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Even before the insurrection, Pat Cipollone knew that not just Trump -- but everyone involved with his efforts to stay in office -- would be exposed to the same crimes (obstruction and ConFraudUS) that DOJ is currently pursuing.

Cassidy Hutchinson Proves that Trump Knew the Mob He Sicced on Mike Pence Was Armed

172 Comments

June 28, 2022

2020 Presidential Election, January 6 Insurrection, Trump Administration

Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony made it clear that Trump knew the mob he sicced on his Vice President -- and then stoked -- was armed. And he ratified their violence, claiming that they were right to target Pence for assassination.

House January 6 Committee: Public Hearings - Day 6

337 Comments

June 28, 2022

This post is dedicated to content and comments related to Day 6 of the House J6 Committee's public hearings.

As Ali Alexander Returns to DC in Wake of Grand Jury Appearance, Alex Jones' Associates Owen Shroyer and Joe Biggs Share a Lawyer

3 Comments

June 28, 2022

2020 Presidential Election, emptywheel, January 6 Insurrection

Even as Ali Alexander seems to be struggling to sustain a story about January 6 that has already been debunked, the lawyer for one Alex Jones associate has joined the defense team for sometime Alex Jones associate Joe Biggs, effectively putting Alex Jones in a joint defense with the militia accused of orchestrating the attack on January 6.

"All Texts Demanded!" Right Wingers No Longer Worried about "Wiped" Phones, John Eastman Edition...

30 Comments

June 28, 2022

2020 Presidential Election, emptywheel, January 6 Insurrection

Back in 2018, both Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump were big fans of DOJ IG investigating phones for evidence that DOJ had been politicized. Chances are they're going to be less enthusiastic now that the subjects of the investigation are John Eastman and Jeffrey Clark.

Jeffrey Clark: Physics Takes Over the Investigation Now

149 Comments

June 27, 2022

2022 Mid-Term Election, Congress

The search warrants for the phones of Jeffrey Clark and some people involved in the fake elector plot suggest DOJ has had probable cause against them for months.

Constructive Action: Taking Back Real Control of the Senate

323 Comments

June 24, 2022

There's just so much wrong right now in governance which could be fixed with 60 Democratic seats in the Senate.

Gender Equity

Sam Alito Strips Women of their Bodily Autonomy [Updated]

412 Comments

June 24, 2022

2020 Presidential Election, emptywheel, January 6 Insurrection

Sam Alito just ended federal protection for abortion in the United States.

Bill Barr's Attempt to Corrupt EDNY May Have Saved the Republic

40 Comments

June 24, 2022

2020 Presidential Election, January 6 Insurrection, Trump Administration

It's not clear how successfully DOJ would have pushed back against Trump's attempt to decapitate DOJ to get claims of voter fraud if Richard Donoghue hadn't been moved to DOJ in one of Bill Barr's apparent attempts to control prosecutorial decision within US Attorneys offices.

House January 6 Committee: Public Hearings - Day 5

274 Comments

June 23, 2022

This post is dedicated to content and comments related to Day 5 of the House J6 Committee's public hearings.

Law, SCOTUS

Open Thread: SCOTUS Release Day 2 of 2

73 Comments

June 23, 2022

Foreign Influence, Impeachment

This is an open thread focused on Supreme Court orders and decisions expected to be released Thursday, June 23, 2022.

In Sentencing Memo, SDNY Scoffs at Lev Parnas' Claims of Cooperation

4 Comments

June 23, 2022

Lev Parnas wants credit for working the press during Trump's first impeachment. The government says that complying with a congressional subpoena was no more than his civic duty, for which he should get no credit at sentencing.

Crime in the Era of Encrypted Apps: The Relationship between the DOJ and January 6 Investigations into Fake Electors

30 Comments

June 23, 2022

DOJ took overt steps in its investigation of the fake electors the day after the January 6 Committee presented information that's new to most of the public on the same topic. But it's unlikely that DOJ took the acts solely because of the Committee hearing.

Amy Berman Jackson Gets a Two-Page Footnote in for the Appeal of Carl Nichols

29 Comments

June 22, 2022

On the same day DOJ finally appealed Carl Nichols' decision rejecting their application of 18 USC 1512(c)(2) to January 6, Amy Berman Jackson joined 15 of her colleagues in upholding the application.

Three Months Later, DOJ Finally Gets Interested in Sidney Powell's Militia Defense Fund

22 Comments

June 22, 2022

2020 Presidential Election, emptywheel, January 6 Insurrection

The government is finally raising concerns about Sidney Powell paying for the defense of the Oath Keepers' conspirators. The question is why they've waited for three months?

Rudy Giuliani Launched a Lynch Mob over a Ginger Mint

172 Comments

June 22, 2022

2020 Presidential Election, January 6 Insurrection, Racism

The shocking and emotional part of the January 6 Committee hearing on Trump's pressure on states was the stories that targets of Trump's bullying told, including Shaye Moss' description of how Rudy Giuliani claimed a ginger mint her mom had handed her was instead a thumb drive used to steal the election. But the details in the hearing go a long way to substantiating a conspiracy to obstruct the vote certification.

The L-Word Not Used [UPDATE-1]

103 Comments

June 21, 2022

2020 Presidential Election, January 6 Insurrection, Trump Administration

They angrily describe the terror but they haven't used the L-word.

House January 6 Committee: Public Hearings - Day 4

225 Comments

June 21, 2022

This post is dedicated to content and comments related to Day 4 of the House J6 Committee's public hearings.

Law, SCOTUS

Open Thread: SCOTUS Release Day 1 of 2

68 Comments

June 21, 2022