Leaked phone call recording could spell trouble for RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel

Republican National Committee Chairperson Ronna McDaniel is already having a tough year, reputation-wise.

According to Newsweek, her year, and the next one, could significantly worsen after it was revealed that she was possibly involved in efforts to pressure election officials in Michigan to help overturn the results of the 2020 election.

A bombshell report from the Detroit News cited a leaked phone call that reportedly took place between Trump, McDaniel, and others talking to "two Republican members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers, Monica Palmer and William Hartmann."

The outlet reported that in the phone call, the two officials were "pressured" to not sign off on the certification of Michigan's 2020 election results.

"If you can go home tonight, do not sign it...We will get you attorneys," McDaniel reportedly said to the officials.

"We've got to fight for our country," the publication reports Trump said on the Nov. 17, 2020 call with Palmer and Hartmann. "We can't let these people take out country away from us." in the call, which couldn't be verified at the time of this writing, according to Newsweek.

One legal expert suggested that if true, McDaniel could face legal consequences for her role on the supposed phone call.

Anthony Michael Kreis, a law professor and political scientist at Georgia State University College of Law, explained why that might be a reality in a recent X post.

"It seems like Ronna McDaniel could be in some trouble in Michigan and Donald Trump may be facing a fifth set of charges. A promise was offered in exchange for an official act unlike in Georgia where the preferred method appears to have been limited to browbeating state officials," Kreis wrote.

It seems like Ronna McDaniel could be in some trouble in Michigan and Donald Trump may be facing a fifth set of charges. A promise was offered in exchange for an official act unlike in Georgia where the preferred method appears to have been limited to browbeating state officials. pic.twitter.com/hwSSN5gEoO

— Anthony Michael Kreis (@AnthonyMKreis) December 22, 2023

Kreis added, "If we think of bribery statues as criminalizing the offering/accepting of goods that are enriching or personally benefiting the public official, then dangling an attorney falls outside that prohibition. But the terms of this statute aren't so limited. Be curious to see caselaw..."

Palmer reportedly confirmed that a phone call with Trump took place at the time but couldn't recall what was said.

Notably, Hartmann passed away in 2021.

Only time will tell if a new case against Trump, and possibly McDaniel, if the contents of the phone call are ever able to be verified.