Trump Makes Time For Voter Intimidation Ahead Of Election Day
Tomorrow, millions of Americans will cast ballots in an election widely viewed as a referendum on President Donald Trump.
Judging by his actions Monday morning, the president would prefer that fewer Americans show up at their polling places and contribute to his first national performance review.
Trump engaged in a bit of voter intimidation on Twitter, warning no one in particular that law enforcement has been “strongly notified” to keep an eye out for “ILLEGAL VOTING” and will enforce the “Maximum Criminal Penalties” possible against those caught committing such fraud:
Law Enforcement has been strongly notified to watch closely for any ILLEGAL VOTING which may take place in Tuesday’s Election (or Early Voting). Anyone caught will be subject to the Maximum Criminal Penalties allowed by law. Thank you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2018
The tweet is a continuation of Trump’s long obsession with alleged “voter fraud.” Ever since he was elected in 2016 despite losing the popular vote by about 2.8 million ballots, he has been claiming that he would have won the popular vote were it not for 3 million to 5 million “illegals” who supposedly voted for Hillary Clinton.
Neither Trump nor the voter fraud commission he unceremoniously ended in January has come up with evidence to support his claim.
But Trump still leans heavily on his debunked talking point, telling reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Monday that there’s a “lot of proof” people vote illegally:
There's a "lot of proof" that people get in illegally and vote illegally, contends @POTUS.
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) November 5, 2018
Numerous independent studies have also failed to find evidence of widespread voter fraud.
This article has been updated with Trump’s claim of a “lot of proof.”
Related Coverage
Trump Fails Again To Offer Any Proof For His 'Voter Fraud' Claims
Inside The Trump Voter Fraud Commission's Weird, Wild Attempt To Prove The Untrue
Trump Prosecutor Gets First Illegal Voting Conviction. The Penalty Is $200 And Possible Deportation.
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
