CNN was finding that Republicans aren't even paying attention to the hearings because of how partisan they think it is. So they will absolutely try again. It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't sort of situation that will end up the same either way.
Video deposition of Laura Cox, former Michigan Republican party chair: * Q: Did Mr. Norton say who he was working with at all on this effort to have electors meet? * A: He said he was working with the president's campaign. He told me that the Michigan Republican electors were planning to meet in the capitol and hide overnight sot hat they could fulfill the role of casting their vote per law in the Michigan chambers and I told him in no uncertain terms that that was insane and inappropriate.
Casey Lucier, continued: * In one state, the electors even asked for a promise that the campaign would pay their legal fees if they got sued or charged with a crime. Ultimately, fake electors did meet on December 14, 2020 in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Nevada, and Wisconsin. At the request of the Trump campaign, the electors from these battleground states signed documents falsely asserting that they were the "duly elected electors from their state." And submitted them to the national archives and Vice President Pence in his capacity as president of the Senate. Images of the fake elector certificates are shown. They don't look anything like the official ones. (Holy shit, these people are dumb)
* But these ballots had no legal effect. In an email to produced tot he select committee, Dr. Eastman told the Trump campaign representative that it did not matter that the electors had not been approved by a state authority. "The fact that we have multiple slates of electors demonstrates the uncertainty of either. That should be enough," Eastman said in the letter. Eastman urged that Pence act boldly and be challenged. * Documents produced to the select committee show that the Trump campaign took steps to ensure that the physical copies of the fake electors' electoral votes from two states were delivered to Washington for January 6th. Text messages exchanged between Republican party officials in Wisconsin show that on January 4th, the Trump camping asked for someone to fly their fake electors documents to Washington.
Text message from Mark Jefferson (unclear who this is) is shown: * "Freaking trump idiots want someone to fly original elector papers to the senate President. They're gonna call one of us to tell us just what the hell is going on. They talked to Jordan. I told Jordan to them that."
* A staffer for Wisconsin senator Ron Johnson texted a staffer for Vice President Pence just minutes before the beginning of the joint session:
Text conversation between Chris Hodgson and Sean Riley: * Hodgson: Sup? * Riley: Johnson needs to hand something to VPOTUS please advise * Hodgson: What is it? * Riley: Alternate slate of electors for MI and WI because archivist didn't receive them * Hodgson: Do not give that to him
* Even though the fake elector slates were transmitted to congress and the executive branch, the VP held firm in his position that his role was to count lawfully submitted electoral votes.
Video of Pence announcing the electoral vote totals is shown
Dude... the rampant stupidity is insane
I realize this is "old news" as todays hearing are just starting, but I want to make sure I follow this correctly. Trump's crew was planning to have people claim to be the "real electors" with doctored/fake certifications presented to Pence and other national officials? If my understanding is correct, two questions - A) Has this kind of con ever been tried in the past? B) What kind of laws are they breaking by doing this? Like.. there has to be a TON of laws they broke..
I realize this is "old news" as todays hearing are just starting, but I want to make sure I follow this correctly. Trump's crew was planning to have people claim to be the "real electors" with doctored/fake certifications presented to Pence and other national officials? If my understanding is correct, two questions - A) Has this kind of con ever been tried in the past? B) What kind of laws are they breaking by doing this? Like.. there has to be a TON of laws they broke..
If nothing else it's conspiracy to commit fraud.
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"If you wish to converse with me define your terms" Voltaire
I realize this is "old news" as todays hearing are just starting, but I want to make sure I follow this correctly. Trump's crew was planning to have people claim to be the "real electors" with doctored/fake certifications presented to Pence and other national officials? If my understanding is correct, two questions - A) Has this kind of con ever been tried in the past? B) What kind of laws are they breaking by doing this? Like.. there has to be a TON of laws they broke..
A) No B) Federal: Conspiracy to defraud the United States Government, likely various state level election law violations as well.