The testimony came during a meeting of the congressional committee investigating the riots at the Capitol in January 2021. Rasti Bowers, chairman of the Arizona House of Representatives, said his office was “full” of tens of thousands of emails, voicemails and messages from Trump supporters following his baseless allegations of electoral fraud. He described “harassing” harassment, including an online defamation campaign and a man with a pistol mocking his family and neighbors. Mr. Bowers, a Republican, recalled talks with Trump, his adviser John Eastman and lawyer Rudy Giuliani as he was urged to reject Arizona’s election result in order to stay in power. He said Trump had called him after church one Sunday and called on the state to replace his constituents with those who favored him despite the real winner, Joe Biden. “I said, ‘Look, you’re asking me to do something that is contrary to my oath,’” Mr Bowers testified. Image: Trump supporters invade Capitol in 2021 in scenes that shocked America Image: Rusty Bowers is the chairman of the Arizona House of Representatives He said his former president had also asked for a hearing at the State Capitol – which he refused – and claimed that Mr Giuliani had told him: “We have many theories. [on election fraud]we just do not have the data “. Georgia’s Foreign Minister Brad Rafensperger and his deputy Gabe Sterling also testified. Mr Raffensperger said Mr Trump had called and asked him to “find 11,780” votes so he could retain the Republican state and exclude Joe Biden from the White House. A tone was heard revealing Mr. Trump repeatedly invoking his allegations of fraud and proposing a “criminal offense” if Georgia did not change the outcome. The state counted three times before confirming Biden’s small victory. Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:55 Trump’s call as he tries to overturn Georgia’s vote Sexual texts and racist threats Mr Raffensperger said his phone number had been leaked, leading to countless messages from Trump supporters urging him to resign, while his wife had received “sex messages”. A burglary at his bride’s house also left him “very worried”. The former president defended himself on social media and described the phone call as “perfect”. Former Georgia election official Wandrea ArShaye “Shaye” Moss also spoke about the threats she received after Trump used her name 18 times in a conversation with Mr. Raffensperger. She said she was afraid to say her name and “felt horrible … like I was to blame for everything”. Ms. Moss testified: “Many threats, with death wishes, telling me that I will be in prison with my mother … Rejoice that it is 2020 and not 1920 … Many of them [the threats] they were racists. “Many of them were just hate.” She said her son also had “heard horrible things about his mom, just because I did my job”. Image: Wandrea ‘Shaye’ Moss (middle) and her mother (right) Mr. Trump’s claims that the election “stole” culminated in the infamous riots in the US Capitol, where his supporters invaded the heart of the American republic in an attempt to prevent the certification of Joe Biden’s election victory. Tuesday’s hearing was the fourth this month on the incident, which has been likened by some to a coup attempt. The seven Democrats and two Republicans on the committee believe Mr. Trump’s efforts were illegal and beyond the usual political manipulation. He denied any wrongdoing, reiterated his allegations of electoral fraud – again without any evidence.
