Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Bombshell leaked audio reveals Ted Cruz plotting to overturn 2020 election

The leaked audio is the latest from a former Fox News producer

Ariana Baio
Wednesday 26 April 2023 14:21 BST
Comments
SNL mocks Ted Cruz groveling to Donald Trump

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A previously secret audio recording of Texas Senator Ted Cruz speaking with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo in the days surrounding January 6 has revealed Mr Cruz’s intentions to assist Donald Trump in overturning the 2020 election.

The recording, made by former Fox News producer Abby Grossberg and obtained by The Washington Post, reveals Mr Cruz’s support for the appointed electoral commission to deny election certification with unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud.

In the private conversation recorded on 2 January, Bartiromo asks Mr Cruz, “Who’s deciding who gets inaugurated?”

Mr Cruz responds, “It would be the results of that commission and what they find and if they found credible evidence of fraud that undermines confidence in the electoral results in any given state they would report on that.”

Bartiromo asks Mr Cruz, “Is there any chance you can overturn this?”

Mr Cruz responds, “I hope so.”

Much of what Mr Cruz says in the conversation echoes what the Texas senator publicly said in the days surrounding January 6.

In a press release that Mr Cruz sent out on 2 January, with 10 other senators, he indicated that they intended to vote on January 6 “to reject the electors from disputed states as not ‘regularly given’ and ‘lawfully certified’.”

On Twitter, Mr Cruz responded to the audio leak, first revealed by MSNBC, saying, “This MSNBC is breathlessly reporting that I ‘secretly’ said in a phone call… the EXACT same thing I said on national television the next morning! And then said again on the Senate floor four days later.”

But the audio recording reveals Mr Cruz’s push to decertify election results and overturn the election.

“I think that the country deserves to have a credible assessment of these claims and what the evidence shows and the mechanism to try to force that is denying certification on the sixth,” Mr Cruz told Bartiromo.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in