their roles in the election, affecting their lives significantly.

02:39:28

"Threats and Integrity: Election Workers Under Siege"

  • Public service takes various forms, from running for office to volunteering at polling sites.
  • Individuals working in elections ensure the security and accuracy of the democratic process.
  • Witnesses faced threats and harassment for upholding election integrity against Trump's attempts to overturn results.
  • Trump's scheme involved pressuring state officials and corrupting the Justice Department to support his election fraud claims.
  • Former Acting Attorney General Richard Donahue resisted Trump's attempt to replace Jeff Rosen with Jeff Clark.
  • Election workers faced threats, harassment, and intimidation due to false claims of election fraud.
  • The relentless pursuit of the "big lie" by Trump and his allies disrupted lives and democracy.
  • Local election officials across the country fear interference and intimidation by political leaders.
  • Republican lawmakers' silence post-election allowed the election fraud narrative to persist.
  • Witnesses, including Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers, testified against Trump's pressure campaign and threats.

02:55:45

Impact of False Election Fraud Claims

  • The hearing highlighted the impact of false statements on democracy and individuals, causing harm and financial costs.
  • The elector plot was based on a big lie about election fraud, with no evidence presented to support it.
  • The committee discussed the involvement of various individuals, including Congressman Biggs, in efforts to overturn the election.
  • The Justice Department's role in enforcing subpoenas and potential criminal charges against President Trump was addressed, emphasizing the need to dispel the big lie for the safety of the country.
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