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NEW: We contacted 22 states where state and local agencies paid for security, property repair & legal defense as a result of Trump's lie that the election was stolen.
Here's what @ToluseO & I found: (thread) https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/cost-trump-election-fraud/
Here's what @ToluseO & I found: (thread) https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/cost-trump-election-fraud/
Of the $519M+, the biggest chunk of taxpayer money spent is $480M in estimated military expenses to deploy thousands of National Guard troops around DC amid fears of additional extremist violence stemming from Trump's falsehoods. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/cost-trump-election-fraud/
Many of the agencies in 22 states we contacted couldn't provide a breakdown yet, cuz they're still trying to tally the cost of rapidly scaling up security to deal with the increased threat of violence from Trump supporters. We'll update as we hear back. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/cost-trump-election-fraud/
Several local/state agencies told us they simply absorbed the additional burden into their existing budgets -- a tall order during a year when covid has shrunk tax revenues. They saw it as a cost of doing business in the Trump era. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/cost-trump-election-fraud/
We wanted to make sure to show our work. Here's a line-by-line receipt of costs we tallied from each state. There are other receipts in the story. If your government agency has incurred similar costs and you're not included here, please let us know. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/cost-trump-election-fraud/
Bottom line: The financial impact to the American taxpayers of Trump’s refusal to concede the election is probably much higher than the $519 million that we've documented thus far.
In fact, the true costs may never be known. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/cost-trump-election-fraud/
In fact, the true costs may never be known. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/cost-trump-election-fraud/
And of course, our methodology for the story included at the end: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/cost-trump-election-fraud/
