I promised I would investigate Jan 6, regardless of the outcome of the impeachment or vote on a bipartisan commission.
This morning, @OversightDems, the Committee I chair, released new docs about Trump’s pressure campaign on DOJ to overturn the election.
What we found👇
On December 14, 2020—the day electors in each state certified the Electoral College votes—President Trump’s White House Assistant sent an email with the subject “From POTUS” to then-Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen. 2/
The email attached materials about alleged voter fraud in Antrim County, Michigan, including “talking points” that asserted, “a Cover-up is Happening regarding the voting machines in Michigan,” and, “Michigan cannot certify for Biden.” 3/
Just two minutes after President Trump’s assistant sent these documents to Mr. Rosen, then-Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Richard Donoghue, through his assistant, sent the same documents to the U.S. Attorneys for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan. 4/
Approximately 40 minutes after sending this phony voter fraud information, President Trump tweeted that Attorney General Barr—who had said publicly that he had not seen widespread election fraud—would be stepping down,... 5/
that Mr. Rosen would serve as Acting Attorney General, and that Mr. Donoghue would serve as Acting Deputy Attorney General. 6/
7/
On December 29, 2020, President Trump’s White House Assistant emailed Mr. Rosen, Mr. Donoghue, and Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall, attaching a draft legal brief to file in the Supreme Court. 8/
She wrote, “The President asked me to send the attached draft document for your review,” and provided a phone number so they could contact the President directly. 9/
The draft 54-page complaint demanded that the Supreme Court “declare that the Electoral College votes cast” in six states that President Trump lost “cannot be counted,” and requested that the Court order a “special election” for president in those states. 10/
On the very same day, a private attorney, Kurt Olsen, contacted multiple senior DOJ officials on President Trump’s behalf to urge them to file this complaint. In one email to Mr. Rosen’s Chief of Staff, he wrote: 11/
“As I said on our call, the President of the United States has seen this complaint, and he directed me last night to brief AG Rosen in person today and discuss bringing this action... 12/
I have been instructed to report back to the President this afternoon after this meeting.” In a separate email to the Acting Solicitor General, Mr. Olsen added, “This is an urgent matter.” 13/
Emails indicate Mr. Rosen discussed the filing with Mr. Olsen on or around December 29, 2020, and asked Mr. Olsen to send him SCOTUS precedent supporting the arguments in the complaint. 14/
Mr. Olsen previously represented Texas in its failed lawsuit to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. 15/
16/
Emails confirm that on Dec 31, 2020, and Jan 3, 2021, President Trump met with Mr. Rosen, then-Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Clark, and other DOJ officials. During these meetings, President Trump reportedly pressured them to challenge the results of the 2020 election. 17/
On January 1, 2021, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows directed Mr. Rosen to have Mr. Clark look into “signature match anomalies in Fulton county, GA.” 18/
Later that day, Mr. Rosen sent Mr. Clark the cell phone number of then-U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia Byung J. Pak with the subject line “atlanta.” That day, Mr. Clark also emailed Dustin Carmack, Chief of Staff to the DNI, to request a call. 19/
On January 2, 2021, Mr. Rosen followed up with Mr. Clark regarding his call with Mr. Pak. Mr. Clark replied, “I spoke to the source and am on with the guy who took the video right now. Working on it. More due diligence to do.” 20/
Later that day, President Trump referred to Mr. Pak as a “never-Trumper U.S. Attorney” while discussing two videos purporting to show fraudulent votes in Fulton County with Georgia Secretary of Secretary Brad Raffensberger. 21/
The January 3 meeting was described in press reports as an “Apprentice”-like battle during which President Trump considered “whether to fire Mr. Rosen and replace him with Mr. Clark” who was sympathetic to the President’s election fraud claims. 22/
After the meeting, Associate Deputy Attorney General Patrick Hovakimian reported to his colleagues: “it sounds like Rosen and the cause of justice won.” 23/
Later that evening, Mr. Donoghue emailed Mr. Pak with the subject line “Please call ASAP.” Mr. Pak resigned less than 10 hours later, reportedly under pressure from the Trump White House. 24/
25/
Newly released documents substantiate recent reports that former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows pressured DOJ officials—on at least five occasions—to investigate baseless claims of election fraud or put pressure on other officials to pursue these claims. 26/
On December 30, 2020, Mr. Meadows forwarded Mr. Rosen an email from Cleta Mitchell, a Trump advisor who later participated in a January phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. 27/
