Trump says voting is 'dangerous.' But Russian election meddling? Not so much
Russia is once again interfering in the 2020 election to try to hurt Joe Biden and help Trump, intelligence officials say.
Donald Trump on Monday night claimed that an increase in mail-in voting is more dangerous than Russia’s continued interference in the 2020 election, despite the fact that there’s no evidence showing absentee voting is plagued with fraud.
“I think the massive mail-in ballot is much more dangerous, absolutely,” Trump said in an interview with Phoenix, Arizona, Fox affiliate NewsNOW, when asked whether he felt Russian interference or an increase in absentee voting worried him more.
“Who’s getting the ballots? Who’s sending the ballots?” he said. “… It’s ridiculous.”
Trump has railed against mail-in voting for weeks, lying about the voting method that he, along with numerous members of his inner circle, have used in the past and continue to use.
Trump’s own campaign is urging its supporters to cast ballots by mail, even as Trump tries to discredit the legitimate voting method — an effort that’s causing fewer Republicans to request absentee ballots, which could negatively impact Trump’s chances in November.
The New York Times reported in early August that Russia is using the same tactics it used in 2016 to spread disinformation to hurt Democratic nominee Joe Biden and help Trump.
Despite this, a whistleblower at the Department of Homeland Security alleged last week that he had been pressured by acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf to suppress a report about Russian interference in the 2020 election because it “made the president look bad.”
“Donald Trump refuses to defend our troops when Russia puts bounties on their heads, so it comes as no surprise that he downplays Russia’s attacks and refuses to hold them accountable for election interference,” Kyle Morse, a spokesperson for the liberal opposition research group American Bridge 21st Century, which first flagged the news clip, said in a statement Tuesday.
“Mail-in voting is safe — plain and simple, but our democracy won’t be if Trump is elected to an unchecked second term,” he added.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.
Recommended
Judge orders people removed from voter rolls to be reinstated, Gov. Youngkin to seek appeal
On Friday morning, a federal judge ruled in favor of plaintiffs challenging a Virginia program that has removed over 1,600 people from voter rolls since August, following an executive order by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. This means that people can be reinstated on voter rolls for the time being.
By Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury - October 25, 2024
Federal judge tosses GOP lawsuit targeting Michigan’s voter rolls
Another GOP-filed lawsuit targeting voting in Michigan has been tossed out of court.
By Jon King, Michigan Advance - October 23, 2024
Michigan judge dismisses GOP lawsuit targeting overseas and military ballots
A lawsuit filed by the Republican Party seeking to tighten qualifications for Americans living overseas to cast ballots in Michigan has been tossed out.
By Jon King, Michigan Advance - October 22, 2024
