Dem
51
GOP
49
Yesterday, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger had a pleasant chat with the feds in Atlanta. He's already had many pleasant chats with Fulton County DA Fani Willis, but apparently, Special Counsel Jack Smith is also curious about some of Donald Trump's efforts to pull off a coup, and Smith thinks Raffensperger can fill him in on some of it. Probably he can. Like about the period in Nov. 2020 when Trump called him 17 times and Raffensperger initially refused to take the calls but finally gave in and consented to a conversation—on speakerphone with two highly credible witnesses in the room and a recording device turned on.
Smith, of course, already has the recording, but there might be other times Trump tried to interfere with the Georgia election that Raffensperger hasn't discussed in public yet. Also, Smith wants to get Raffensperger on the record, under oath, with testimony that he can record and play back when needed. Smith most likely already knows most of the story, but a formal recorded interview from an eyewitness, under oath, with multiple witnesses in the room is the kind of evidence that might convince a grand jury to indict Trump. At the trial, Smith would most likely bring Raffensperger to testify in person. There the prosecutors can allow him to establish his credentials as a lifelong conservative Republican and not a Trump-hating Democrat. Trump's lawyers will be allowed to cross examine him on the stand in the hopes of shaking his story, but he has told it so many times now... so good luck with that. (V)