January 6th legal proceedings and investigations megathread

[GeorgiaModerate]

Fulton DA: Trump’s federal indictment will not impact our case

“The federal indictments will not have any impact on the Fulton County election investigation,” the [Fulton County DA's] office said in a statement.

Pete Skandalakis, director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, concurred, noting he had asked his staff to research the issue.

“They know of no law that gives the federal government the ability to go first,” Skandalakis said. “They would both go forward.”

[Crumpets]

https://twitter.com/patriottakes/status/1670198215445037056

[Badger]

https://twitter.com/patriottakes/status/1670198215445037056

Something in the water at Lake Havasu that makes people vote for this dude

[Redban]

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/william-barr-former-attorney-general-face-the-nation-transcript-06-18-2023/

Bill Barr offered some thoughts today on CBS news, eviscerating Trump. He spoke mostly of the documents case, but he also mentioned the Jan 6th probe

He basically thinks an  indictment will happen, likely this summer; but he feels a conviction is unlikely. He says there are 1st amendment issues that will likely protect Trump

. He admits he doesn’t know a lot about the GA case. But he thinks 1st Amendment will protect Trump there too

But the documents case is very bad for Trump, Barr says

[Ferguson97]

But he thinks 1st Amendment will protect Trump there too

I wasn't aware that solicitation to commit a crime was protected by the 1st Amendment.

[emailking]

I don't think the call we heard on its own is a crime but she may have a lot of other stuff to work with. There's a long discussion about it in the Georgia thread.

[2016]

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/william-barr-former-attorney-general-face-the-nation-transcript-06-18-2023/

Bill Barr offered some thoughts today on CBS news, eviscerating Trump. He spoke mostly of the documents case, but he also mentioned the Jan 6th probe

He basically thinks an  indictment will happen, likely this summer; but he feels a conviction is unlikely. He says there are 1st amendment issues that will likely protect Trump

. He admits he doesn’t know a lot about the GA case. But he thinks 1st Amendment will protect Trump there too

But the documents case is very bad for Trump, Barr says

How does the 1st Amendment protect Trump from January 6th 2021?

Fourteenth Amendment, Section 3:​

"No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof."

This was always the Democrats Plan, disqualify Trump under the 14th Amendment, Section 3.

The Question becomes: Can Jack Smith show Evidence and proof it because if he does that's GAME OVER for Trump!

Technically under those Rules Secretary of States like Brad Raffensberger (GA), Jocelyn Benson (MI), the D-SoS in Nevada, Arizona, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin can DISQUALIFY Trump from appearing on the Presidential Ballot and if enough States doing it Trump maybe forced out of the POTUS Race.

[Redban]

How does the 1st Amendment protect Trump from January 6th 2021?

ROBERT COSTA: Why are you skeptical?

FMR. ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: Again, because of the First Amendment interests. You know, we don't want to get into a position where people can't complain about an election, and claim that an election--

[CROSSTALK]

ROBERT COSTA: Trump said on tape he wants the Secretary of State to find votes.

FMR. ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: Yeah, I know. But, you know, there's- they're innocent interpretations of what he said, you know, which is, look, of all the votes that we think are bad. you certainly can find among them some that are slam dunk, but whether that's the proper interpretation or not, I- I am more skeptical of that case. But on the other hand, I think it's likely that will be brought.

[2016]

@Redban,
I've already said Trump should drop out of the Race because of the Classified Documents Case.

AND I firmly believe if he doesn't drop out freely he should be forced out. It sets a dangerous precedent that Trump can get away with Jan 6th!

[ProudModerate2]

Man who used stun gun to attack Michael Fanone on January 6 sentenced to over 12 years in prison.

https://us.cnn.com/2023/06/21/politics/michael-fanone-daniel-rodriguez-january-6-sentenced/index.html

Wow.
12 and a half years in prison is a long time.
Glad we are still sentencing these Creeps.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Did you just get a Fulton County jury summons? You might hear all the evidence against Donald Trump

[emailking]

Special counsel trades immunity for fake elector testimony as Jan 6 probe heats up

Special counsel Jack Smith has compelled at least two Republican fake electors to testify to a federal grand jury in Washington in recent weeks by giving them limited immunity, part of a current push by federal prosecutors to swiftly nail down evidence in the sprawling criminal investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

The testimony, described to CNN by people familiar with the situation, comes after a year of relative dormancy around the fake electors portion of the investigation and as a parade of related witnesses are being told to appear before the grand jury with no chance for delay.

