Analysis | New texts increase pressure on the January 6 committee to subpoena members of Congress

New texts increase pressure on the January 6 committee to subpoena members of Congress

CNN got a treasure 2,319 text messages former president donald trumpthe White House chief of staff mark meadows sent and received between Election Day 2020 and President Bideninauguration of .

The texts, which Meadows voluntarily provided to the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on Capitol Hill, help deepen the public’s understanding of the coordination that took place along Pennsylvania Avenue between Republican lawmakers and the White House as part of the former president’s quest to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Recently unearthed texts involving dozens of Republican members of Congress also sparked asks the House panel to reconsider issuing subpoenas or other punitive measures against lawmakers who were involved in peddling dubious legal theories that might have contributed to the deadly attack.

• “I think it will bring about a new look from the committee and the world about the consequences that these members have to face, and that includes in Congress,” he said. Norm Eisen, who served as counsel for the Democratic House administrators in Trump’s first impeachment trial. “That could include an effort to seek testimony from him or have them appear at hearings. It could take the form of filing an ethics complaint and having hearings in that committee. Certainly censorship or other forms of congressional discipline are an issue. But this is not normal.”

But it is not clear if that will happen. Such a move would mark a change of course for the House select committee investigating the attack by a pro-Trump mob, which has so far chosen not to use such tactics against members of Congress.

Rep. marjorie taylor greene (R-Ga.) sent a text message to Meadows on Jan. 17, 2021, that some members of Congress were calling for Trump to impose martial law to stay in power, according to the text messages.

The news of the text messages, which was reported on monday per CNN, comes days after Greene testified in a separate case that he couldn’t remember if he had advocated martial law at the time.

“In our private members-only chat, several say the only way to save our Republic is for Trump to call for Marshall Law,” he texted Meadows Greene, misspelling the word “martial.” “I don’t know about those things. I just wanted you to tell him. This election was stolen. We all know. They will destroy our country afterwards. Tell him to declassify as much as possible so we can go after Biden and anyone else!”

The January 6 committee requested that the House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), and Reps. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) and jim jordan (R-Ohio) appear before the panel earlier this year, but have so far refused. Unlike the way it has handled other recalcitrant witnesses, the committee has not taken more aggressive action against members of Congress who refuse to comply with requests.

boomerang effect: The committee’s reluctance to subpoena Republican lawmakers stems from a variety of issues, including time constraints (a complex and protracted legal battle could last beyond the November midterm elections) along with fears of retaliation. if Republicans regain the House majority in November.

• “We are as a committee discussing many aspects of the investigation,” Congresswoman Elaine Luria (D-Va.) said MSNBC‘s nicole wallace last week, dodging the question of whether he supports subpoenaing members of Congress.

Meadows’ communications with more than 40 current and former Republican members of Congress reflect the extent to which false claims of voter fraud permeated the GOP after the election.

Representative Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) was one of the first lawmakers to contact Meadows shortly after Election Day with a proposal to reverse Trump’s fortunes.

• On November 6, 2020, according to CNN, he texted about a plan to “encourage state legislatures to designate look gates in the various states where shenanigans have occurred,” with “look gates” possibly a typo. for “voters”.

In another exchange obtained by CNN, Representative Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) texted a group that included Meadows and other members of Congress on Dec. 21, 2020, about whether to share his “statement of our Jan. 6 strategies” with the media.

• “If you think the discussion is positive, I suggest the message be: 1. Progress is being made. 2. More are joining our fight. 3. We cannot allow electoral fraud and electoral theft to occur if we are going to be a republic. Your choice. Let me know,” Brooks texted.

Cassidy Hutchinson, a top White House aide in the Meadows, named Jordan, Perry, Greene Y Representative Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) as the four members who were closely involved in the effort to nullify the 2020 election earlier in the process, according to an excerpt from his testimony released last week as part of a 248-page court filing.

