Casey Lucier, investigative counsel for the committee (video recording):
November 18th: Memo from Kenneth Chesebro (actually pronounced "Cheese bro"... just... come on...), attorney for the Trump campaign - "Prudence dictates that the ten electors pledged to Trump and Pence meet and cast their votes on December 14 (unless by then the race has been conceded.)"
Video deposition of Cassidy Hutchinson, Former Aide to Mark Meadows:
Q: Who do you remember being involved in those early discussions around Thanksgiving time, regarding having alternate electors meet?
A: Mr. Giuliani, several of Mr. Giuliani's associates, Mr. Meadows, members of congress although it's difficult to distinguish if the members I'm thinking of were involved on Thanksgiving or if they were involved as we progressed through December.
Casey Lucier, continued:
At the president's direct request, the RNC assisted the campaign in coordinating this effort.
Video of the deposition of Ronna Romney McDaniel, RNC chairwoman
Q: What did the president say when he called you?
A: Essentially, he turned the call over to Mr. Eastman who then proceeded to talk about the importance of the RNC helping the campaign gather these contingent electors in case any of the legal challenges that were ongoing changed the result of any states. I think more just helping them reach out and assemble them. My understanding is that the campaign did take the lead and we just were helping them in that role.
Casey Lucier, continued:
As president Trump and his supporters continued to lose lawsuits, some campaign lawyers became convinced that convening electors in states that Trump lost was no longer appropriate.
Video deposition of Justin Clark, former Trump campaign lawyer:
just remember I either replied or called somebody saying unless we have litigation pending in these states, I don't think this is appropriate. This isn't the right thing to do. I don't remember how I phrased it, but I got into a little bit of a back and forth. And I think it was with Ken Chesebro, where I said alright, you know... You just get after it. I'm out.
Matt Morgan, former Trump campaign lawyer:
At that point, I had Josh Finley email Mr. Chesebro politely to say, 'This is your task. You are responsible for the electoral college issues moving forward.' And this was my way of taking that responsibility to 0.
Casey Lucier, continued:
The committee learned the Whtie House counsel's office also felt the plan was potential illegal.
Video deposition of Cassidy Hutchinson:
Q: And so, to be clear, did you hear the WH counsel's office say that this plan to have alternate electors meet and cast votes for Donald Trump in states that he had lost was not legally sound?
A: Yes sir.
Q: And who was present for that meeting, that you remember?
A: It was in our office, so it was Mr. Meadows, Mr. Giuliani, and a few of Mr. Giuliani's associates.
Casey Lucier, continued:
The select committee interviewed several of the individual fake electors as well as Trump campaign staff who helped organize the effort.
Video deposition of Robert Sinners, former Trump campaign staffer:
We were just kinda useful idiots or rubes at that point. A strong part of me really feels that it's just kinda as the road continued (???) and it was (???) that failure, failure, failure, that got formulated as what do we have on the table? Let's just do it.
Q: And now after what we've told you today about the select committee's investigation about the conclusion of the professional lawyers on the campaign staff, Justin Clark, Matt Morgan, and Josh finley about their unwillingless to participate in the convening of these electors... How did that contribute to your understanding of these issues?
A: I'm angry... I'm angry... because I think in a sense, you know, no one really cared if people were potentially putting themselves in jeopardy.
Q: Would you have not wanted to participate in this any further as well?
A: I absolutely would not have. Had I known that the three main lawyers for the campaign that I'd spoken to in the past or leading up were not on board? Uhh... yeah.
Video deposition of Andrew Hitt, former Wisconsin republican party chair:
I was told that these would only count if a court ruled in our favor. So if that would have been using our electors, umm... well, it would have been using our electors in ways we weren't told about and we wouldn't have supported.
Casey Lucier, continued:
Documents obtained by the select committee indicate that instructions were given to the electors in several states that they needed to cast their ballots in complete secrecy. Because this scheme involved fake electors, those participating in certain states had no way to comply with state election laws, like where the electors were supposed to meet. One group of fake electors even considered hiding overnight to ensure that they could access the state capitol, as required in Michigan. (Holy shit these people are dumb)