THE mailman who Donald Trump referred to as a “courageous patriot” for claiming mail-in ballots had been tampered with in Pennsylvania admitted that he “didn’t hear the entire story” and made assumptions.
Richard Hopkins, 32, alleged {that a} postmaster in Erie, Pennsylvania, advised US Postal Service staff to backdate ballots that had been mailed after Election Day.
Richard Hopkins, 32, has claimed a postmaster in Pennsylvania ordered mail-in ballots to be backdated Credit score: YouTube
He signed an affidavit swearing to these allegations, which have since been utilized by Republicans as doable proof of widespread voter fraud.
The Home Oversight Committee and The Washington Post both said on Tuesday that Hopkins recanted his claims, however Hopkins mentioned that wasn’t true.
Mission Veritas, who helped Hopkins go public along with his story, launched on Wednesday Hopkins’ two-hour-long interrogation by the Postal Service’s Workplace of Inspector Basic.
Within the video, Hopkins admitted: “I did not particularly hear the entire story. I simply heard part of it. And I may have missed numerous it.”
Hopkins is a Postal Service employee within the battleground stateCredit score: Mission Veritas
“My thoughts in all probability added the remaining. I perceive that. I perceive how rumour and listening,” Hopkins advised federal brokers. “I have been questioning it at this level.”
Later in his interview, Hopkins mentioned he by no means heard the phrase “backdate” in reference to the mail-in ballots.
The postal employee then mentioned that when he collected a poll whereas engaged on November 5, he made a notation on the poll himself with the date.
Hopkins mentioned that “particularly what I heard was fourth ballots picked up. After which I heard them say one thing concerning the markings being on the third. One was on the fourth. That is it.”
An elections employee is seen right here as officers rely ballots in MichiganCredit score: Getty Photos – Getty
“And that is once I poked my head out and mentioned, ‘What?’”
In his interview, Hopkins mentioned he reached conclusions “primarily based on my assumption of what I may hear was that they had been post-marking them on the third that had been picked up on the fourth.”
Mission Veritas launched a letter from the Postal Service that was despatched to Hopkins, saying he was positioned on “off-duty/non-pay standing” efficient on Tuesday.
The letter said that Hopkins’ actions “might have positioned staff and your self in addition to the status of the US Postal Service in hurt’s manner.”
Senator Lindsey Graham used Hopkins’ declare in a letter to the Justice Division calling for an investigation.
Attorney General William Barr then authorized federal prosecutors to open an investigation into claims of voting irregularities earlier than election outcomes are licensed – a reversal of a longstanding DOJ coverage.
However on Tuesday, the House Oversight Committee, led by Democrat Carolyn Maloney, mentioned that Hopkins “fully recanted his allegations of a supervisor tampering with mail-in ballots after being questioned by investigators.”
The Washington Submit reported that on Monday, Hopkins advised the US Postal Service’s Workplace of Inspector Basic that the claims he made weren’t true.
Hopkins signed an affidavit that recanted his claims, the Submit reported, citing three officers who had been briefed on the investigation.
The Inspector Basic’s workplace started investigating Hopkins’ claims final week after he went public along with his allegations by means of Mission Veritas.
Mission Veritas, run by James O’Keefe, is a conservative web site that makes use of hidden cameras and undercover reporters to ensnare journalists or politicos in embarrassing conversations.
The Home committee tweeted on Tuesday: “#USPS IG investigators knowledgeable Committee employees right this moment that they interviewed Hopkins on Friday, however that Hopkins RECANTED HIS ALLEGATIONS yesterday and didn’t clarify why he signed a false affidavit.”
However O’Keefe shared a video of Hopkins shortly after, through which he mentioned he didn’t recant something.
Hopkins advised investigators he ‘did not hear the complete story’
Holding up the Washington Submit article, Hopkins mentioned: “It says that I fabricated the allegations of ballot-tampering.
“I’m right here to say that I didn’t recant my statements. That didn’t occur.
“That’s not what occurred, and you’ll find out tomorrow.”
Hopkins then requested the Submit to “recant their fantastic little article that they determined to throw on the market out of random.”
Trump tweeted of Hopkins this week: “A courageous patriot. Extra & extra individuals are stepping ahead to show this Rigged Election!”
Trump and Republicans have been claiming that widespread voter fraud is the reason the president didn’t win re-election – and have been utilizing Hopkins’ declare to allege of such issues in Pennsylvania.
Republicans haven’t offered proof or proof of any widespread voter fraud or irregularities within the 2020 election.
And election officers from each political events have publicly said that voting final week went nicely and worldwide observers additionally confirmed that there have been no critical irregularities.
On Saturday, Joe Biden was projected to be the winner of Pennsylvania’s 2020 race – giving him the state’s 20 Electoral Faculty votes that would lead him to winning the presidency.
Joe Biden gained the presidential election and is the president-elect of the US
However President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that he truly gained the election in opposition to Biden
Essentially the most main information networks, newspapers and newswires projected Biden’s win after figuring out that the remaining ballots left to be counted in Pennsylvania wouldn’t permit Trump to catch up.
On Monday, the Trump campaign filed a lawsuit to stop the certification of the election results in Pennsylvania.
However Trump’s marketing campaign filed litigation in federal courtroom over Pennsylvania’s presidential election, saying registered Democratic voters had been handled extra favorably than Republican voters.
Judges have already thrown out lawsuits in Michigan and Georgia from the Trump marketing campaign.
Trump has refused to concede in the race against former Vice President Biden.
Authorized specialists have mentioned that Trump’s litigation has little probability of adjusting the end result of the election.
