Chris LaCivita, a top official in President Trump’s presidential campaign, isn’t mincing words about Pennsylvania’s ongoing election debacle. In a fiery post on X, LaCivita predicted that election officials who defied a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling by counting disqualified mail-in ballots would face jail time. “They will go to jail,” LaCivita declared. “Count on it.”
They will go to jail count on it https://t.co/8RnD1GrCcp
— Chris LaCivita (@ChrisLaCivita) November 17, 2024
This drama stems from Pennsylvania counties, led by Democrats, deciding to count mail-in ballots with missing or incorrect dates—a clear defiance of the state’s highest court. The ruling explicitly barred such ballots from being included in certified vote totals. Yet election boards in places like Bucks, Montgomery, Centre, and even Philadelphia have pressed forward, framing their actions as a defense of voters’ rights. Republicans, however, see it differently, calling it a blatant disregard for the rule of law.
Diane Ellis-Marseglia, chair of the Bucks County Board of Commissioners and a key figure in this controversy, is under particular scrutiny. Ellis-Marseglia has openly dismissed the Supreme Court’s decision, saying, “I think we all know that precedent by a court doesn’t matter anymore in this country.” Her comments, combined with her vote to count the disqualified ballots, have ignited a firestorm of criticism. Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that Democratic Senator Bob Casey, who narrowly trails Republican Dave McCormick in the U.S. Senate race, endorsed Ellis-Marseglia last year during her campaign.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. McCormick currently leads Casey by less than half a percentage point, triggering an automatic recount under Pennsylvania law. Republicans have accused Casey’s campaign of potentially coordinating with Democratic-led election boards to include the disqualified ballots, though no direct evidence has been presented. Democrats, for their part, argue they are simply ensuring every vote is counted, regardless of technical errors.
LaCivita’s bold prediction about jail time underscores the growing tension surrounding election integrity and accountability. The Trump campaign, emboldened by its return to power, appears ready to hold defiant election officials to task. “Precedent matters,” LaCivita’s statement implies, and flouting a Supreme Court ruling won’t be overlooked.
As the recount unfolds and the legal battles heat up, Pennsylvania is once again a flashpoint in the nation’s ongoing debate over elections. Whether LaCivita’s prediction comes true or not, the broader message is clear: ignoring court rulings in the name of partisan gain will come with consequences—or at least a whole lot of scrutiny.
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