After a week that involved protests, rioting in the United State Capitol Building, and the United States Congress affirming President-Elect Joe Biden, the Schuylkill County Democrat Committee is urging Republican elected officials that represent the county to recant their position on election fraud.
U.S. Representative Dan Meuser, State Senator Dave Argall, and State Representative Jerry Knowles have stood by President Donald Trump's claims that election fraud occurred in Pennsylvania during the November General Election.
Representative Meuser had commented as recently as January 7th, 2021 stating that unlawful actions took place in Pennsylvania on election day including accepting ballots past 8:00 pm on Election Day, inconsistent application of verified signature requirements for in-person ballots versus mail-in ballots, authorizing the curing of mail-in ballots with less than a 24-hour's notice, leading to inconsistent preparedness between counties, and authorizing the use of unsecure drop boxes, which is not permitted in statute.
Representative Knowles had joined a group of Republican led lawmakers back in November calling for a legislative led election audit, which passed the Senate this past week.
"A number of issues have come to us in the aftermath of last Tuesday’s General Election. My office is being inundated with phone calls from constituents with questions about the integrity of the mail-in ballot system. People who make up the 124th District are demanding action now. Our House Republican leadership team is closely monitoring election-related misconduct and will use every legal and legislative tool at our disposal to stand up for the rule of law and the legitimacy of our elections." Knowles stated in a press release on November 10th, 2020.
On Friday, Schuylkill County Democratic Community Chairman Hugh Reiley sent letters to Senator Dave Argall and Congressman Dan Meuser, and State Representative Jerry Knowles the following letter to recant their positions.
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To State Representative Jerry Knowles:
In light of the storming of the United States Capitol on January 6, and threats of more violence in the coming days, we have asked Senator David Argall and Congressman Dan Meuser to rescind their previous claims about fraud during the presidential election of November 3, 2020, which ignores over 60 court rulings that there was no fraud.
While you, unlike Senator Argall, voted against Act 77, it is still crucial in this very dangerous situation that you communicate to your constituents that there was no election fraud.
If any violence occurs in Schuylkill County, all elected officials who relentlessly claimed election fraud will be fully responsible. If anyone in Schuylkill County gets hurt, they will have blood on their hands.
We are urging you to issue a public statement that confirms the lawfulness of the election results now, for the sake of the safety of the residents of Schuylkill County and our communities living peacefully together.
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To Congressman Dan Meuser and State Senator Dave Argall
Additionally, we are asking you to issue a public statement that confirms the lawfulness of the election results. As a reminder, Senator Argall voted for Act 77, which is in stark contradiction to his claims about unlawful mail-in ballots during the 2020 election and his hearing in Gettysburg with Rudy Giuliani.
This is a very dangerous situation that requires you to act without any further delay. If any violence occurs in Schuylkill County, you, as the relentless proponents of election fraud claims, will be fully responsible. If anyone in Schuylkill County gets hurt, you will have blood on your hands.
We urge you to immediately take back any election fraud claims. Correct your course now, for the sake of the safety of the
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