U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is calling on major networks to black out President Donald Trump’s upcoming primetime address, in which he is expected to address election integrity matters and developments in the investigations into the outcome of the 2020 election.
“I don’t think we should be contributing to any platforming of lies about our election,” Ocasio-Cortez told reporters on Capitol Hill. “Many news outlets, oftentimes, may receive transcripts, and I think we have an ethical obligation to not air things that undermine our election that are not rooted in evidence and fact. Of course, it depends on the contents of his speech.”
Her remarks came one day after President Trump previewed the address, which is scheduled for Thursday evening, during remarks in the Oval Office
“It’s really, really big for us and our country has to shape up,” he said. “It doesn’t get bigger, because without free and fair elections, you don’t have a country… We’ll be discussing other things too. But it’s going to be a very big announcement.”
In separate comments, Trump stated that the speech “will concern that subject” of elections and voting machines “and we’ll have a couple of other things to say also.”
The White House has requested airtime from major broadcast networks for the address. It remains unclear at this time which networks, if any, will carry the speech live in full, though prime-time addresses are relatively infrequent and typically require networks to preempt scheduled programming.
The address is expected to cover longstanding claims concerning the 2020 election outcome, including assertions about foreign interference and issues involving voting machines and election integrity. Previous reports indicate that Trump plans to reference newly declassified information in support of these claims.
Intelligence officials, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte, are scheduled to participate. Pulte has overseen a review of documents slated for declassification.
In addition, the FBI has diverted hundreds of analysts and researchers to investigate election integrity matters in Fulton County, Georgia.
Each assigned analyst is tasked with completing approximately 708 records checks, with a deadline of July 17. The memo authorized overtime, including on weekends and holidays, and noted that the Atlanta field office would provide training for the operation. The analysts involved are specialists in record review rather than special agents.
Back in January, federal agents conducted a raid on an election warehouse in Fulton County and seized more than 600 boxes of materials. These included original ballots from the 2020 election, along with tapes, voter rolls, and images.
