Audit fever is catching on as a Republican lawmaker in Pennsylvania announced Wednesday that he is pushing for a so-called forensic audit of the 2020 election.
Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano said he plans to launch a “forensic investigation” into the election results and procedures surrounding the 2020 general election and the 2021 primary.
“There is nothing to fear if there is nothing to hide. Those who have concerns about the integrity of the 2020 and 2021 election will have those concerns investigated and hopefully addressed,” Mastriano wrote. “Those who think that there was zero voter fraud, no irregularities, and that the elections were conducted perfectly will have the chance to be vindicated.”
The move comes as a number of Republican leaders across the country have continued to question the outcome of the 2020 election and cling to unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud. They have seized on the election fraud narrative as a campaign plank and a fundraising tool, as well as a way to curry favor with former President Donald Trump — who remains steadfast in his erroneous belief that he was robbed of victory in the 2020 presidential election.
Officials from three Pennsylvania counties — Philadelphia County, York County and Tioga County — confirmed to CNN that they received requests from Mastriano for election materials ranging from ballot tabulation equipment to voter rolls. The letters, which ask counties to turn over the materials voluntarily, request that counties respond with their plan to comply by July 31.
