Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has criticized the House Democrats’ attempt to overthrow Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R., Iowa).
The Iowa Electoral Council upheld Miller-Meeks’ victory with just six votes over opponent Rita Hart. However, the House has final say on contested elections under the Constitution, so the Democrats are currently reviewing the close election that could end with Hart becoming the winner.
Raffensperger called on Georgia’s congressional delegation, including Democratic senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, to speak out against the House maneuver.
“Georgia’s election workers … have sacrificed much in the pursuit of free and fair elections,” Raffensperger wrote in a letter. ‘I received threats and constantly sponsored … My wife received sexual threats. My grandchildren’s homes were broken into. Polls were followed home, threatened online and even had to hide because they simply delivered a free and fair election. ‘
Raffensperger continues: ‘In view of what Georgia has gone through in the last few months … I am very concerned that members of Congress will consider overthrowing the will of the voters, as certified by the state, as it is.’
Raffensperger was a frequent target of criticism by former President Trump, who claimed that the election in Georgia was fraudulently held. Trump and allies could not prove claims of widespread fraud.
Democrats have insisted that their attempt to overthrow Miller-Meeks’ victory is not comparable to Trump’s allegations of fraud. Hart’s campaign claims that there are 22 legitimate votes, but is allegedly improperly rejected, that if counted, it will give her a victory.
“We can not worry about optics,” Representative GK Butterfield (D., NC), who sits on the House panel and judges the election, told CNN. “We need to review the evidence and see where it leads us.”