Did former U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy say he saw the movie "2000 Mules" at Mar-a-Lago and that he "always believed that rampant cheating occurred" in the 2020 election? No, that's not true: The Republican from South Carolina told Lead Stories both claims are "100 percent false."
The claim appeared in a Facebook post (archived here) by the account Trey Gowdy Now on May 9, 2022. It opens:
The truth will set you free
This is what the post looked like on Facebook at the time of writing:
(Source: Facebook screenshot taken on Wed May 11 19:26:42 2022 UTC)
The quote under a photo of Gowdy read:
I was privileged to be at Mar-a-Lago for the premiere of 2000 Mules. I always believed that rampant cheating occurred but was skeptical that it could be proven. After watching the movie I am no longer skeptical. @DineshDSouza has them dead to rights IMHO. God bless you Dinesh.
In an email to Lead Stories on May 11, 2022, Gowdy said he had not made the comments:
Both assertions are totally false. Haven't seen the movie (at Mar a Lago or anywhere else). Didn't even know there was a movie. Never said what was attributed to me. So both are 100 percent false.
Former President Donald Trump held a screening of the Dinesh D'Souza movie, which claims voter fraud in the 2020 election, at his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago, on May 4, 2022, Newsweek reported.
Lead Stories has debunked several claims involving D'Souza. You can see those stories here.
