commitment was stunning. >> reporter: that was september 2020. when donald trump also stunned republican al schmidt. >> we needed to get them onboard or move the polling place. >> reporter: at the time schmidt was one of three city commissioners philadelphia. his job, oversees elections. >> a big problem. philadelphia went in to watch. poll watchers. they were thrown out. weren't allowed to watch. you know why? because bad things happen in philadelphia. bad things. >> reporter: watching the debate. president trump said bad things happen in philadelphia. what goes through your mind? >> i think i -- said out loud -- i see what you're doing. we had the sitting president trying to discredit the results coming from the city of philadelphia before a single vote was cast in the city. >> watch those ballots. i don't like it. >> thousands of ballots all over the country are being reported. some thrown in garbage cans with my name on them.