Jim Kuhnhenn, a journalist who covered the Florida recount in the 2000 presidential election for Knight Ridder newspapers, dismantled the spin from supporters of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump who cited the 2000 recount to defend Trump’s refusal at the third presidential debate to say that he would accept the results of the election.

Trump has said the election may be “rigged” for months, a claim that comes straight from his conspiracy theorist allies. Trump’s claim -- which has been called “anti-American,” “dangerous,” and “a fundamental challenge to a pillar of democracy” -- has been bolstered by his surrogates and media allies like CNN’s Corey Lewandowski and Fox News’ Sean Hannity.

On October 19, the night of the third presidential election, Kuhnhenn joined a number of other reporters who said that the comparison between Trump’s “rigged election” claim and former Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore not immediately conceding the 2000 election is inaccurate. Kuhnhenn explained that there is “no comparison” because “the dispute in Florida was about … whether votes had been properly counted. Not about fraud”:

Many on Twitter citing 2000 election as justification for Trump's refusal to declare he will accept election result. No comparison. 1/4

— Jim Kuhnhenn (@jkuhnhenn) October 20, 2016

In 2000, neither Gore nor Bush mobilized supporters with fear of a rigged election. 2/4

— Jim Kuhnhenn (@jkuhnhenn) October 20, 2016

The dispute in Florida was about about whether votes had been properly counted. Not about fraud. 3/4

— Jim Kuhnhenn (@jkuhnhenn) October 20, 2016

Yes, divided SCOTUS decision prompted Dem partisans to argue result rigged. But Gore conceded graciously & power transferred peacefully 4/4

— Jim Kuhnhenn (@jkuhnhenn) October 20, 2016