Text messages between Perry and Meadows, according to court documents, showed Perry pressuring Meadows to replace Justice Department leadership with Jeffrey Clarka Justice Department official receptive to Trump’s efforts to nullify the election.

• “Mark, I just checked in while the time is counting down. 11 days to 6/1 and 25 days to opening,” he texted Meadows on Dec. 26, 2020. “We need to get going!”
• “Mark, you should call Jeff,” he texted again. It’s unclear how Meadows responded.

Eisen said that the texts say a lot: “It is clear that the Mo Brooks and Scott Perrys of the world went far beyond the normal cooperation one expects between a president and members of his party in Congress and really do come close to the brink of serious liability, whether civil or even criminal.

Federal Judge Prepares to Block Biden Plan to Eliminate Border Restrictions

⚠️: “A federal judge in Louisiana said Monday that he intends to block the Biden administration’s plans to remove pandemic-era border restrictions known as Title 42, siding with Republican attorneys general who argued that their states are already overwhelmed by a growing number of migrants, ” Our colleagues Nick Miroff, Marianna Sotomayor, Maria Sacchetti Y Seung Min Kim report.

• “The pending order of United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays, a Trump appointee in the Western District of Louisiana, is likely to prevent the Biden administration from phasing out restrictions before the May 23 deadline set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the measures of Title 42 to expire.”
• Happening Today: DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will brief lawmakers on Title 42 “before sitting before two House panels this week where he will be grilled by Republicans. White House officials will also brief Senate chiefs of staff. [this] afternoon.”

Oz Touts Trump Endorsement, Candidates Seek To Prove Pennsylvania Roots During GOP Senate Debate

round one: “Republican Candidate for US Senate from Pennsylvania Mehmed Oz debuted with a new Trumpian confidence inspired by the former president’s endorsement as all five candidates sought to differentiate themselves as the ‘most Pennsylvania’ candidate in Monday’s debate for the Republican nomination.” the Gillian McGoldrick of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

• “Oz mentioned Trump’s endorsement several times during Monday’s televised multimarket debate. He too took a common Trump strategy, choosing a catchy, alliterative nickname, and calling out his opponent. david mccormick “Dishonest Dave.”
• McCormick, in response, said Oz was only endorsed by the former president because without him he was a weak candidate.”

The debate also reflected the efforts of the other candidates — kathy barnetta political commentator who has written a book about being black and conservative; Jeff Bartos, developer; Y carla arenasTrump’s ambassador to Denmark, “to make jingoistic appeals while painting Oz and McCormick as loyal to nations other than the United States.” the Reid J. Epstein of the New York Times writes. “Sands, who also moved back to Pennsylvania before the Senate race, said neither of them could be trusted to put America first.”

Biden will grant the first clemency of his presidency

Our colleague Matt Viser reports: President Biden today he is granting clemency to 78 people, the first time he has done so as president and following calls from criminal justice advocates to use his sweeping presidential powers to grant leniency in a system that often disproportionately affects people of colour.

“America is a nation of laws and second chances, redemption and rehabilitation,” Biden said in a statement announcing the three pardons and 75 commutations. “Elected officials from both sides of the aisle, religious leaders, civil rights advocates, and law enforcement leaders all agree that our criminal justice system can and should reflect these core values ​​that enable healthier communities. safe and strong.”

Biden said the 75 commutations were for people serving long sentences for nonviolent drug offenses, many of whom had been in home confinement during the pandemic.

The Biden administration today is also announcing new steps aimed at helping those re-entering society after being incarcerated. That includes new job training, increased opportunities to serve in the federal government, and more support for health care, housing and education.

The Democrats’ latest midterm issue, viewed: “U.S.-Mexico border crossings and attempted crossings are at record levels and rising,” our colleague amber phillips reports. “It’s becoming a campaign issue, with Republicans accusing Biden of being too lenient on the border and liberal Democrats accusing Biden of being too tough.”

The most expensive midlife crisis in history

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