Georgia Secretary-General Raffensperger said the White House urged him to speak with President Trump, though he thought it was inappropriate.

"I never believed it was appropriate to talk to the President, but he urged and I believe he asked subordinates to press us. They wanted a phone call," said the State Secretary.

Raffensperger confirmed that he and his lawyer had denied US President Donald Trump's accusations that there was election fraud in Georgia during the hour-long phone call.

"We take calls and have conversations. Most of the time he talks, we mostly listen. But I want to emphasize my point that his data is completely wrong. He says there are hundreds of people.

The Washington Post today published an audio recording of President Trump's one-hour call with Secretary General Raffensperger on Jan. 2, in which the White House boss threatened and pleaded with Raffensperger to influence Georgia election officials.

"I just want to find 11,780 votes, more than one vote we have. Because we won in Georgia," Trump said, adding that Raffensperger could be criminally prosecuted unless enough votes are found to overturn the conclusion.

Experts say the White House boss's actions could constitute election fraud under Chapter 52 of the US Code, with a maximum sentence of up to 5 years in prison.

House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy expressed support for Trump's call with Raffensperger in an interview on Jan. 4.

Even if Trump wins Georgia and receives 16 electoral votes from the state, he still cannot win back the White House.

It is not clear if Trump's call would lead to a legal issue after he left the White House.