That activity could signal that investigators are nearing at least some charging decisions in a part of the 2020 election probe, sources added. It also comes just as the special counsel’s office filed charges against former President Donald Trump for his handling of classified documents.

Prosecutors initially obtained documents and interviews last spring from many of the Republicans who signed false certificates to the federal government, asserting they were the rightful electors for Trump in seven battleground states won by Joe Biden.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/23/politics/special-counsel-fake-electors-immunity-testimony-jan-6/index.html

[emailking]

Former Trump Campaign Official in Talks to Cooperate in Jan. 6 Inquiry
The office of the special counsel is negotiating with Michael Roman, who was closely involved in the efforts to create slates of pro-Trump electors in states won in 2020 by Joseph R. Biden Jr.

Michael Roman, a top official in former President Donald J. Trump’s 2020 campaign, is in discussions with the office of the special counsel Jack Smith that could soon lead to Mr. Roman voluntarily answering questions about a plan to create slates of pro-Trump electors in key swing states that were won by Joseph R. Biden Jr., according to a person familiar with the matter.

If Mr. Roman ends up giving the interview — known as a proffer — to prosecutors working for Mr. Smith, it would be the first known instance of cooperation by someone with direct knowledge of the so-called fake elector plan. That plan has long been at the center of Mr. Smith’s investigation into Mr. Trump’s wide-ranging efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

The talks with Mr. Roman, who served as Mr. Trump’s director of Election Day operations, were the latest indication that Mr. Smith is actively pressing forward with his election interference investigation even as attention has been focused on the other case in his portfolio: the recent indictment of Mr. Trump in Florida on charges of illegally keeping hold of classified documents and then obstructing the government’s repeated efforts to retrieve them.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/23/us/politics/michael-roman-trump-jan-6-jack-smith.html

[emailking]

Five or six Secret Service agents have testified before Jan. 6 grand jury, sources say
It is not known what the agents’ proximity to Trump was on Jan. 6 or what information they may have provided to the grand jury.

About half a dozen Secret Service agents have testified before the grand jury that will decide whether to indict former President Donald Trump for his alleged role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol and efforts to interfere in the peaceful transfer of the presidency, according to two sources familiar with their testimony.

Roughly five or six agents have appeared, the sources said, in compliance with subpoenas they received. It is not known what the agents’ proximity to Trump was on Jan. 6 or what information they may have provided to the grand jury.

Special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into the events of Jan. 6 is separate from his probe that led to Trump’s recent indictment in Florida for the handling of classified documents. Sources told NBC News that about 24 Secret Service agents appeared before the grand jury that considered that case in Washington before the case moved to Florida.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/secret-service-agents-jan-6-grand-jury-trump-rcna91182

[GeorgiaModerate]

Justice Dept. asking about 2020 fraud claims as well as fake electors

The Justice Department’s investigation of efforts by Donald Trump and his advisers to overturn the 2020 election results is barreling forward on multiple tracks, according to people familiar with the matter, with prosecutors focused on ads and fundraising pitches claiming election fraud as well as plans for “fake electors” that would swing the election to the incumbent president.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/06/26/justice-dept-asks-about-election-fraud-claims-well-fake-electors/

An interesting tidbit well down in the article:

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger — whom Trump called after the election, asking if he could find enough votes to overcome Biden’s margin of victory in the state — is scheduled to be interviewed by investigators with Smith’s office on Wednesday in Atlanta, a spokesperson for Raffensperger’s office said.

