Trump's campaign has been arguing that Georgia should overturn local election results and select new electors. However, on Sunday, the governor and the lieutenant governor issued a joint statement saying it's "not an option that is allowed under state or federal law."
This comes after harsh criticism Kemp has been facing from Trump over his handling of the election in the state. He argued that he would "easily & quickly win Georgia" if the governor permitted a "simple signature verification."
The president then doubled down on his criticisms of Kemp at a rally in the state - his first since Election day - on Saturday. The event was staged in support of the Republican candidates in the upcoming race for US Senate, which will decide who gets crucial legislative control in Washington.
The governor was not present at the rally. During his speech, Trump offered congressman Doug Collins, who did attend the event, to run for the office in two years instead of Kemp. He added that his opponents have "cheated and rigged" the election, as the crowd chanted "Stop the steal!"
“Your governor could stop it very easily if he knew what the hell he was doing!” Trump responded.
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Georgia’s governor will not acquiesce to pressure from President Donald Trump to call a special session of the state’s legislature in an attempt to overturn the state’s election results, his deputy said.
ReplyDeleteLieutenant Governor of Georgia Geoff Duncan told CNN on Sunday he and his boss, Governor Brian Kemp, are “certainly not going to move the goalposts at this point in the election”.
The statement comes after Trump reportedly called Kemp, a Republican, on Saturday and asked for his help in overturning the election results by calling a special session of the state legislature so the Republican-controlled body could appoint electors who would override the state results.
DeleteTrump has increasingly attempted that long-shot ploy as his legal challenges and recounts have failed. On Saturday, he derided Kemp and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, also a Republican, for standing by their state election results.
A hand recount of all ballots cast in Georgia affirmed Biden’s victory in the state, which was certified on November 20. A subsequent recount, requested by Trump at the expense of state taxpayers, has also shown Biden maintaining his lead.
“I voted for President Trump, I campaigned for him and unfortunately he did not win the state of Georgia,” Duncan said. “So, yeah, you know, on January 20, Joe Biden is going to be sworn in as the 46th president. The Constitution is still in place. This is still America.”