Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers (R) refuted former President Trump’s description of a telephone conversation between the two men after the 2020 presidential election, telling members of the selected House committee investigating the January 6, 2021 attack on the United States Capitol. , that he had never told Trump the election had been rigged.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), a member of the Jan. 6 panel that took a leading role in Tuesday’s hearing, began Bowers’ personal testimony by asking the Arizona official about a phone conversation between him and Trump after the 2020 presidential election.
Trump said in a statement Tuesday morning that Bowers “told me the election was rigged and I won Arizona.”
Bowers denied that description under oath later Tuesday.
“I did have a conversation with the president, it certainly isn’t. But there were parts that are true, but there are parts that are not,” Bowers told Schiff when asked if he had such a conversation with Trump.
If he did indeed tell Trump that the election was rigged and that he actually won the race, Bowers testified that he has never made such a statement.
“Everywhere, everyone, anytime has said I said the election was rigged, that wouldn’t be true,” Bowers said.
“And when the former president claimed in his statement today that you told him he won Arizona, isn’t that also true?” asked Schiff.
“That’s not true either,” Bowers said.
The exchange occurred at the beginning of Bowers’ testimony to the panel. Tuesday’s public hearing, the fourth so far this month, focuses on Trump’s role in pressuring state officials to reverse the results of the 2020 election to keep himself in power.
Bowers received a call from Trump and attorney Rudy Giuliani amid the press campaign to reverse the election results.
Bowers testifies along with Georgian Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his deputy, Gabriel Sterling. Former Georgia election official Wandrea “Shaye” Moss will testify later Tuesday afternoon.
For the latest news, weather, sports and streaming video, head to The Hill.
