Democratic Party - Democratic National Committee

08/09/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/09/2024 22:07

Sunday Scaries: MAGA Republicans Can’t Cover For Trump’s Threats Against Our Democracy After Threatening to Prosecute Opponents and Pardon Violent Insurrectionists Arrow

In response to MAGA Republicans on Sunday shows trying to cover for Donald Trump's disastrous record and threats against election officials, DNC Rapid Response Director Alex Floyd released the following statement:

"The day after Donald Trump doubled-down on his promises to pardon violent insurrectionists and prosecute his political opponents, Republicans are scrambling to provide cover for his extreme and unpopular agenda that would put Trump first and the American people last. Whether it's trying to spin Trump's explicit threats against election officials, confirming that the GOP will put the gun lobby over gun safety, or refusing to acknowledge Trump's responsibility for tanking the bipartisan border security deal, Republicans are showing Americans in real-time why they can't be trusted to lead."

Doug Burgum downplayed and dismissed Donald Trump threatening election officials, and continued to sow doubt in our elections.

Kristen Welker, NBC News: "Let me ask you about something that former President Trump posted on social media overnight. He seemed to be escalating his threats against political opponents. Let me read you what he said. He said, quote, 'WHEN I WIN, those people that CHEATED will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law. Please beware that this legal exposure extends to Lawyers, Political Operatives, Donors, Illegal Voters, & Corrupt Election Officials.' We should note there is absolutely no evidence that election workers have done anything corrupt, but do you think that it is appropriate to be threatening election workers in this way before the election?"

Doug Burgum: "Well, I think it speaks to a concern that Americans have. … And so again, I think what President Trump is saying, if we're gonna have free and fair elections, everybody's got to follow the rules and just putting people on notice." […]

Welker: "Well, Governor, a lot of those concerns you mentioned are being fueled by these types of statements by former President Trump, but going back to the substance of what he said, he seems to be threatening these political operatives, donors, and election officials. Is that appropriate in any scenario, governor?"

Burgum: "Well, I think what's appropriate is that we keep working hard as a country to make sure that we've got a belief in our elections and a trust in our elections."

Tom Cotton was confronted on how he and his Republican colleagues won't be doing anything to prevent gun violence in America.

Dana Bash, CNN: "But, there are mental health problems all across the world right now. It's bad. The difference between other countries and this country is that it is being expressed with gun violence. Is it not time to figure out a way to mitigate that part of the equation, when it is affecting our children so often?"

Tom Cotton: "Well, I think one way to mitigate that is to enforce the laws we have on the books." […]

Bash: "Do you see any action in the offing at all in the wake of this, once again, or is it just going to be 'enforce the laws on the books?'"

Cotton: "Well, again, enforcing laws on the books is one way to stop gun crime."

[…]

Bash: "So Congress won't do anything."

Cotton: "Well, look, most law enforcement happens at the local level. These police officers are not federal agents, they are local police department officers."

John Cornyn refused to acknowledge Trump's responsibility for tanking the toughest, fairest bipartisan border deal in decades.

Shannon Bream, Fox News: "The vice president, though, has been touting her work. She says she was tough on cartels and gangs and she's litigated against these people, held them accountable. She also said this in her DNC speech."

Clip of Vice President Harris: "Last year, Joe and I brought together Democrats and conservative Republicans to write the strongest border bill in decades. The Border Patrol endorsed it. But Donald Trump believes a border deal would hurt his campaign. So he ordered his allies in Congress to kill the deal. Well, I refuse to play politics with our security."

Bream: "I will not be surprised if your colleague, Sen. Chris Murphy, brings this up when we talk to him next. It has been a messaging talking point that has stuck for Democrats, this idea that President Trump is the one who kept the border problem alive because he told you guys not to vote for it."

John Cornyn: "Well, that's just false is the short answer to that."