US Election 2020: PA ‘voter fraud’ witness ‘RECANTS completely’

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Donald Trump has called the USPS voter fraud whistleblower a ‘brave patriot’, after the worker claimed he ‘got played’ by postal inspectors who said he ‘completely recanted’ his allegations during questioning.

USPS worker Richard Hopkins from Erie, Pennsylvania, had claimed without proof that postal workers discussed back-dating mail-in ballots and forwarding them to election officials in the crucial swing state.

The whistleblower’s allegations were cited in a Trump campaign lawsuit and brandished by Trump loyalist Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina as a key piece of evidence in the president’s legal battle over his election defeat.

However House Oversight Democrats said Tuesday that Hopkins recanted his allegations after being questioned by the Post Office Inspector General’s Office investigators. 

Within hours of the story breaking, the mailman hit back and claimed that he was ‘played’ by investigators and insisted he had ‘not recanted’ his statements.  

Trump waded in Tuesday night sharing footage of Hopkins’ denial that he had withdrawn his voter fraud claims, as the president pushed his unsubstantiated claims of election fraud. 

‘A brave patriot. More & more people are stepping forward to expose this Rigged Election!’ Trump tweeted.   

The Oversight Democrats tweeted Tuesday afternoon that Hopkins had signed an affidavit with allegations of ballot tampering and fraud and told his story to Project Veritas, a conservative group specializing in undercover stings of media organizations and left-leaning groups to show alleged bias. 

The Democrats said USPS investigators had confirmed they had interviewed the mailman about the allegations, and he recanted the claims ‘and did not explain why he signed a false affidavit’. 

‘USPS IG investigators informed Committee staff today that they interviewed Hopkins on Friday, but that Hopkins RECANTED HIS ALLEGATIONS yesterday and did not explain why he signed a false affidavit,’ they said.  

Last Wednesday, Project Veritas released a video from the postal worker – later identified as Hopkins, with his permission – who alleged without proof that USPS employees had discussed back-dating mail-in ballots and forwarding them to election officials.  

Hopkins claimed the ballots in question had arrived after Election Day, which was the Pennsylvania deadline for post-marking the envelopes. 

However, Hopkins was questioned by postal service investigators and has changed his story, Oversight Democrats revealed Tuesday.   

After being exposed for reportedly backtracking over his claims, Project Veritas then released a series of new video interviews with the mailman where he claims he was ‘played’ and ‘coerced’ by investigators.

In one of the videos, the conservative group claimed – without evidence – that Hopkins was ‘lied to during interrogation by Feds’. 

The video includes short, edited clips from Hopkins’ interview with USPS Agent Russell Strasser where the agent told Hopkins he was trying to make his ‘mind a little clearer’. 

There is no context provided for the edited clips shared and they show no evidence of Hopkins being ‘played’ by, ‘coerced’ or ‘lied to’ by investigators. 

Hopkins also insists he has not withdrawn his allegations. When the conservative group’s James O’Keefe asked if he stood by claims he witnessed voter fraud, Hopkins said ‘yes’.  

Hopkins did not make clear why he then reportedly recanted his claims when speaking to official investigators. 

In another video, Hopkins also says: ‘I did not recant my statements. That did not happen.’ 

This comes as Republicans are scouring the nation to try and find instances that back of Trump’s claims with a top Texas GOP official offering a reward of up to $1 million to anyone who can prove Trump’s claim of widespread fraud.

The sweepstakes-style offer comes as the president is refusing to concede the presidential election to President-elect Joe Biden, claiming it was rigged and that he himself ‘will win.’     

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick sent out a press release offering $25,000 to $1 million for information on voter fraud. 

‘Whistleblowers and tipsters should turn over their evidence to local law enforcement. Anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest and final conviction of voter fraud will be paid a minimum of $25,000,’ Patrick said.  

‘I support President Trump’s efforts to identify voter fraud in the presidential election and his commitment to making sure that every legal vote is counted and every illegal vote is disqualified,’ he continued. ‘President Trump’s pursuit of voter fraud is not only essential to determine the outcome of this election, it is essential to maintain our democracy and restore faith in future elections.’

Trump hailed the reward offer on Twitter, writing: ‘Thanks Dan. Big win for us in Texas!’ 

Asked on a press call about the prominent witness recanting, Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh attack the media for failing to cover the claims that have now been retracted.

‘We don’t remember anyone writing about his affidavit in the first place. Which we think is notable,’ he complained. 

‘The fact that he is newsworthy now we think is questionable.’

‘He filed a very detailed affidavit. He named names he described explicitly what it is that he experienced. And we don’t know what kind of pressure he has been under since he publicly made those statements,’ he said. 

‘That is one paragraph in which we cite that in 243 paragraphs of the complaint,’ the Trump team said, in reference to its Pennsylvania court filing.

Meanwhile, eight Georgia elected Republicans have written the Republican secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, about allegations of voter irregularities – even though they were elected in races using the same ballots.

‘As Members and Members-Elect of the Georgia Congressional Delegation, we are deeply concerned by continued, serious allegations of voting irregularities in our state,’ they wrote. 

‘The Georgia Republican Party and the Donald J. Trump for President Campaign have received reports of deceased or ineligible voters casting ballots, eligible voters being denied the opportunity to vote, and Republican poll watchers and observers being denied access to activities and meetings critical to ensuring a fair, accurate, and transparent vote tabulation.’