Lara Trump: Cheaters in elections will be prosecuted
Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and former President Trump’s daughter-in-law, made a bold declaration on Friday – vowing to prosecute anyone who cheats in an election. Addressing the audience at Turning Point USA’s convention in Detroit, Michigan, Lara Trump emphasized, “This year is the year we do it. We are also sending a loud and clear message out there to anyone who thinks about cheating in an election, we will find you, we will track you down and we will prosecute you to the full extent of the law.”
The RNC rolled out a swing state initiative aimed at mobilizing thousands of polling place monitors, poll workers, and attorneys to act as “election integrity” watchdogs in November. Lara Trump outlined the goal of recruiting over 100,000 poll watchers and 500 lawyers to be stationed at election sites nationwide.
For years, the RNC’s ability to coordinate poll watching and other election integrity activities was restricted by a federal court consent decree designed to thwart voter intimidation efforts backed by Republicans. However, that decree was lifted in 2018, opening up new opportunities for the party.
“We have a unique opportunity right now that we have not had in 40 years as a party. For 40 years, there was a consent decree placed on the RNC that did not allow us to train people to work as poll workers,” Lara Trump explained. This shift allows the RNC to empower individuals to participate in the electoral process proactively rather than reactively.
The central focus of the RNC’s new effort is to thwart potential “Democrat attempts to circumvent the rules.” The party plans to deploy monitors to oversee every stage of the election process, establish hotlines for poll watchers to report issues, and take legal action when necessary.
The RNC launch event took place at the Oakland County GOP headquarters in Michigan, marking the initiation of election integrity directors being placed in 15 states, including battlegrounds. Lara Trump reiterated the importance of ensuring integrity in the electoral process during the kickoff event in Bloomfield Hills, a crucial county for winning Michigan.
Both the Republican and Democratic parties have a longstanding tradition of organizing poll monitors. The Democratic National Committee also plans to launch its own volunteer recruitment effort.
As the GOP faces a significant infrastructure disadvantage compared to Democrats in key states, the RNC initiative has become crucial. President Biden’s campaign and Democratic allies have established numerous campaign offices, while Republicans await further engagement from the Trump campaign and the RNC.
RNC leadership, revamped earlier this year by former President Trump, shares concerns about potential irregularities in the upcoming election. Lara Trump emphasized the need for a free, fair, and transparent election process, promising acceptance only under these conditions.
While challenges to the election certification process were not ruled out by RNC Chairman Michael Whatley, Lara Trump stressed the committee’s commitment to safeguarding the sanctity of the election while learning from past experiences.
With the upcoming election looming large, both parties are gearing up for an intense battle to protect the integrity of the electoral process. The stakes are high, and the commitment to ensuring a fair and transparent election is unwavering.
