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‘This has to stop’: Georgia election official calls on president to condemn threats

Georgia election official calls on president to condemn threats (Getty Images)
Georgia election official calls on president to condemn threats (Getty Images)

Georgia election officials have urged Donald Trump to condemn the threats of violence received by staff from the president’s supporters.

Gabriel Sterling angrily demanded that the outgoing president show some leadership and prevent the harassment of officials in the state.

“It has to stop,” said Mr Sterling, who is in charge of the state’s voting system.

“Mr President, you have not condemned this language or these actions. This has to stop. We need you to step up, and if you’re going to take a position of leadership, show some.”

Mr Trump has verbally attacked election officials in the state, which Joe Biden flipped, and has called voting “rigged" and denied his defeat.

“Mr. President, it looks like you likely lost the state of Georgia,” said Mr Sterling.

“We’re investigating. There’s always a possibility, I get it, you have the right to go to the courts.

“What you don’t have is the ability to — and you need to step up and say this — is stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of violence.

“Someone’s going to get hurt. Someone’s going to get shot. Someone’s going to get killed.”

Mr Sterling said an employee of a voting systems company was targetted with a noose with his family’s name on it.

And he said that secretary of state Brad Raffensperger and his family had received “sexualized threats” at their home on cellphones.

“This is elections,” added Mr Sterling.

“This is the backbone of democracy, and all of you who have not said a damn word are complicit in this.

“It’s too much. Yes, fight for every legal vote. Go through your due process.

“We encourage you, use your First Amendment, that’s fine. Death threats, physical threats, intimidation — it’s too much, it’s not right.

“They’ve lost the moral high ground to claim that it is.”

Mr Sterling also said that he now had police protection at his own home.