President TrumpDonald John TrumpAppeals court OKs White House diverting military funding to border wall constructionPentagon: Tentative meeting between spy agencies, Biden transition set for early next weekConservative policy director calls Section 230 repeal an ‘existential threat’ for techMORE asked Georgia Gov. Brian KempBrian KempLoeffler campaign staffer dies in car crashTrump campaigns as wild card in Georgia runoffsRepublicans scramble to counter calls to boycott Georgia runoffsMORE (R) to persuade the states legislature to overturn the results of the election in the state hours ahead of a campaign rally for Georgia Sens. Kelly LoefflerKelly LoefflerLoeffler campaign staffer dies in car crashTrump campaigns as wild card in Georgia runoffsGraham reports ‘record-breaking’ 9M haul during 2020 campaignMORE (R) and David PerdueDavid PerdueGraham reports ‘record-breaking’ 9M haul during 2020 campaignThe Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Mastercard – Congress inches closer to virus relief dealTop Senate GOP super PAC raises million ahead of Georgia runoffsMORE (R), according to The Washington Post.
The president called Kemp on Saturday morning and reportedly pressured the governor to call a special session of the legislature to overturn the results and appoint electors who would back him, a person familiar with conversation told the Post.
Trump also asked Kemp to demand an audit of absentee ballot signatures, the Post reported, which Kemp has no power to do. Kemp turned down Trumps requests, the person told the Post.
Kemp spokesman Cody Hall confirmed to the newspaper that the two men spoke. The Trump campaign declined to comment.
The president and his allies have repeatedly claimed that rampant voter fraud and issues such as ballot signatures were the reasons he lost the election. As a result, the Peach State has emerged as the center of conservatives legal efforts to overturn the election results.
A federal appeals court shot down on Saturday a bid to block Bidens victory in the state. The decision followed an avalanche of legal losses this week in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, all states Biden won.
Despite the series of legal setbacks and Georgias certification of the results, Trump still seems convinced that he could somehow win the state.
“I will easily & quickly win Georgia if Governor @BrianKempGA or the Secretary of State permit a simple signature verification. Has not been done and will show large scale discrepancies. Why are these two ‘Republicans’ saying no? If we win Georgia, everything else falls in place!” Trump tweeted Saturday.
Meanwhile, some Republicans are concerned that Trumps attacks on the election outcome will have a negative impact on the states crucial Senate runoff races. Democrats need to win both races to secure a 50-50 tie, where Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisKamala HarrisBiden officially clinches Electoral College votes with California certificationHillicon Valley: Senate Intelligence Committee leaders warn of Chinese threats to national security | Biden says China must play by ‘international norms’ | House Democrats use Markup app for leadership contest votingTrump campaigns as wild card in Georgia runoffsMORE would serve as the tiebreaking vote.
Kemps office, the Trump campaign and the White House did not return requests for comment.