Former President Donald Trump, in a 2020 phone call, personally pressured Wayne County Board of Canvassers members Monica Palmer and William Hartmann not to certify the presidential election results. This information, detailed in recordings reviewed by The Detroit News, sheds light on Trump’s direct involvement in efforts to challenge the election outcome. During the call, which included Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, Trump and McDaniel urged the canvassers to fight against certifying the results in Wayne County, Michigan.
Trump, on the call recorded on November 17, 2020, told Palmer and Hartmann, “We’ve got to fight for our country. We can’t let these people take our country away from us.” McDaniel, supporting Trump’s stance, advised, “If you can go home tonight, do not sign it. … We will get you attorneys.” Trump added, “We’ll take care of that.” Following this conversation, Palmer and Hartmann initially voted against, then for, and ultimately tried to rescind their approval of the election certification.
These actions threatened to cast doubt on Michigan’s statewide election certification. Trump faces four counts of criminal conspiracy for such efforts. The call, occurring shortly after a Wayne County Board of Canvassers meeting, demonstrated Trump’s personal engagement in undermining President Joe Biden’s victory in Michigan.
Neither Trump nor McDaniel disputed the call’s summary when contacted by The News. Hartmann passed away in 2021. The recordings, captured by an attendee, align with phone records showing calls between Palmer and McDaniel.
Steven Cheung, a Trump campaign spokesman, defended Trump’s actions as efforts to ensure election integrity. Allegations of a “stolen” election remain unproven, with no evidence of widespread fraud found by a Republican-controlled Michigan Senate committee.
Palmer acknowledged the call with Trump but could not recall its details. McDaniel emphasized her past request for an election audit in Michigan. Jonathan Kinloch, a Democratic member of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers, described Trump’s involvement as “shocking” and “insane.”
Michigan law mandates county canvassers to forward vote statements to the Secretary of State, a requirement the Wayne County Board ultimately fulfilled despite the external pressure. The state board certified Biden’s Michigan victory on November 23, 2020. Chris Thomas, a former Michigan elections director, highlighted the potential legal implications of offering something of value to public officials to avoid performing their duties.
Primary Source: The Detroit News Rating
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