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Former Georgia Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan on Monday stated he’ll vote for President Joe Biden in November, arguing former President Donald Trump “has disqualified himself by means of his conduct and his character.”
“In contrast to Trump, I’ve belonged to the GOP my complete life. This November, I’m voting for an honest individual I disagree with on coverage over a legal defendant and not using a ethical compass,” Duncan, a CNN contributor, wrote in an opinion piece printed within the Atlanta Journal-Structure.
Duncan informed CNN’s Laura Coates Monday evening that Trump “shouldn’t be a Republican” and “doesn’t symbolize our model.”
“Donald Trump’s not a Republican. He doesn’t symbolize our model. He doesn’t symbolize our future. He’s a horrible human being at this level, we’re watching that play out hour by hour within the courtroom,” Duncan stated. “It’s time to maneuver on. If we’re going to heal as a celebration and really get again to doing the issues that we should always do – and that’s be conservative however not indignant or loopy or liars – we should always flip the web page instantly from Donald Trump.”
Within the op-ed titled, “Why I’m voting for Biden and different Republicans ought to, too,” Duncan outlined why he has determined in opposition to backing the GOP nominee. Whereas Duncan admitted Biden’s age is a priority for a lot of and his “progressive insurance policies aren’t to conservatives’ liking,” he wrote he was left with no different as he argued a second Trump time period would hinder the Republican Get together from shifting ahead.
“The GOP won’t ever rebuild till we transfer on from the Trump period, leaving conservative (however not indignant) Republicans like me no selection however to tug the lever for Biden,” Duncan wrote. “The choice is one other time period of Trump, a person who has disqualified himself by means of his conduct and his character. The headlines are ablaze together with his hush-money trial over allegations of improper record-keeping for funds to hide an affair with an adult-film star.”
Duncan criticized fellow members of his celebration, together with Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, calling it “disappointing to look at an growing variety of Republicans fall in line behind former president Donald Trump.” “This mentality is lifeless mistaken,” he added.
Duncan additionally slammed Invoice Barr, as soon as an lawyer basic for the previous president who has since emerged as one in all Trump’s most distinguished critics, for just lately saying he would vote for the presumptive Republican nominee over Biden in November.
“Satirically, having served as his lawyer basic till December 2020, Barr noticed firsthand Trump’s capability to trigger harm. Barr’s declaration that the Justice Division uncovered no proof of widespread voter fraud that would change the result of the 2020 election infuriated his boss and set off a series of occasions that ended with Jan. 6,” Duncan wrote.
“Trump has proven us who he’s. We should always consider him. To assume he’s going to alter on the age of 77 is past inconceivable,” Duncan later added.
Trump’s try to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia precipitated Duncan and different Georgia GOP election officers, together with Gov. Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, to push again in opposition to Trump’s claims of fraud within the state.
Duncan was president of the Georgia state Senate when Rudy Giuliani and different Trump allies unfold conspiracy theories in regards to the 2020 election earlier than Georgia state lawmakers in conferences he stated on the time he didn’t “sanction.”
Final 12 months, he testified in entrance of the Fulton County grand jury that might later indict Trump and others for his or her makes an attempt to overturn the election within the state. Trump has pleaded not responsible to all legal prices he faces.
Duncan informed CNN’s Jake Tapper after the 2020 election that Trump attacking Kemp and Raffensperger “disgusts” him and spoke in regards to the threats elected officers within the Peach State have obtained.
“All of us on this place have gotten elevated safety round us and our households and it’s not American, it’s not what democracy is all about but it surely’s actuality proper now. So, we’re going to proceed to do our jobs. Gov. Kemp, Brad Raffensperger and myself all three voted and campaigned for the president however, sadly, he didn’t win the state of Georgia but it surely doesn’t change our job descriptions,” Duncan stated.
In 2021, Duncan introduced he wouldn’t run for reelection in 2022, explaining he would as a substitute give attention to reforming the GOP.
“We’ve to maneuver on as Republicans, we’ve to, and that is our first step to it. … I believe Georgians are going to vote in opposition to Donald Trump,” Duncan stated on “Laura Coates Dwell.”
This story has been up to date with further info.
CNN’s Jack Forrest and Rashard Rose contributed to this report.