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Trump threatened to “hold up” federal funds to Michigan and Nevada in response to the states’ planned use of absentee and mail-in ballots in upcoming elections to mitigate the risk of exposure to the coronavirus, Washington Post reports.
Many states have struggled with how to move forward with near-future elections. Iowa, Georgia, Nebraska, and West Virginia previously chose to use absentee and mail-in ballots, and as of Tuesday, Michigan and Nevada followed suit.
Trump did not say which funds he may withhold and has previously made similar threats that he never followed through on.
Trump has repeatedly protested against mail-in voting, claiming it’s subject to widespread fraud and has hurt Republicans in previous elections; however, he has failed to support these claims with sufficient evidence.
On Wednesday, Trump used his Twitter fingers to rail against Michigan’s announcement that 7.7 million state residents will receive an absentee ballot application by mail for the state’s primary elections in August and the general election in November. The state’s decision is to “ensure that no Michigander has to choose between their health and their right to vote.”
“Breaking: Michigan sends absentee ballots to 7.7 million people ahead of Primaries and the General Election.” Trump wrote on Twitter, incorrectly describing the move to send applications for ballots. “This was done illegally and without authorization by a rogue Secretary of State. I will ask to hold up funding to Michigan if they want to go down this Voter Fraud path!” He tagged the Treasury Department, among others. At the time of Trump’s tweets, the state was dealing with unprecedented flooding after two dams in Midland County collapsed following record rainfall.
Michigan’s Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson responded through her twitter account, making sure to correct Trump.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
“It’s Jocelyn Benson, and we sent applications, not ballots. Just like my GOP colleagues in Iowa, Georgia, Nebraska, and West Virginia.”
Trump then aimed a threat at Nevada after the state moved to use Republican Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske’s vote by mail initiative that was introduced in March for its June 9 primary election.
“State of Nevada, “thinks” that they can send out illegal vote by mail ballots, creating a great Voter Fraud scenario for the State and U.S. They can’t! If they do, ‘I think’ I can hold up funds to the state. Sorry, but you must not cheat in elections,” he posted.
At the time, Cegavske said the decision was made “because of the many uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic” and after “extensive conversations” with Nevada’s 17 county election officials.
ABC News reports that three hours after threatening to hold funding to Michigan, Trump tweeted: “My team is closely monitoring the flooding in Central Michigan – Stay SAFE and listen to local officials. Our brave First Responders are once again stepping up to serve their fellow citizens, THANK YOU!”
violation of 18 U.S. Codes § 594 and 595.?
§ 594. Intimidation of voters .