Investigators from the office of special counsel Jack Smith will be conducting an interview with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger as part of a federal investigation into attempts to undermine the peaceful transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election.
The interview will likely center around Trump’s January 2021 phone call to Raffensperger in which he pressured him to “find” the necessary votes to secure a victory for Trump in the state of Georgia.
Raffensperger Perceived Trump’s Call as a Threat
According to his book Integrity Counts, Raffensperger perceived Trump's statements as potential threats, suggesting a plan to undermine the election results. At points during the call, Raffensperger felt that Trump was going so far as to threaten him into going along with Trump’s plan to subvert the election results.
This perception was shared by others, evident in the subsequent actions of some of Trump's more radical followers who felt obligated to threaten Raffensperger, his family, and other election workers in Georgia.
Trump's Defense and Additional Investigation
Donald Trump has continued to maintain his innocence, claiming that his conversation with Raffensperger was an "absolutely perfect phone call."
Nevertheless, both Trump and his allies face continued scrutiny as the Fulton Grand Jury investigates potential racketeering and conspiracy charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.
Upcoming Announcement
In August, District Attorney Willis is expected to disclose whether any charges will be filed as a result of the investigation into the Georgia probe.
