A Pennsylvania postal worker has recanted claims that supervisors attempted to backdate ballots mailed after the election, according to congressional aides. The false allegations were cited by the Trump campaign and top Republicans as examples of voter fraud impacting the results of the presidential election.
Richard Hopkins, a Postal Service worker from Erie, Pennsylvania, alleged that he overheard supervisors discussing a plan to backdate mail-in ballots for Election Day.
The Trump campaign, which, like the president, has rejected the results of the election and alleged widespread — and unsubstantiated — voter fraud, passed Hopkins’ account to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, who referred the matter to the Justice Department and FBI for investigation.
But Hopkins walked back his assertions when questioned by federal investigators with the Postal Service Inspector General’s office, the leader of the watchdog agency told the House Oversight Committee staff on Tuesday.
“IG investigators informed Committee staff today that they interviewed Hopkins on Friday, but that Hopkins RECANTED HIS ALLEGATIONS yesterday and did not explain why he signed a false affidavit,” committee Democrats said in a statement posted to Twitter.
