Dominic Green Dominic Green

Trump’s gangster affectation was always part of his appeal

(Getty images)

Finally, some real evidence of electoral fraud. After weeks of claims and court dismissals, Donald Trump at last has solid evidence that this is a country where elected officials can pick up a phone and try to fix the results, and that, as the mobsters used to say, the fish rots from the head. Unfortunately for Trump, he’s the one on the line — and the hook. Call him The Codfather.

The leaked recording of Trump trying to strong-arm Georgia’s secretary of state Brad Raffensperger confirms that The Godfather movies aren’t just an immigrant parable, but also a handbook to how to get on and up in American life. If something’s broken — the political system, for instance — then fix it.

‘There’s nothing wrong with saying that y’know, er…that you’ve recalculated,’ the Don suggests, asking Raffensperger to feel down the back of his peach-coloured sofa for some loose votes.

When Raffensperger refuses, the Don warns he’s taking ‘a big risk’. Nice Republican-controlled statehouse you’ve got there: it would be a shame if anything happened to it. Still, it’s nothing personal, just business. Like Don Fanucci, all Don Trump wants to do is ‘wet his beak’: ‘All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes.’

When that fails, the Don reminds Raffensperger that they go back — if not to the Old Country, then at least to the old country club.

‘You should want to have an accurate election. And you’re a Republican.’

‘We believe that we do have an accurate election,’ Raffensperger replies, knowing that the Feds are listening — or will be, because the fink is taping it.

‘No you don’t,’ Trump says, trying to intimidate Raffensperger. ‘No, you don’t. You don’t have one, not even close. You’re off by hundreds of thousands of votes.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading with a free trial

Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. After that it’s just £1 a week.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

Or

Unlock more articles

REGISTER

Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in