During that call, President Trump reportedly asked Georgia election officials to “find” enough votes to declare him the winner of the state. The December 30 email contained allegations of “video issues in Fulton County.” 28/
Mr. Meadows wrote to Mr. Rosen: “Can you have your team look into these allegations of wrongdoing. Only the alleged fraudulent activity.” 29/
Later on Dec 30, Mr. Meadows emailed Mr. Rosen a translation of a document from an individual in Italy claiming to have “direct knowledge” of a plot by which American electoral data was changed in Italian facilities “in coordination with senior US intelligence officials (CIA)”30/
...and loaded onto “military satellites.” This individual claimed that the true data, as well as sources within the conservative wing of the Italian secret service, confirmed that Donald Trump was “clearly the winner” of the 2020 election. 31/
On January 1, 2021, Mr. Meadows emailed Mr. Rosen on three separate occasions to provide unsubstantiated claims about election fraud or ask him to take direct action to change the results: 32/
At 3:08 p.m., Mr. Meadows sent Mr. Rosen a YouTube link referencing the Italy conspiracy, labeled “Brad Johnson: Rome, Satellites, Servers: an Update.” Mr. Rosen forwarded the email to Mr. Donoghue, who responded: “Pure insanity.” 33/
Mr. Rosen explained to Mr. Donoghue that after receiving the message, he was asked to have the FBI meet with Brad Johnson, who Mr. Rosen learned “is working with Rudy Giuliani.” Mr. Rosen said he refused the request. 34/
At 4:13 p.m., Mr. Meadows sent another email to Mr. Rosen, writing: “There have been allegations of signature match anomalies in Fulton county, Ga. Can you get Jeff Clark to engage on this issue immediately to determine if there is any truth to this allegation.” 35/
Mr. Rosen forwarded this email to Mr. Donoghue with the comment: “Can you believe this? I am not going to respond to the message below.” 36/
At 6:56 p.m., Mr. Meadows forwarded Mr. Rosen a document alleging voting irregularities and problems with Dominion machines in New Mexico and asking Mr. Rosen for his “team to review the allegations contained herein.” fin
You can find all of this information and supporting documents here:
My full statement on the Senate impeachment trial below:
“Just over five weeks ago, our Capitol was seized, and our democracy halted by insurrectionists incited by former President Trump... 1/
At his behest, a mob desecrated the seat of our democracy with Confederate flags, wearing shirts extolling Nazism and the Holocaust, chanting that they wanted to murder the former Vice President... 2/
“The facts of that day are incontrovertible, which is why this was the most bipartisan impeachment of a president in our nation’s history – in both the House and Senate... 3/
Law enforcement officers need every tool available to go after gun traffickers & have been asking Congress to act for years.
The Gun Trafficking & Crime Prevention Act would make straw purchases, like the one Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse used to obtain a gun, a felony.
Each year, about 5,200 gun shows are held across the US, attracting thousands. Many individuals who would otherwise not be able to purchase a firearm, can do so w/out a background check there.
The Gun Show Loophole Closing Act would close this dangerous loophole.
For too long, #HERstory has been relegated to the sidelines. So, I'm taking matters into my own hands & as we continue our fight for a #WomensHistoryMuseum will be sharing stories of incredible American women so that we can all be #InspiredByHer - I hope you'll share yours, too.
For our first #InspiredByHer feature, we are inspired by our 9/11 first responders. Brenda Berkman was part of the first class of female firefighters in the @FDNY, a 9/11 first responder & is a founder of the United Women’s Firefighters (@unitedwomenffs). 📸: @womensmediacenter
For our next #InspiredbyHer feature; a true American intellectual & artist, #ZoraNealeHurston. Though too many of her accomplishments went unrecognized until after her death, she was a groundbreaking force in American literature - notably writing Their Eyes Were Watching God.
At McAllen Border Patrol station. I’ve been told that this is the first stop and that 2,000 people came in yesterday that they have to process.
Joined by @RepGonzalez who represents the district we are in and @RepSarbanes. The things we have witnessed are heartbreaking.
Interpreters have been called in to speak to those being held here. I’ve been told some people have been held for 60 days with no access to showers or toothbrushes. Sleeping on concrete floors. One man said he was covered with bugs.
I'm leaving the ICE Detention facility in Elizabeth, NJ after having met with 5 men, fathers, who came here seeking asylum and instead were separated from their families. This is what they shared with me:
All 5 of these men brought their families to the US to escape #gangviolence in their home countries. They came hoping for a better, safer life for their loved ones. Instead they were separated from their children & have received no update on their children since being detained.
One man broke down when telling me about how his young daughter was ripped from his arms. This is inhumane and traumatizing.