International Courant
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp was contacted by particular counsel Jack Smith’s workplace because it investigates efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election outcomes, a spokesperson for the governor confirmed on Friday.
“I can affirm our workplace has been contacted by Jack Smith’s workplace,” Andrew Isenhour mentioned in an announcement, declining to supply additional remark.
The Washington Put up first reported on the Republican governor’s contact with Smith’s workplace, which has been inspecting false electors from battleground states who generally signed certification paperwork purporting that Trump had received of their states despite the fact that he had misplaced.
A spokesperson for the particular counsel’s workplace declined to remark.
Trump mentioned Tuesday that he had acquired a letter from Smith informing him he’s a goal of an investigation by a federal grand jury tasked with inspecting the riot on Jan. 6, 2021, and efforts to overturn President Joe Biden’s electoral victory.
Weeks after the 2020 election, Kemp’s workplace confirmed that Trump referred to as the governor and tried to strain him to order a particular session of the state Legislature to overturn Biden’s slender victory in Georgia.
Final month, the Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s workplace confirmed that particular counsel investigators would interview Raffensperger, who was pressured by Trump in a cellphone name days earlier than the Capitol riot to “discover” sufficient votes to overturn his loss within the state.
Raffensperger’s workplace mentioned this week that it had complied with a subpoena issued by the particular counsel’s workplace for safety footage from a 2020 polling website that Trump had focused in his election fraud claims.
Kemp’s contact with the particular counsel isn’t the primary time he has been sought out for details about Trump and his allies’ efforts in Georgia.
In November, the governor testified earlier than a particular grand jury investigating whether or not Trump and his allies engaged in election interference in Georgia. That probe, which launched in 2021, is being overseen by Fulton County District Legal professional Fani Willis, who has indicated that any indictments would probably be handed down in August.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing, calling the Smith and Willis investigations a “witch hunt.”
Kemp has largely shunned criticizing Trump by title, however has questioned the previous president’s electability. In a latest CNN interview he advised that if Trump stays centered on false claims that the 2020 race was stolen, “he is gonna lose Georgia.”
Blayne Alexander contributed.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp contacted by particular counsel in election probe
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