Trump's Phone Call Pressuring Georgia Secretary of State

The Phone Call

On January 2, 2021, President Trump called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in a conversation that lasted approximately one hour. The call, which was recorded by Raffensperger’s office, was published by The Washington Post the following day. In it, Trump could be heard alternately flattering, cajoling, and threatening Raffensperger in an effort to get him to change the certified results of the Georgia presidential election. Biden had won Georgia by 11,779 votes, and Trump repeatedly urged Raffensperger to “find 11,780 votes” — exactly one more than needed to flip the state.

Trump’s Claims and Threats

Throughout the call, Trump recited a litany of debunked conspiracy theories about the Georgia election, including claims about shredded ballots, dead people voting, and manipulated voting machines. Raffensperger and his general counsel, Ryan Germany, repeatedly pushed back, telling Trump his data was wrong. “The people of Georgia are angry, the people of the country are angry,” Trump said. “And there’s nothing wrong with saying, you know, that you’ve recalculated.” Trump also appeared to threaten Raffensperger with criminal liability, saying, “That’s a criminal offense. And you can’t let that happen. That’s a big risk to you.”

Public Reaction

The release of the audio recording shocked the nation, even amid the cascade of extraordinary events surrounding the election. Legal experts immediately identified Trump’s demands as potential violations of Georgia and federal election laws. Democrats called the recording a “smoking gun” that proved Trump was actively attempting to subvert democracy. Some Republicans distanced themselves from the call, though most remained silent. The call took place just four days before the January 6 joint session of Congress to certify the Electoral College results, adding to the already volatile atmosphere.

Criminal Charges

The Georgia phone call would have lasting legal consequences. In August 2023, a Fulton County, Georgia, grand jury indicted Trump and 18 co-conspirators on state racketeering and other charges. The indictment cited the Raffensperger call as a central act in a broader conspiracy to overturn the election results in Georgia. Trump was charged with, among other counts, criminal solicitation to commit election fraud based on his request to “find” votes. The recorded call became one of the most consequential pieces of evidence in the various legal proceedings stemming from Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.