Cindy McCain slams “ludicrous” Arizona recount after Trump suggests it will reveal stolen election

In a interview with CNN’s State of the Union Sunday, Cindy McCain, Arizona businesswoman and widow of the late GOP senator John McCain, ridiculed the state Republican Party’s massive and ongoing recount effort aimed at overturning President Joe Biden’s November victory over Donald Trump.

Despite Trump’s comment last week at Mar-a-Lago that the Arizona recount will be the first domino to fall, McCain noted that even the state Republicans refused to have their own party chairperson election audited.

“The whole thing is ludicrous. And this also comes from a state party in Arizona that refuse to be audited themselves on votes that were cast within their own party’s communications. The election is over. Biden won. I know many of them don’t like the outcome. But elections have consequences,” McCain said during her TV appearance.

“This does not surprise me, things are just aloof and crazy out there right now with regards to the election,” she added.

CNN host Jake Tapper also highlighted the massive difference in attitude between the post-Trump GOP and when her late husband, Arizona Senator John McCain, told supporters to “stand behind” Barack Obama’s 2008 victory.

Trump has personally touted the recount as likely to uncover massive voter fraud and corroborate his continued unfounded claims that he defeated Biden in several states including Arizona. A former GOP state lawmaker who was present at the January 6 U.S. Capitol riots as well as numerous motorists with pro-Trump bumper stickers have been shown taking part in the ballot recounting process.

The GOP-led forensic recount effort in Arizona includes UV lights and a complete lack of transparency, local reports have indicated.

“Don’t blame me, I voted for Trump,” read the bumper sticker of one ballot counter who was approached by CNN reporters. “Are you OAN [One America News]?”

Speaking at Mar-a-Lago last week Trump told some of his supporters: “Let’s see what they find. I wouldn’t be surprised if they found thousands and thousands and thousands of votes, so we’re going to watch that very closely.”

He added: “You’ll watch Pennsylvania, and Georgia, and you’re going to watch Michigan and Wisconsin, and you’re watching New Hampshire – they found a lot of votes up in New Hampshire just now – because this was a rigged election, and everybody knows it. We’re going to be watching it very closely.”

Newsweek reached out to the Arizona state Republican Party as well as representatives for the McCain family for additional remarks Sunday afternoon.