During a segment on MSNBC, Molly Jong-Fast discussed Karl Rove’s recent prediction regarding potential legal implications for RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel in connection to her involvement with former President Donald Trump’s endeavors surrounding the 2020 election. Jong-Fast’s comments came in response to a Detroit News report revealing audio recordings that captured Trump exerting pressure on two Michigan canvassers not to certify the election results. In the same audio, McDaniel was heard promising the canvassers legal representation if they followed Trump’s directive to withhold certification.
The discussion on Morning Joe centered around Karl Rove’s warning, issued in a recent Fox segment, that the released audio could pose legal challenges for both Trump and McDaniel. Jong-Fast, sharing her perspective with Jonathan Lemire, remarked on the significance of Rove expressing concerns, stating, “When you’ve lost Karl Rove? Not a great look.”
Highlighting the broader context of Trump’s involvement in election-related activities, Jong-Fast noted that this was not the first instance of the former president employing what she described as “slightly mafia-like tactics” on the American electoral system. She expressed particular concern about Ronna McDaniel, emphasizing that her previous efforts to distance herself from such behavior appeared to be compromised by her association with Trumpism. Jong-Fast suggested that the audio revelations could have a detrimental impact on McDaniel, characterizing the situation as “pretty chilling” and predicting potential repercussions for the RNC chairwoman.
“This is not the first tape we’ve heard Donald Trump doing his slightly mafia-like tactics on our American electoral system,” Jong-Fast said. “But I would say that there’s something really chilling about having Ronna, who knows better, and has tried, as much as possible, to not be like that. Obviously she has been brought into the mud of Trumpism, as have many of these Republicans. But, it was pretty chilling, and I think that I think it’s going to hurt her.”
Jong-Fast rounded out her thoughts by calling the quotes “disturbing” and antithetical to the idea of America, saying “We have a democracy, and party leaders don’t pressure electors to go their way.”
Concluding her remarks, Jong-Fast characterized the quotes from McDaniel as “disturbing” and contradictory to the principles of democracy, underscoring the idea that party leaders should not exert pressure on electors to sway election outcomes. The discussion on MSNBC reflected the growing scrutiny and potential consequences surrounding individuals, including McDaniel, entangled in the aftermath of Trump’s post-election activities.