The interview session had been delayed several times at the request of Smith’s office. Raffensperger was previously interviewed by the House committee that investigated Jan. 6 and in front of a grand jury as part of the state-level probe in Georgia, which is being led by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

The interesting part is that the interview is in Atlanta, not Washington.  Is this for Raffensperger's convenience (which is certainly a possibility given his official duties), or is Smith possibly looking to bring indictments in Georgia?

[emailking]

Justice Dept. asking about 2020 fraud claims as well as fake electors

The Justice Department’s investigation of efforts by Donald Trump and his advisers to overturn the 2020 election results is barreling forward on multiple tracks, according to people familiar with the matter, with prosecutors focused on ads and fundraising pitches claiming election fraud as well as plans for “fake electors” that would swing the election to the incumbent president.

Each track poses potential legal peril for those under scrutiny, but also raises tricky questions about where the line should be drawn between political activity, legal advocacy and criminal conspiracy.

A key area of interest is the conduct of a handful of lawyers who sought to turn Trump’s defeat into victory by trying to convince state, local, federal and judicial authorities that Joe Biden’s 2020 election win was illegitimate or tainted by fraud.

Investigators have sought to determine to what degree these lawyers — particularly Rudy Giuliani, Jenna Ellis, John Eastman, Kurt Olsen and Kenneth Chesebro, as well as then-Justice Department lawyer Jeffrey Clark — were following specific instructions from Trump or others, and what those instructions were, according to the people familiar with the matter...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/06/26/justice-dept-asks-about-election-fraud-claims-well-fake-electors/

[emailking]

Rudy Giuliani interviewed in special counsel’s 2020 election interference probe

Former Donald Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani has been interviewed by federal investigators as part of the special counsel’s investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, multiple sources familiar with the meeting told CNN.

The meeting between Giuliani, his attorney Robert Costello, and investigators took place in recent weeks. The sources declined to say what investigators’ questions focused on during the meeting, which has not been previously reported.

Special counsel Jack Smith has not announced any charges stemming from his investigation into efforts to block the certification of the 2020 presidential election, but prosecutors appear to be nearing charging decisions, sources familiar with the case have said.

The interview with Giuliani comes amid a flurry of activity in the probe, which is examining a plan from Trump and his allies to put forth fake electors as well as potential financial crimes related to post-election fundraising. Investigators have called a steady stream of witnesses before a federal grand jury in recent weeks and have pressed attorneys to quickly bring in other witnesses for interviews, sources told CNN.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/27/politics/rudy-giuliani-special-counsel-meeting/index.html

[emailking]

Jan. 6 participant, identified nearly two years ago, is arrested near Obama home
Taylor Taranto was identified by "Sedition Hunters" in August 2021 and has been living in a van near the D.C. jail. He was arrested Thursday, more than two years after the Capitol attack.

A conspiracy-minded Donald Trump supporter who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 was arrested Thursday near the home of former President Barack Obama, a law enforcement official told NBC News.

Taylor Taranto, 37, who was identified by online sleuths in August 2021 and is facing a lawsuit from the widow of a Metropolitan Police Department officer who died by suicide, recently showed up at the sentencing of David Walls-Kaufman, his co-defendant in the lawsuit. The lawsuit accuses both men of being involved in an assault on MPD Officer Jeffrey Smith on Jan. 6, which they have both denied.

While Walls-Kaufman was arrested last year and has already been sentenced, Taylor had not been charged.

In recent weeks, Taranto has been living in a van near the D.C. jailhouse, according to his social media, and has repeatedly wondered in online posts why he had not yet been arrested over Jan. 6. Taranto also posted a video of himself on YouTube inside the Capitol during the riot.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/jan-6-participant-identified-nearly-two-years-ago-arrested-obama-resid-rcna91915

[GeorgiaModerate]

https://twitter.com/mog7546/status/1674846219477082113

[ProudModerate2]

https://twitter.com/mog7546/status/1674846219477082113

People need to watch the videos attached to this article (link within the Tweet).
It's just pathetic that Americans would do this. For them to just some how miraculously claim to be electors, the true and valid electors, and expect their state legislature to allow them onto the floor of their chambers like their chosen by God to be there.

