Thread by @AsheinAmerica

Back in Court today in Coomer v. Lindell. The court heard a dispute about Dennis Montgomery testimony. Defendants will file a motion later today. Jury is assembling, court in recess until they’re all here.

NOTE: All posts are my personal notes summarizing. Please excuse typos and tag or DM for any corrections or clarifications. Reporting drafted during the proceedings and posted outside the courthouse on breaks (per the courts media order).

ONE MORE NOTE: If you appreciate my reporting, please like, share snd follow, and please consider becoming a paid subscriber to my substack: . Okay, let’s dive in.asheinamerica.substack.com

Jury enters and is seated. Plaintiff calls Harri Hursti (video deposition). Hursti is from Finland (dual citizen US and EU), highest degree is high school. Self taught in tech, software development, etc. Runs through his background.

Explains his experience with analyzing Packet Capture data (PCAPs). Served as an expert witness in Curling (GA). Says he analyzing data but never considers candidates. Asked how many times he had served as an expert witness. “Maybe five but I’m not sure if that’s an exhaustive list... now I remember one more so six.”

Drilled in on “Everest” — election study commissioned by Ohio SecState. Penn State, U of Penn, and UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara. Also served as an expert for CNN.

Asked to define “white hat hacker.” Discussion about white v black and suggests that white hat hackers are trained to be too safe and not engage in the criminal mind of a black hat hacker.

Discussion about DefCon, one of the largest hacker conferences in the world. Hursti is cofounder and coorganizer of “Voting Village,” where they hack voting machines at DefCon.

NOTE: This deposition video is clipped together in parts so it’s jumping around and not super linear.

Discussion about mid-, dis, mal-information. Hursti more concerned with misinformation than actual vulnerabilities. Nation state attackers motivated by ideology and sowing distrust was bigger threat than election vulnerabilities. Primary motivation is to sow distrust in society.

Discussing August 2021 cyber symposium now. Mesa county Colorado images: “I’m not a lawyer but I would say illegally obtained images.” Deeply technical discussion about images and the threat of Mesa images being out because our enemies can see real images vs clean images. Hursti was most concerned about the symposium creating “more compelling malinformation.”

Discussing the $5M challenge at the symposium. Recapping challenge — if you can prove the PCAP files are not from the election then you can win $5M. Claims the challenge and its terms kept changing but that was the original challenge. Flyer for challenge presented on the screen during deposition video.

Hursti claims Lindell was promising gradual release of data in the months leading up to the symposium. At symposium, he showed files and claimed they were PCAPs, they were actually Hex dumps.

Hursti said all the experts were sharing info, and with media, not confidential. Hursti was there and doing analysis for CNN and collaborating with other experts. They all agreed they were not PCAPs and were not useful for analysis. This was all prior to symposium. Many media outlets decided symposium wasn’t worth their time as a result.

CNN was sending info to Hursti prior to the symposium. Hursti says the data showed smoke and mirrors and the idea that the PCAPs were part of the real election files “collapsed.” Claimed they were trying to keep an open mind and find a benevolent explanation for Lindell claims, but they didn’t find one.

Discussing nation state level threats and the anatomy of an attack. Original story of these PCAPs came from (according to Hursti testimony) was Russ Ramslund and ASOG. Story was that military experts captured it. Then it changed to Hammer and Scorecard — “a made up super secret program.”

Key issue is that the PCAP files were not large enough (file size) to be what they claimed it would be. Claimed symposium organizers tried to explain that but if their explanation would be taken as true, it would render the data useless. I believe all this back and forth was at the symposium.

Discussing the structure of the symposium and Col Phil Waldron (US Army, Ret.) was running the four rooms of cyber experts. Hursti claims that Waldron was the leader who was explaining the data. Cyber experts weren’t buying it according to Hursti.

If this is real, what could be the data source? At symposium, we were first given a couple of very small PCAP files with geolocation names (Lake county, etc.). “We” used the opportunity to train the other “cyber experts” on what to look for and what tools to use “to visualize a PCAP file.”

