Raffensperger challenges Trump to debate as ex-president faces more pressure after indictment

The political tide is turning for former President Donald Trump, who once seemed untouchable to challengers because of his large, loyal base of voters and is now facing more criticism from Republican opponents and leaders in his party.

Since his second indictment, 2024 GOP candidates who have typically refrained from condemning any of his actions − and have even avoided saying his name − are now lining up to point out his flaws.

It goes beyond primary contenders, though. Trump's latest challenge comes from Brad Raffensperger, the Republican Georgia secretary of state he pressured to overturn 2020 election results during a recorded conference call on Jan. 2, 2021. The hour-long call prompted a criminal investigation in Fulton County, with a charging decision anticipated this summer.

Trump has frequently attacked Raffensperger at his rallies, including Saturday when he again described it as a "perfect" call and made unsubstantiated claims about the election. It ultimately led the Georgia crowd to boo Raffensperger.

Now Raffensperger is fighting back. He told WRBL on Thursday it might be time for him and Trump to meet − on the debate stage.

And Raffensperger isn't too picky about which debate stage. He's offering to go to any Republican institute, such as the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California, The Dole Institute of Politics in Kansas or Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy in Texas.

"We'll have a debate," Raffensperger said. "I'll bring a copy of my letter to Congress and I'll bring a copy of my book, "Integrity Counts."

He said the former president could bring a report from the two firms hired by the Trump campaign to investigate claims of voter fraud in Georgia: Berkeley Research Group and Simpatico Software Systems. Berkeley and Simpatico found no evidence of widespread fraud.

"We'll debate the issues point by point," because the facts are on Raffensperger's side, the Georgia secretary of state said.

It's unclear − and unlikely − Trump would accept that debate. He hasn't even committed to debating his 2024 GOP rivals, threatening in recent months to skip the primary debates. His reasoning is partially because he's the frontrunner and doesn't need to, and also because he thinks the venues and networks aren't favorable to him.

Trump on trial: Unprecedented, shocking, historic. But will it change anything?

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brad Raffensperger fights back against Trump attacks