And then you have 5 or 6 actual members of their legislature (Republicans of course) trying to escort these Nazis, and get them past state police, inside their capitol building.
When this is all said and done, I hope that Orange Pig ends-up in jail for all this turmoil he created in our nation and communities.

[emailking]

Trump pressured Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey to overturn 2020 election

In a phone call in late 2020, President Donald Trump tried to pressure Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) to overturn the state’s presidential election results, saying that if enough fraudulent votes could be found it would overcome Trump’s narrow loss in Arizona, according to three people familiar with the call.

Trump also repeatedly asked Vice President Mike Pence to call Ducey and prod him to find the evidence to substantiate Trump’s claims of fraud, according to two of these people. Pence called Ducey several times to discuss the election, they said, though he did not follow Trump’s directions to pressure the governor.

The extent of Trump’s efforts to cajole Ducey into helping him stay in power has not before been reported, even as other efforts by Trump’s lawyer and allies to pressure Arizona officials have been made public. Ducey told reporters in December 2020 that he and Trump had spoken, but he declined to disclose the contents of the call then or in the more than two years since. Although he disagreed with Trump about the outcome of the election, Ducey has sought to avoid a public battle with Trump.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/07/01/trump-2020-election-arizona-governor-doug-ducey/

[Landslide Lyndon]

Trump pressured Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey to overturn 2020 election

In a phone call in late 2020, President Donald Trump tried to pressure Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) to overturn the state’s presidential election results, saying that if enough fraudulent votes could be found it would overcome Trump’s narrow loss in Arizona, according to three people familiar with the call.

Trump also repeatedly asked Vice President Mike Pence to call Ducey and prod him to find the evidence to substantiate Trump’s claims of fraud, according to two of these people. Pence called Ducey several times to discuss the election, they said, though he did not follow Trump’s directions to pressure the governor.

The extent of Trump’s efforts to cajole Ducey into helping him stay in power has not before been reported, even as other efforts by Trump’s lawyer and allies to pressure Arizona officials have been made public. Ducey told reporters in December 2020 that he and Trump had spoken, but he declined to disclose the contents of the call then or in the more than two years since. Although he disagreed with Trump about the outcome of the election, Ducey has sought to avoid a public battle with Trump.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/07/01/trump-2020-election-arizona-governor-doug-ducey/

WTF did he think all those governors were? His personal private investigators?

[Crumpets]

Trump pressured Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey to overturn 2020 election

In a phone call in late 2020, President Donald Trump tried to pressure Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) to overturn the state’s presidential election results, saying that if enough fraudulent votes could be found it would overcome Trump’s narrow loss in Arizona, according to three people familiar with the call.

Trump also repeatedly asked Vice President Mike Pence to call Ducey and prod him to find the evidence to substantiate Trump’s claims of fraud, according to two of these people. Pence called Ducey several times to discuss the election, they said, though he did not follow Trump’s directions to pressure the governor.

The extent of Trump’s efforts to cajole Ducey into helping him stay in power has not before been reported, even as other efforts by Trump’s lawyer and allies to pressure Arizona officials have been made public. Ducey told reporters in December 2020 that he and Trump had spoken, but he declined to disclose the contents of the call then or in the more than two years since. Although he disagreed with Trump about the outcome of the election, Ducey has sought to avoid a public battle with Trump.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/07/01/trump-2020-election-arizona-governor-doug-ducey/

WTF did he think all those governors were? His personal private investigators?

More like tribute-owing vassals.

[emailking]

Jack Smith Probe of 2020 Election Challenges Focuses on Trump Lawyers
Prosecutors examine efforts to create fake electors and claims made in fundraising drives

Special counsel Jack Smith’s team in recent weeks has taken a growing interest in the role of lawyers and other figures involved in legal efforts aimed at reversing Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election, people familiar with the matter said.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/jack-smith-probe-of-2020-election-challenges-focuses-on-trump-lawyers-9fdea5e4

[GeorgiaModerate]

https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1676570282360807426