Biden won the state by more than 80,000 votes, but Republicans continue to lie about those results.
Attorney General Josh Shapiro has slammed state Sen. Doug Mastriano’s efforts to start an audit of Pennsylvania’s 2020 election results.
Shapiro called the effort a “sham” and a “partisan fishing expedition.”
Shapiro and officials from the state Department of State discouraged county election officials from participating in an election audit, saying they risk decertifying their voting machines and having to replace them, which would cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
“We know the truth,” Shapiro said. “Joe Biden won the election here in Pennsylvania by just over 80,000 votes.”
Gov. Tom Wolf also weighed in.
Six months after he was at the U.S. Capitol insurrection, one of our lawmakers is attempting to launch a sham election audit in PA.
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) July 8, 2021
This is a disgrace to democracy — not to mention a profound waste of time and taxpayer money.
I won't stand for it.https://t.co/lZoDTKPSKT
Mastriano, a Republican from Franklin County, is a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump. He attended the Jan. 6 Trump rally that turned into an attack on the US Capitol. Mastriano has never been connected to events the occurred inside the Capitol.
Mastriano also plans to run for governor in 2022.
Mastriano has sent counties a 5-page letter requesting information about the 2020 general election and the 2021 primary election in Pennsylvania.
Two Republican-controlled counties — Tioga and York counties — confirmed receiving letters Wednesday, as did the Democratic bastion of Philadelphia, the state’s largest city. Officials in Allegheny County, where Pittsburgh is located, told KDKA they had not received a letter.
Other Senate Republicans have been quiet about the effort.
No county election board, prosecutor, or state official has raised a concern over any sort of widespread election fraud in November’s election. Each county and the state is required to review election results for accuracy and investigate any discrepancies before they certify the results.
“Pennsylvania counties, despite a convergence of difficult circumstances, ran a free, fair, and accurate election in 2020,” officials from the Department of State said in a written statement. “The majority of Pennsylvanians — and Americans — are satisfied with that truth.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Politics
Breaking down IVF: What it is and why it’s important in the fight for reproductive rights
In vitro fertilization, or IVF, has been at the forefront of a major reproductive rights battle, but what exactly is it? For many Americans, in...
Fetterman introduces bill to protect affordable internet access for 23 million households
The Affordable Connectivity Program expired on Tuesday due to Republican opposition, putting affordable high-speed internet access at risk for 23...
Democrats advance election bill in Pennsylvania long sought by counties to process ballots faster
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a bill long sought by counties seeking help to manage huge...
Local News
Look out, Sheetz, Wawa is officially moving into your territory with Central Pa. expansion
The Delaware County-based convenience store chain broke ground on its first Dauphin County location Wednesday in Middletown, with five more stores...
What do you know about Wawa? 7 fun facts about Pennsylvania’s beloved convenience store
Wawa has 60 years of Pennsylvania roots, and today the commonwealth’s largest private company has more than 1,000 locations along the east coast....