In an explosive revelation, recordings of a phone call reviewed by The Detroit News have allegedly shown that former President Donald Trump pressured two local Michigan Republicans not to sign the certification for the 2020 presidential election in Wayne County. The call, which took place on November 17, 2020, featured Trump, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, and Wayne County Board of Canvassers members Monica Palmer and William Hartmann. The Detroit News reported that Trump urged the officials not to sign the certification, stating, "We've got to fight for our country. We can't let these people take our country away from us." McDaniel also chimed in, reportedly telling them, "If you can go home tonight, do not sign it. We will get you attorneys." The Detroit News obtained the recordings from a person who was present on the call.

Michigan was a critical battleground state in the 2020 election, with Trump ultimately losing to President Joe Biden. Wayne County, which is home to Detroit, played a pivotal role in the state's election results. Without the county's certification, the results could not be certified for the entire state. The Board of Canvassers initially deadlocked 2-2 on the certification but eventually voted to certify the results. At the time, the Trump campaign filed a federal lawsuit in Michigan seeking to block certification, falsely claiming that the board had declined to certify the results. However, the campaign dropped the lawsuit shortly after.

The recordings of the call between Trump, McDaniel, and the two canvassers have raised significant concerns about the former president's attempts to interfere in the election process. The Detroit News report has shed light on the pressure put on these officials to disregard the certification, potentially undermining the integrity of the democratic process. The contents of the call were previously unknown to the public, with CBS News and other outlets aware of its occurrence but lacking access to the recordings.

While the Trump campaign did not dispute the contents of the call, spokesperson Steven Cheung justified Trump's actions, stating, "All of President Trump's actions were taken in furtherance of his duty as president of the United States to faithfully take care of the laws and ensure election integrity." Cheung added that Trump and the American people have the constitutional right to free and fair elections. McDaniel's comment to The Detroit News echoed her previous statements, claiming that there was ample evidence warranting an audit of the election.

The significance of this revelation cannot be understated, particularly as Michigan is expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. The state's electoral votes will be highly contested, making the integrity of the election process paramount. It remains unclear whether special counsel Jack Smith has access to the recordings of the conversation, as they are not mentioned in Trump's federal indictment related to the 2020 election.

This latest development adds to the ongoing scrutiny surrounding Trump's efforts to challenge the 2020 election results. With the recordings providing concrete evidence of his attempts to pressure election officials, questions arise about the extent of his interference and the potential consequences for the democratic process. As the news unfolds, it is likely that these revelations will further fuel debates over election integrity and the role of the former president in the 2020 election.