As former President Donald J. Trump digs deeper into his attacks on Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, it’s becoming more evident that Trump’s claim of an “absolutely perfect phone call” keeps falling flat in the face of evidence. After a recent barrage from Trump’s visit to the Georgia GOP Convention, Raffensperger thinks it’s time for a public debate with Trump about the phone call at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
If Trump agrees, this would give the American people the chance to hear firsthand what transpired, what didn’t, and gain clarity on the false claims that continue to divide the nation. But this incident doesn’t just exemplify the former President’s refusal to tell the truth, it highlights the dangerous game of political manipulation he’s perpetuating.
In January 2021, Trump, dissatisfied with his election result in Georgia, pressured Raffensperger to find votes that would tip the balance in his favor. Despite Trump’s insistence on the call being perfect, the evidence suggests otherwise. Trump’s main argument rests on allegations of widespread election fraud in Georgia, claims that had been thoroughly debunked by the time of the call. The President’s own Department of Justice, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and Georgia’s Secretary of State’s office had all found these claims to be false.
One of the many false allegations that Trump raised was the myth of suitcase ballots, all voting for Joe Biden. Trump alleged that these ballots were transported in suitcases and consisted of a minimum of 18,000 votes. These claims were, again, thoroughly refuted by the Justice Department and the Attorney General, along with Georgia’s Bureau of Investigation. Raffensperger’s office confirmed that the items were standard ballot carriers, and Trump could not have known who those ballots were for.
Another claim by Trump was that roughly 5,000 dead people in Georgia voted. This too was quickly debunked. Raffensperger explained that his office had only found evidence of four deceased individuals voting—not 5,000 or the 10,000 previously claimed by Trump.
Trump’s request to Raffensperger to “find [exactly] 11,780 votes” is perhaps the most controversial part of the call. Many have interpreted this to be a blatant request through suggestive manipulation of the vote count, which was not only illegal but an affront to democratic principles. Raffensperger rightly noted that he had “no votes to find” as the count was accurate and certified.
Additionally, the former President’s attempts to browbeat Raffensperger with potential criminal liability and personal threats added a sinister tone to the call. Trump’s implicit threat that Raffensperger was in “danger” for denying allegations of fraud speaks volumes about the desperation of his attempts to overturn the results. Even after the call, Trump and his followers continued to attack Raffensperger and his family, subjecting them to threats and harassment. Raffensperger’s refusal to yield under this pressure underlines his commitment to upholding the law and the Constitution.
Ultimately, Georgia’s Secretary of State, the hardworking people in his office, and the thousands of election workers statewide all made it abundantly clear that Trump’s phone call to Raffensperger was far from perfect for Trump. The call was an assault on democraty, filled with baseless claims and threats to undermine an election’s outcome. The perfection of the call lies not in achieving Trump’s personal objectives but in Raffensperger upholding the principles of democracy, integrity, and the rule of law—values that are still being manipulated by current forces.
A debate would serve as an opportunity to educate the public on the importance of protecting our democratic process from interference, even from the highest office in the land. It’s not about who won or lost the election—it’s about ensuring every American’s confidence in the democratic process is restored. This debate would help set the record straight.
William J. Black is a Georgia lawyer, author, and former U.S. Government and State Government Attorney, Cobb County (GA) Special Assistant District Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice investigator, cybersecurity software and systems engineer, and combat veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
