It's been more than 10 months since former President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election to now-President Joe Biden.
Countless bumbling hearings, dozens of court cases, a deadly failed insurrection, and one inauguration later, Trump and his supporters continue to scrounge for the smoking gun that will vindicate the fantasy that the election was "stolen" from him by Democrats engaging in widespread voter fraud.
A key target of these election lies was the bellwether state of Pennsylvania, where Biden won by more than 80 thousand votes. Though confirmation of Trump's fraud claims during his lame duck period never materialized, Republican legislators there are still seeking to force a partisan audit, much like the one in Maricopa County, Arizona.
Earlier this month, the Public Interest Legal Foundation released a report claiming there were more than 400 thousand votes unaccounted for in the state. This means that these mail ballots were sent to voters, but never returned. By no means is it evidence that these votes were counted.
In a blistering statement to the conservative Daily Signal, Veronica Degraffenreid—Pennsylvania's acting Secretary of State, said:
"[The foundation's] 'report' is another attempt to undermine confidence in our elections. To suggest that large numbers of ballots 'went missing' is disingenuous and misleading."
Degraffenreid's comments come as Republicans on the state's Senate Intergovernmental Affairs Committee advance a partisan "audit" of the state's votes, beginning with the subpoenas of voters' private information.
The disinformation surrounding Pennsylvania's 2020 election results is getting out of hand.
What’s happening in Pennsylvania right now isn’t audit. It’s a handful of Republican Senators using taxpayer dolla… https://t.co/Ja8X01sg6y— Josh Shapiro (@Josh Shapiro) 1631469773.0
CBS News: Sidney Powell tells court "no reasonable person" would take her voter fraud claims as fact. PAGOP: We’… https://t.co/gT92sKavPq— John Fetterman (@John Fetterman) 1631826822.0
This could happen in any State! Bad enough we get criminals trying to call and steal our information! Now the GOP… https://t.co/00DoSJKybV— Peggy (@Peggy) 1631843443.0
Voter Suppression in Pennsylvania #CorruptGOP now wants to do fake audit it attack on voters. they are using subpoe… https://t.co/caXju8O2ju— They said it couldn't happen here (@They said it couldn't happen here) 1631846956.0
This is a violation of personal data/security. Pennsylvania mail-in ballots include a secrecy envelope for an extra… https://t.co/eeAAamismF— ⚔CMDR Paylor(CP) - Actions Have Consequences ⚔ (@⚔CMDR Paylor(CP) - Actions Have Consequences ⚔) 1631841116.0
Unknown company wants Pennsylvania to give them voters information to check validation (?) of all ballots. Everyone… https://t.co/fEyq8UZzoi— Rosemary Potter (@Rosemary Potter) 1631843585.0
There are growing fears this could become the new normal for any election that doesn't result in a GOP victory.
Is this going to be our future now, every time someone loses an election? When will people say “ENOUGH?” https://t.co/QYRiyL8l4p— Dave Wenning (@Dave Wenning) 1631463555.0
STILL up to NO good https://t.co/1lS8hxT4Fe— Dont Stop Fighting 4 Democracy #VoteBlue2022 🌊💙 (@Dont Stop Fighting 4 Democracy #VoteBlue2022 🌊💙) 1631462332.0
Here we go again. More GQO asinine antics. https://t.co/nGcFLRK52V— Kelly (@Kelly) 1631461145.0
Democrats have vowed to mount legal challenges against the subpoenas of private voter information.