ATLANTA — Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham suggested he find a way to toss out legally cast ballots, while questioning the elections head over signature matching laws.
The Friday conversation was described by Raffensperger on Monday in a Washington Post report, while Graham denied the assertion to ABC News.
Channel 2 investigative reporter Nicole Carr reached out to Raffensperger’s office Monday night. A spokeswoman said “We stand by our statement,” referencing Raffensperger’s comments in the Post report.
Raffensperger, who is under scrutiny from his party over Georgia’s election integrity, told the Post that Graham asked whether he had the power to toss all mail-in ballots in Georgia counties with high rates of non-matching signatures.
Georgia counties administer elections. Raffensperger’s office oversees them, and enacts investigations into irregularities.
Graham went on to deny the claims to ABC News Monday.
“I never said that. I said ‘Do you have power as Secretary of State to require bipartisan verification of the signature?’ Because right now they don’t,” Graham said.
“If he feels threatened by that conversation, he’s got a problem," Graham continued.
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When asked why a senator from South Carolina felt the need to get involved with the Georgia Secretary of State, Graham answered “Because it affects the whole nation. I’m very interested.”
Graham denied initiating the conversation at the request of President Donald Trump, before telling a group of reporters that he doesn’t trust the Washington Post.
“Y’all (media) are all over us cause you want the guy to lose,” Graham said. “If the shoe were on the other foot, you’d be asking questions about widespread fraud.”
Earlier in the day, a number of federal lawsuits claiming widespread voter fraud were dismissed, including one in Georgia.
Raffensperger spoke about debunking election myths and misinformation with Carr earlier on Monday.
Cox Media Group
