Georgia Republican Party Chair Josh McKoon on Tuesday called for an election nonprofit to dissolve or distance itself from the fundraising email sent by Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on its behalf.
McKoon (pictured above) issued his statement after Women for America First Executive Director Kylie Kremer surfaced the email written by Raffensperger. The email revealed that the secretary used a personal email to solicit funds for the Election Defense Fund, Inc., a purported nonprofit 501 (c) (4), a distinction that allows it to raise money without revealing its funding sources.
Raffensperger wrote in the email, “Election deniers and conspiracy theorists have taken their anger to new levels, employing a variety of tactics including intimidation, legal challenges, and rule changes.”
🚨GA ELECTION INTERFERENCE🚨
The GA SOS is up to no good and gearing up to go after the Georgia State Election Board (SEB) members and others not willing to certify the election and/or those willing to shine the light on any potential fraud in this election
Raffensperger sent… pic.twitter.com/yMo29RZgzV
— Kylie Jane Kremer (@KylieJaneKremer) October 22, 2024
The secretary also revealed the nonprofit was creating a list of election workers deemed unlikely to certify election results due to concerns about their validity.
“As Georgia’s Secretary of State I am committed to free, fair, and fast elections, and must demand the law is followed,” wrote Raffensperger before launching into his fundraising pitch.
He wrote, “EDF will identify local election officials who are most likely to not certify or otherwise attempt to interfere with results; educate the public to remind election officials of their duty to follow the law and the potential consequences,” of taking actions contrary to the group’s interpretation of the law.
Raffensperger’s statement appeared to reference the new rules approved by a majority of the Georgia State Election Board, which required election workers to hand count ballots, and imposed new regulations aimed at increasing transparency. Many of the rules were successfully blocked in what CNN reported was a “major victory for Democrats.”
McKoon, in a statement posted to the social media platform X, accused Raffensperger of overseeing “the most bungled election on American history” during the 2020 election and said the secretary now “spitefully harasses and undermines the public servants to have stepped up to do the job that he so spectacularly failed to do,” while claiming the articles of incorporation for EDF pledged the organization to protect election officials.
STATEMENT FROM @GaRepublicans CHAIRMAN @JoshMcKoon
This email communication by Mr. Raffensperger is a dangerous and unwarranted attack on sworn elections officials doing their duty which threatens to interfere in the conduct of the election and undermine confidence in the… pic.twitter.com/nKElxeejoK
— Josh McKoon 🇺🇸 🇹🇼 🇮🇱 (@JoshMcKoon) October 22, 2024
“We call on the Election Defense Fund, Inc. to repudiate Mr. Raffensperger’s email or to dissolve itself for violating its own articles of incorporation,” wrote McKoon on behalf of the Georgia Republicans.
He added, “We also call on the Election Defense Fund, Inc. to produce a copy of its charitable registration documentation that would permit Mr. Raffensperger to solicit funds on its behalf.”
Early voting began in Georgia earlier this month and will continue until November 1. Mail-in ballots must be requested by October 25 and returned by the time polls close on November 5.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
