Why reading the whole story in PERIL matters, beyond the headlines: the Eastman memo and argument wasn't just a pressure point on Pence. It was a pressure point on *Sen. Mike Lee,* one of the most influential legal minds in GOP. There was a push to get his cred, his endorsement.
Remember Trump on January 4? He says at Georgia Senate rally, "Mike Lee is here" and "I'm a little angry at him today. I just want Mike Lee to listen to what we're talking about."
Behind the scenes, Lee investigated the Eastman memo ahead of January 6. Chapters 40-42 detail how he made call after call, talking to state GOP leaders. Quickly found, on his own, no state was going to decertify their electors. "Not one house chamber in any of these states."
Why the Lee component matters: if Lee had sided with Eastman, under pressure from Meadows/WH, it would have been a key conservative sen doing so, right as Pence finalizes decision.
While Quayle, others talked to VP, our book shows VP also closely tracked top legal Rs on this.
While Quayle, others talked to VP, our book shows VP also closely tracked top legal Rs on this.
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