Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro is responding to new conspiracy theories from Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump about the handling of elections in Pennsylvania — a highly targeted, closely watched state in this year’s race for the White House.
In a new post this week on the Trump social media site Truth Social, the former president and current contender amplified claims platformed by Tucker Carlson, formerly a host on Fox News.
“An interview by Tucker Carlson of an election expert indicates that 20% of the Mail-In Ballots in Pennsylvania are fraudulent. Here we go again! Where is the U.S. Attorney General and FBI to INVESTIGATE? Where is the Pennsylvania Republican Party? We will WIN Pennsylvania by a lot, unless the Dems are allowed to CHEAT. THE RNC MUST ACTIVATE, NOW!!!” Trump wrote.
Flatly, there is no real-world proof of that kind of fraud, whether it’s imagined as something unfolding in this election cycle or happening back in 2020.
“First, mail ballots haven’t even been sent out yet. Second, we conduct two audits every election to ensure every vote is legitimate. But if Trump really wants to start this again, let me remind him of 2020: we beat him in court 43 times. We’re ready to defend our democracy again,” said a post on Monday from Shapiro on X, formerly called Twitter.
The implication from Trump that relevant authorities are not on the ball when it comes to potential fraud is also plainly inaccurate. Both as a rule and in connection to specific concerns, wide-reaching, intensive investigations around the handling of U.S. elections are routinely conducted. And in terms of the kind of systematic, election-threatening fraud that Trump and his allies repeatedly claim to be present, investigators haven’t turned up any proof.
Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris will be meeting on Tuesday night for their first general election debate of this cycle, which will be hosted by ABC News.