CNN
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Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that voter fraud was occurring in two Pennsylvania counties, even as he insisted he was still investigating potential issues related to voter registration applications.
One week after Election Day, the former president and the Republican National Committee appear to be laying the groundwork to challenge the results if Trump loses. Despite Pennsylvania’s Secretary of State asking for patience from the public, the former president stoked fears on social media about alleged fraudulent voter registration applications without waiting for the results of investigations in York and Lancaster counties. In another example, the RNC joined the Trump campaign in pushing claims of “voter suppression” amid pushback from election officials in key battleground states.
“Oh! York County, Pennsylvania received thousands of potentially fraudulent voter registration forms and mail-in ballot applications from a third party,” President Trump wrote Tuesday in a post to It was viewed more than 1 million times in an hour.
“In addition to the bust of 2,600 fake ballots and counterfeit forms in Lancaster County, all written by the same person. Really bad ‘stuff.’ What’s going on in Pennsylvania? LAW ENFORCEMENT MUST DO THEIR MISSION IMMEDIATELY!!! Ooh! ! ! “he continued.
President Trump and RNC officials have stepped up their claims of potential problems with mail-in voting in Pennsylvania in the lead-up to Nov. 5, and allies of the former president have also targeted mail-in voting in court. There is.
Meanwhile, state and county officials are investigating allegations about the mail-in voting process and are seeking to reassure voters that they are working to protect the integrity of the election process at this early stage.
Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on “The Source” Tuesday night that the allegations are “pretty much the same” as President Trump’s, and as the state’s attorney general, he said he has not been able to answer questions about the 2020 vote count. It added that it had defeated 43 challenges from the former president. “And his allies.”
“We understand that Donald Trump wants to use the same strategy again to try to cause chaos and incite division and fear in our system. But again, we want to keep Pennsylvania safe. We will hold free, fair, safe and secure elections in our state, and the will of the people will be respected and protected,” Shapiro added.
Last week, Lancaster County law enforcement and election officials announced they had identified “an incident of suspected voter registration fraud.” According to the bipartisan Board of Elections and the county district attorney, the alleged fraud could result from a “massive solicitation campaign” in which people submitted registration applications with duplicate handwriting and inaccurate or unverifiable addresses. It is said to have a high level of sexuality.
Officials said “approximately 2,500 voter registration forms have been stored and quarantined” and are being reviewed and investigated, but did not say how many of them were found to be fraudulent. Ta.
While announcing the suspected fraud, Lancaster officials also said they may have received fraudulent voter registration applications in at least two other counties.
On Tuesday, York County spokesman Greg Monsky told CNN he would not confirm whether the county had received fraudulent voter registration applications or discuss any connection to the alleged issue in Lancaster County. I couldn’t do it.
York County Mayor Julie Wheeler said in a statement that the county received “a large shipment from a third-party agency containing thousands of pieces of election-related materials,” adding, “These materials are filled out, “It appears to include a voter registration form and a completed voter registration form.” Application for mail-in ballot. ”
CNN has requested an update from the Lancaster County Board of Elections following President Trump’s recent claims.
“As with all submissions, our staff follows a process to ensure all voter registration and mail-in ballot applications are legal, and that process is currently ongoing,” Wheeler said. “If a suspicion of fraud is confirmed, it will be reported to the district prosecutor’s office, which will conduct an investigation.”
Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt (R) acknowledged ongoing investigations in the cities of York and Lancaster in a video conference Tuesday.
“The department has been in contact with these counties from the beginning, providing guidance as they conduct their investigations, and will continue to assist as needed,” he said.
In Delaware County, officials are pushing back on previous claims by the Trump campaign and RNC that “voter suppression” occurred after Monday’s incident at a local polling place, with county officials saying a woman was “disorderly”. He said he was removed because he was “disturbing, belligerent, and violent.” They are trying to influence voters who are waiting in line. ”
RNC Chairman Michael Whatley shared a video of a handcuffed woman with was arrested today.”
“This is voter suppression by the left. Don’t turn your back on them,” he wrote.
The Trump campaign later expanded on the incident in a press release.
The interaction took place at a voter service center in Media, Pennsylvania, the county seat outside Philadelphia.
A county spokesperson said a woman who “according to multiple witnesses was disorderly, combative, and attempting to influence voters in line” was arrested and removed from the building. .
“Her actions prompted several complaints from people who were in line. Delaware County Park Police, who are responsible for security at the Government Center Building, were on scene and quickly responded to the disturbance,” the statement continued. .
According to the Pennsylvania Department of State, the woman who was detained, Val Biancaniello, is believed to be one of the Republican electors this term. CNN has reached out to Biancaniello for comment.
After the incident, Biancaniello told I encouraged people to line up and vote.”
In response, Delaware County Council President Monica Taylor said in a statement to CNN that the county “takes the right to vote very seriously,” adding that “voters should be able to enjoy democracy without harassment or intimidation.” “We commend the Park Police.” Thank you for quelling the confusion and allowing voting to continue without disruption. ”
The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office confirmed to CNN that Biancaniello was “briefly detained” and “will be cited for disorderly conduct, a summary offense similar to a traffic ticket.” .
Linda Kearns, an attorney representing the RNC and Trump campaign, told CNN on Tuesday that her team continues to gather information about the incident in the media.
Despite the media’s lack of clarity about this incident, Republican operatives and pro-Trump influencers have obtained this video and are calling it an example of “leftist voter suppression.” do not have. Meanwhile, the RNC continues its legal battle over mail-in voting in Pennsylvania, filing an emergency petition with the Supreme Court.
This story has been updated with additional details.
CNN’s Jack Forrest contributed to this report.
