'It was stolen by the CIA': W. Va. governor hopeful expands on 2020 election theory

An official who oversaw West Virginia's state elections — and who is now running to become governor — is claiming the CIA stole the 2020 election from Donald Trump.

"The election was stolen... it was stolen by the CIA," said Republican Secretary of State Mac Warner during a debate on Thursday night that was first reported by Metro News of West Virginia.

He cited some testimony and a suspicion that there was collusion to "sell a lie to the American people for the purposes of throwing the presidential election."

Warner not only called out the CIA, but said that the "FBI covers it up."

He cited testimony by former Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] Mike Morrell before Jim Jordan's House Judiciary Committee as proof that there was collusion to prevent President Donald Trump from securing a second term.

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Morell explained under oath that a Biden campaign senior adviser (who later became Secretary of State ) Antony Blinken had discussed a report about Hunter Biden's laptop two days prior to releasing an Oct. 19, 2020, statement from 51 former intelligence officials suggesting the story may have been tainted by a Russian disinformation campaign.

Warner touts his experience as a 23-year veteran of the U.S. Army and, as West Virginia’s Secretary of State, calls himself a "battle-tested leader", according to his campaign website.

Other candidates in the debate were more reticent to make the stolen election claims, and were even complimentary of Warner.

When asked if the election was stolen like Warner claimed, businessman Chris Miller said “possibly,” according to Metro News of Virginia.

House Judiciary Chairman Moore Capito would only say that West Virginia elections were secure.

Trump took West Virginia with 68.6% of the vote back in 2020 while Biden achieved only 29.7%.