“The Devil Is A Liar.” Heroes And Villains In The Georgia Elections Extortion Story
Ruby Freeman is a Georgia election worker targeted with lies by then President Trump. She was involved in the supposed “ballots in suitcases” video that was completely debunked by Georgia election officers. Trump singled her out by name roughly 20 times in his January 2d call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. In that call Trump described Freeman as “a professional vote scammer and hustler” and suggested she should be in jail.
Trump also rather directly threatened Raffensperger with criminal prosecution, using the word “criminal” ten times.
“It’s more illegal for you than it is for them because, you know what they did and you’re not reporting it. That’s a criminal offense, and you can’t let that happen. That’s a big risk to you and to Ryan, your lawyer. That’s a big risk. But they are shredding ballots, in my opinion, based on what I’ve heard, and they are removing machinery, and they’re moving it as fast as they can, both of which are criminal finds, and you can’t let it happen and you are letting it happen. I mean, I’m notifying you that you’re letting it happen . . . A large batch came in and it was, quote, 100% for Biden, and that is criminal. That’s criminal, okay? That’s another criminal. That’s another of the many criminal events. Many criminal events here. I don’t know. Look, Brad, I have to find 12,000 votes, and I have them times a lot, and therefore, I won the state. That’s before we go to the next step, which is in the process of right now. And I watched you this morning and you said, ‘Well, there was no criminality,’ but all of this stuff is very dangerous stuff. When you talk about no criminality, I think it’s very dangerous for you to say that.”
The day after this conversation Trump lied to the American people about it, falsely claiming Raffensperger was unable to address the questions presented.
To defend himself, on the next day, January 4th, Raffensperger released a recording he made of the conversation. The recording where Trump mentioned Ruby Freeman by name about 20 times. The recording where Trump described Ms. Freeman as “a professional vote scammer and hustler” who should be in jail.
On the same day (January 4th) a woman Ruby Freeman did not know knocked on her door. The woman was Trevian Kutti, the publicist for Kanye West, a long time friend of Trump’s. Freeman, who had been receiving death threats since early the prior December after The Gateway Pundit published an article falsely alleging the ballot stuffing entitled, “What’s Up, Ruby? Crooked Operative Filmed Pulling Out Suitcases of Ballots in Georgia IS IDENTIFIED,” understandably did not trust this stranger knocking on her door. Freeman called 911. Kutti talked to a neighbor who called Freeman and told her that Kutti claimed Freeman’s life was in danger and that she wanted to help. When the police arrived they all went down to the station where Kutti and Freeman talked.
Kutti did not reveal her relationship with West, but had a terrifying message to convey. Kutti told Freeman she “was in danger” and had “48 hours” before “unknown subjects” would turn up at her home.
Some of this is recorded on a police body cam.
And the words are indeed chilling:
“We would like to let you to know, first and foremost, we have put in placement a way to move you, to secure you, from what may be authorized over the next 48 hours. We have probably 48 hours to move you . . . I cannot say specifically what will take place. I just know that it will disrupt your freedom and the freedom of one of more of your family members . . . You are a loose end for a party that needs to tidy up.”
However, after asking the police to leave and give them some privacy, Kutti offered Freeman a solution. All Freeman had to do was publicly confess to the fraud she supposedly committed and Kutti had a team that would protect her. Kutti put a supposed “Black Crisis Manager,” named Harrison Ford, on the phone who Kutti assured has “authoritative power to get you the protection you need.” For an hour they attempted to convince Freeman to falsely implicate herself in voter fraud, or go to jail. “If you don’t tell everything, you’re going to jail” threatened Kutti.
Our world does have real heroes, otherwise ordinary people of courage. Ruby Freeman is on one of them. Rejecting Kutti’s threats and demands Freeman bravely said, “The devil is a liar” as she called for the officer to return.
In addition to threatening Freeman with jail, Kutti told her that if she did not cooperate a mob would descend on Freeman’s house two days later. In this threat, Kutti was true to her word. Two days later, on the fateful day of January 6th, an angry Trump mob with bullhorns surrounded Freeman’s house shouting taunts and threats. Freeman had fled her home, a few hours earlier, tipped off by an FBI agent who advised her to leave her house. Kutti knew in advance that this mob would come, and when it would come, suggesting a conspiracy of some size and sophistication.
I now get to the most shocking and appalling part of this story of clear cut witness and public official intimidation.
Nearly a year later no arrests have been made, no charges filed, no known investigation even underway.
The police and Georgia Bureau of Investigation admit they did not even open any investigations of the matter. There is no evidence of a pending Federal investigation by the Department of Justice. The FBI, having warned Freeman of sufficient danger to flee her house, has done nothing about those who placed her in that danger.
Two weeks ago Ruby Freeman sued The Gateway Pundit for publishing its lies about her. That is the only known legal action involving this incident.
First Trump directly threatened Georgia’s chief election official with criminal prosecution unless Raffensperger found Trump the exact number of votes he needed. In that call where Trump viciously attacked Ruby Freeman, mentioning her by name 20 times.
Then a publicist for Trump’s buddy, Kanye West, echoes very much the same threat against another Georgia election official. Neither threat worked, but what if even one had?
Two intimidation efforts, against two Georgia election officials, both using pretty much the same threat. The first done by the President of the United States, the second (two days later) by a publicist for a close friend of the President of the United States.
I suppose there are two possibilities here.
1. Kanye West just woke up one day thinking that he could help his good buddy Trump out by having his publicist go down and threaten a Georgia election official with criminal prosecution if she didn’t falsely confess to fraud.
2. Trump, fresh off threatening another Georgia election official with criminal prosecution, asks West to send someone to make the same threat against this Georgia election official.
Decide for yourself which seems more likely. The second scenario makes Trump guilty of conspiracy for witness tampering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b).
Ruby Freeman, and her daughter, continue to live in constant fear. Both have had to change their appearance when out in public. None of those responsible have been held to account.
Edit & Update
On June 21, 2022, with her mother sitting behind her, Ruby Freeman’s daughter testified in one of the January 6 Committee’s live hearings. The testimony included taped testimony from Ruby Freeman. Both provided emotional testimony on how the lies against them have shattered their lives.
On the same day it was revealed the Fulton County grand jury investigating efforts to improperly influence Georgia’s election is seeking to hear testimony from Trevian Kutti. This is the first indication of a criminal investigation related to this matter. It is difficult for me to imagine how Kutti can testify substantively regarding this matter. I think it likely she pleads the 5th.
Further Edit & Update
On August 14, 2023 three people were charged for this effort to intimidate Ruby Freeman, as part of the sprawling indictment brought by Fani Willis against 19 people including former President Trump. The three charged include Trevian Kutti, local mixed martial arts fighter Harrison Floyd (who Freeman misheard as “Harrison Ford”), and a local pastor named Stephen Lee. All three are charged under Georgia’s RICO statute (which provides for a minimum five year sentence), and with influencing witnesses, and attempts to solicit false statements.
