But in a good way:
Federal investigators subpoenaed the Georgia Republican Party chairman for information related to the fake elector scheme there – as the Justice Department has issued a fresh round of subpoenas to people from several states who acted as rogue electors after the 2020 presidential election, multiple sources familiar with the situation told CNN.
The subpoena for the chairman, David Shafer, represents a significant step because he played a central role in organizing the fake slate of electors from Georgia and coordinated the effort with the Trump campaign.
The focus on Shafer also comes as sources tell CNN the Justice Department subpoenaed Trump electors this week in Georgia, Michigan and Pennsylvania – all states that former President Donald Trump lost.
The Justice Department has been scrutinizing the Trump campaign’s use of so-called alternate electors. The new round of subpoenas represents an escalation of a criminal probe that, before now, had approached lower-level Republicans. All along, however, federal investigators have pursued information about political figures higher up, including at the top of the Trump campaign.
In the weeks after the 2020 election and leading up to January 6, 2021, Trump’s allies sent fake slates of electors to the National Archives declaring that the then-President had won seven states that he actually lost. The bid failed, and then-Vice President Mike Pence certified Joe Biden’s electoral win on January 6 after rioters had been cleared from the US Capitol.
Just this week, the House select committee’s separate investigation highlighted that some lawyers working with the Trump campaign had directed the effort to convene Trump’s fake slates in battleground states he lost.
And this would be must see tv:
Rep. Mo Brooks – one of the Republican lawmakers facing calls from the January 6 committee to testify about his interactions with former President Donald Trump – said Wednesday that he is willing to testify but only in public.
“My basic requirement is it be in public so the public can see it – so they don’t get bits and pieces dribbled out,” the Alabama Republican said. He also said he’d testify only about matters related to January 6, 2021, and wants to see copies of any documents beforehand that the panel may ask him about.
Even though the House select committee announced subpoenas for Brooks and four other Republicans last month, he had yet to be served with one because he had been campaigning for the GOP Senate nomination in Alabama. Brooks lost in a runoff Tuesday night.
Committee Chair Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, told CNN that the panel has “redone his subpoena” and “he’s the only member we hadn’t been able to serve.”
“So we are in the process of either redoing it or it’s out the door already,” Thompson said Wednesday night.
The only way this could be better is if he refuses to have a lawyer present.
War For Ukraine Day 119: The US Intelligence Community Is Concerned About Russian Active Measures, Russia Decides To Rattle Sabres, & Finland Lays Down a Marker
Gin & Tonic
Stomp!
Anne Laurie
@Gin & Tonic: I moved mine back half an hour. *sigh*
zhena gogolia
@Anne Laurie: yours is really interesting. This one is too. I’d say I wish they could both stay up but I have to try to sleep
SiubhanDuinne
I lived in David Shafer’s state senate district for years and voted against him more times than I can count. This is good to see.
prostratedragon
When I saw the “baby steps” tweet on Anne Laurie’s, I happened to be listening to this below. But under the circumstances it still has a certain je ne sais quoi:
Translation
prostratedragon
Some search warrants also have been executed in Nevada. Heating up indeed.
West of the Rockies
If a few high up A-holes skate but turn state’s evidence on even higher-ups, that works for me. But we may still have to order the extra double-jumbo box o’ pikes for the many heads that may roll.
Elizabelle
In the meantime, happy June birthday to John Cole. Missed all the well-wishing festivities in the earlier threads.
Ken
Wait a minute. It’s illegal to commit election fraud?
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
Happy Birthday, Cole!
Joe Falco
This quote got me wondering about why it was hard to serve a subpoena to Brooks and that’s when I remembered Brooks was the one Rep. Swalwell had tried to serve a subpoena for weeks before someone managed to give the papers to his wife in their driveway: https://www.alreporter.com/2021/06/07/mo-brooks-gets-subpoena-claims-trespass/
Not sure what legal ninjas Thompson is going to hire to get the job this time because Brooks won’t let that happen again if he can help it.
Felanius Kootea
Happy birthday John Cole!
frosty
Yes, Happy Birthday Blogfather! As my father-in-law used to say, “Any birthday when you’re looking down at the grass instead of up is a good one!”
Ken
@Joe Falco: The legal requirement to physically hand papers to someone seems so archaic*. In Rep. Brooks’ case, could he be served while in the Capitol or the congressional offices?
* It also reminds me of the 1957 film Night of the Demon, based on M. R. James’ story “Casting the Runes”.
cbear
Brooks: He also said he’d testify only about matters related to January 6, 2021
I guess that means any questions about the dead girl or the live boy found in his bed are off limits, huh?
Sad.
Anotherlurker
@Ken: Great movie, BTW.
NotMax
Not a single office anywhere within the Capitol complex has a record of Brooks’ home address?
Defies credulity.
Layer8Problem
@Ken: Boy, I’d love to see some Republican politicians get the M. R. James treatment. I love his stuff.
kalakal
@Layer8Problem: hmm. Dog whistle and I’ll come to you is kind of apt for all the revelations of the Jan 6th committee and the accountability I hope they result in
Layer8Problem
@kalakal: I’m not sure I could wish for the sort of implacable doom of a “Count Magnus,” even for a Republican, although I could picture the Count and his minion offering that Republican a job. Maybe the sort of long-term terror one finds in “Canon Alberic’s Scrapbook” would be appropriate.
Mai Naem mobile
Happy Birthday John!
JoyceH
The J6 committee needs to subpoena Johnson’s chief of staff, get him under oath and find out if Johnson was really as ignorant and hands-off about these fake elector certificates as he claims. The office-holders will stiff-arm a subpoena and can afford to fight it in court. The staffers don’t have such deep pockets and show up and spill the beans. And since the COS is currently flat on his back examining the underside of the bus, a little truth telling will probably feel rather cathartic to him right now.
CaseyL
It’s a damn good thing DoJ is finally moving up the ladder. I am hoping for indictments, trials, convictions, and prison sentences for “Trump’s allies.”
So far the tightening noose seem to be limited to campaign staff, campaign lawyers, and a few state officials – not to mention Trump himself, of course.
I really, really hope all those GOPers who voted against certifying the results are persons of interest to the DoJ. They were intentionally delaying the vote, and I suspect they were hoping to give the Trump team time enough to trigger Eastman’s send-it-back-to-the-states plot. Accessories at the least, and possibly co-conspirators.
I want to see as many GOPers as possible under indictment, not just the Trump Team.
zhena gogolia
Love it@Anotherlurker:
Snarki, child of Loki
“Sen. Brooks, do you agree that ‘Enhanced Interrogation’ appropriate to use on America’s enemies, to protect the country?”
“Of course.”
“Okay, strap him to the waterboarding table.”
Paul in KY
Happy Birthday, John!