CNN
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Fulton County investigators have a recording of a phone callworms president donald trump A request was made to the speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives for a special session to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in the state. atlanta constitution.
A special Fulton County grand jury tasked with investigating Trump’s conduct in the state after the 2020 election heard Trump’s call with David Ralston, according to five jurors who spoke to the AJC on the condition of anonymity. recording. A source confirmed to CNN the existence of the recording, but it has not been made public.
The recording adds to what is known about pressure on Georgian officials by Trump and his allies. It is the third recorded call from a former president to Georgian officials that is known to exist.
The special grand jury recently concluded its work, Multiple prosecutions recommended, according to the person in charge who spoke publicly. The charging decision now falls to Fulton County District Attorney Farney Willis.
Ralston, who died last year, describes his December 2020 call with Trump an interview the next day.
Ralston said Trump “would like to call a special session of the Georgia General Assembly.” “He’s been very clear on that before, and he was very clear on the phone conversation yesterday. You know I shared my belief with him, and based on my understanding of Georgia law, it’s going to be an uphill battle.”
according to georgian constitutionnot only can the governor call a special session, but the General Assembly can call itself a special session, though this requires the signature of 3/5 of the Georgia House of Representatives.
Former U.S. Senator David Perdue, a staunch Trump ally from Georgia, also called for a special session during a December 2020 meeting at Truist Park, home of the Braves in Atlanta. Governor Brian Kemp, Perdue and former Senator Kelly Loeffler (the state’s other U.S. Senator at the time) and their aides were in attendance.
Perdue did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.
Trump pressured Kemp in late 2020 to call a special session to overturn Biden’s victory and ordered an audit of mail-in ballots. Kemp rejected Trump’s request for a special meeting and said he has no authority to order a separate audit of mail-in ballots.
There is also an audio recording of Trump’s December 2020 call with a senior investigator from the Georgia Secretary of State’s office while they were investigating allegations of signature-matching violations in Cobb County in the Atlanta metro area.
in there TelephoneAfterwards, Trump urged investigators to look for fraud in the 2020 presidential election, telling her she would be “applauded” if she overturned the result in favor of Biden. The Cobb County audit found no fraudulent votes or misconduct.
Grand jury special investigation launched by Fulton County district attorney after audio becomes public a notorious hour-long phone call Among them, Trump pressured Georgia Secretary of State Brad Ravensberger to “find out” the exact number of votes needed to overturn Biden’s victory, and suggested that he publicly announce a “recalculation” of the election results.
Fulton County’s investigation expanded beyond the Trump call to include false claims to state lawmakers about election fraud, a sham election scheme, attempts by unauthorized individuals to gain access to voting machines in a Georgia county, and investigations into election efforts. Threats and harassment of personnel.
The special grand jury met in Atlanta for about seven months and heard testimony from 75 witnesses, including some of Trump’s closest advisers during his final weeks in the White House.
Trump, who has launched his 2024 White House campaign, has denied any criminal wrongdoing. He claims Willis, a Democrat, is politically biased and still routinely promotes false claims that he actually won the Georgia election.
Willis said in January that a decision on whether she would press charges was “imminent.”
Correction: This headline was updated to reflect Trump’s call to Georgia officials.