Former President Donald J. Trump on Saturday threatened a wide range of people, including lawyers, political donors and operatives, if he wins the November election and people “cheat” or “behave unethically.” with voting.
Mr. Trump’s statement on his social media site, Truth Social, was the latest escalation in the former president’s rhetoric about election fraud as early voting begins in several states in the coming weeks.
Mr. Trump has spoken increasingly publicly about the 2020 election, repeating his false claims that widespread fraud affected the outcome and asserting that he is guarding against it in 2024.
On Saturday, however, he threatened to use the government’s power against the people if he is sworn in as president for a second term in January.
“CEASE & DESIST,” Mr. Trump wrote in his post. “I, along with many lawyers and legal scholars, are watching the sanctity of the 2024 presidential election very closely because I know the massive fraud and scullery by the Democrats in the 2020 presidential election is at best.”
Mr Trump’s post continued: “It was an insult to our nation! Therefore, the 2024 election, where voting has just begun, will be under the closest professional scrutiny and, when I win, fraudsters will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, including long prison terms. That this disgrace of justice should not happen again.
“We cannot, and we will not, allow our country to devolve into a third world nation! Please be aware that this legal contact extends to lawyers, political activists, donors, illegal voters and corrupt election officials. Those involved in unethical behavior will be hunted down, caught and prosecuted at a level, unfortunately, never seen before in our country.
He later posted the message on X, the website formerly known as Twitter, where he had a significantly larger following than he did on Truth Social.
In response to Mr. Trump’s post, Mark Elias, a prominent Democratic election lawyer who recently joined Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign team, wrote on X: “We will not let Donald Trump intimate us. We will not let him suppress votes. We will not let it spoil the election. We will not let him deceive us. We will fight and win.”
Mr. Trump has repeatedly called for action against those he believes have been wronged.
After he was first indicted by the federal government in 2023, Mr. Trump vowed to have a “real special prosecutor” who would go after President Biden and his family if he wins the presidency in 2024.
On Friday, speaking to reporters in the lobby of Trump Tower in Manhattan, Mr. Trump said criticism of the judges by Democrats “should be illegal” and that the Justice Department should look into “the legitimacy of these people” who attack jurists like Allen. Cannon, the federal judge he appointed who recently dismissed the indictment against him. That indictment accused Mr. Trump of improperly retaining classified information after leaving office and obstructing its investigation.
Also on Friday, when he accepted an endorsement from the Fraternal Order of Police, Mr. Trump Urged police officials to “keep a check on voter fraud”. If police follow through on that appeal, their actions could conflict with multiple state laws and prompt accusations of voter intimidation.
“Believe it or not, they’re afraid of that badge, they’re afraid of your people,” Mr. Trump said.
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