Gov. Doug Burgum on Sunday tried to dial down reaction to Republican president nominee Donald Trump’s Saturday statement on Truth Social that threatened extensive election prosecutions.
Trump on Saturday posted on Truth Social: “WHEN I WIN, those people that CHEATED will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law, which will include long term prison sentences,” then added: “Please beware that this legal exposure extends to Lawyers, Political Operatives, Donors, Illegal Voters, & Corrupt Election Officials. Those involved in unscrupulous behavior will be sought out, caught, and prosecuted at levels, unfortunately, never seen before in our Country.”
Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the Republican governor of North Dakota played down that statement, characterizing Trump’s remarks as “speaking to a concern that Americans have.”
“I think what President Trump is saying, if we have free and fair elections everybody has to follow the rules. And just putting people on notice,” he said.
Host Kristen Welker pressed Burgum about the prosecution threats made in the statement, saying the reason for the fears about election integrity might derive from Trump’s own statements. In response, Burgum portrayed Trump’s statement as merely affirming the need for honest elections.
Earlier: “Trump pledges to jail opponents, baselessly suggests election will be stolen from him”