GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The former head of the Republican Party of Brown County says Senator Ron Johnson isn’t being honest with the public about the integrity of the election.
However, Johnson is denying that accusation, saying he has been consistent with his comments.
Mark Becker, who led Brown County’s Republicans and used to be a county supervisor, says tells FOX 11 Johnson admitted to him Joe Biden won the election, even though Johnson continues to question election results.
“From what I know of Ron and I know him decently well, he’s never been afraid to talk to anybody,” said Becker, who says he initially called Johnson to voice his frustrations over the Republican response to the election results.
Becker says he had a 30-minute phone conversation with Johnson 10 days after the election. Becker wrote about it in a column for The Bulwark, a website founded by former conservative radio talk show host Charlie Sykes.
In the column, Becker claims Johnson told him it would be political suicide to oppose Trump and he won’t publicly admit Biden’s victory because the institutions of our democracy are strong enough to withstand Trump’s election claims.
“When I see the things that he has been doing and see the things he’s been saying and it’s completely the opposite to what he said to me to what he knows to be true, I felt that I had to say something.”
Johnson’s office responded in a statement.
“I have been very consistent in both public and private statements that I believe there are way too many irregularities and suspect issues that need to be fully investigated and publicly vetted before a final result is determined and a peaceful transition of power takes place,” said Johnson. “The article should be viewed as the political hit piece it is, and simply ignored.”
“He said it was a hit piece and it should be ignored, but what he didn’t say was that I lied about it because I don’t think he can,” said Becker. “He can’t say I lied about it.”
As for Becker, he left the GOP about the same time President Trump took office. Becker has been publicly critical of Trump ever since.
Becker says he has no political aspirations, but hopes his column will influence others to speak out when necessary.
Johnson is up for re-election in 2022. He hasn’t said whether he will be running again.
Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson has announced he will run for the seat as a Democrat.