Second day, task for experts switched to evaluating the Mesa County images.

Now being asked about Josh Merritt. “Josh Merritt became the primary point of contact for us and Lindell’s people.” Said Merritt claimed he was hired by Lindell’s people to a week or so before the deposition. Merritt’s deposition disputes this assertion by Hursti.

Attorney in Hursti deposition reading Merritt’s deposition about his “aha” moment on the data at the symposium. Claimed the whole red team came to the decision that the data was no good.

Later in their analysis, they claim they found Conan Hayes name/initials embedded in the data. Folks will recall Conan Hayes was a key figure in the trial of Tina Peters last year. According to Hursti, after this was discovered, they realized “the whole file was garbage.”

Hursti says the symposium organizers “roughed him up” and threw him out. At the end, Hursti claims that the organizers claimed that the data was bad on purpose to see if the experts were trustworthy.

Then the $5M prize was withdrawn. Off the table. Claimed Kurt Olson was a source on withdrawing the prize, confusion with Lindell but confirmed that the prize was off the table. “Complete lies, what happened there.”

Day two was Mesa County, all experts spent time in the main room (instead of the cyber rooms). Hursti claims he stayed from moment it opened until the last person left so no one could claim something happened while he wasn’t there.

Stage presentation day 2 was Seth Keshel (@realskeshel) overviewing the Mesa county images, and Hursti claims the presentation was all feelings and that there was no analysis. Then Hursti received the copy of the Mesa images, and he made copies for everyone else because he had the fastest computer.

@RealSKeshel Discussion of Mesa images and trusted build, two images — one before build and one after. Hursti says wiping machines before every election is very good security practices because (paraphrasing) any bad things that happened are gone and you start with a fresh clean system.

There was a third directory, and Hursti claims all files were backed up and that the files they thought were deleted were in the third directory. Hursti clarifies that he didn’t check to see because he didn’t have time but that it’s his belief they were there. Also that he had nothing to compare the directory to. (Elbert county would like a word lol.)

Hursti said Merritt just left and then he was in the NYT saying everything is a lie. Next cut is Hursti talking about the security threats of releasing these images. Gives attackers a practical target to try out specific attacks on election machines. (IOW, Bad actors don’t need to engage in blind attacks — they can test their attacks because they have the images.)

Hursti now taking about the trainings he was commissioned to create for CISA, FEMA, etc. in 2019 and 2020. Talks about USB attacks and “evil preprogrammed USB attack” can change the outcome of the elections but you have to have access to the voting machines. (Colorado would like a word with CDOS re: their narrative about June 2024 to October 2024.)

@RealSKeshel Discussion of “conspiracies” about Antifa press and symposium infiltrators. Hursti laughed at the question. You can’t have the PCAPs because you can be arrested when you leave and have your devices seized if you have them. “Government boogeyman story.”

@RealSKeshel Only claim Hursti heard about Coomer rigging the election was from Joe Oltmann. Didn’t say he heard it from someone else (specifically, didn’t testify that heard this from Lindell).

@RealSKeshel Bad actors inside election vendors (Smartmatic, Sequoia, Dominion) was a narrative that was everywhere and, per Hursti, intended to sow distrust and seemed to say it was intended to create violence against election workers.

@RealSKeshel Asked about the claim that Montgomery couldn’t release the data because it was gagged in another court. Hursti says that claim was made about the Montgomery gag order. Hursti says he has no evidence of the lawsuit or the gag.

@RealSKeshel Hursti deposition excerpts complete. Counsel approx he’s for sidebar.

@RealSKeshel REMINDER: All posts are my personal notes and summaries. Please excuse typos and tag or DM for any corrections or clarifications. Reporting drafted during the proceedings and posted outside the courthouse on breaks (per the courts media order).

@RealSKeshel TYSM: If you appreciate my reporting, please like, share snd follow, and please consider becoming a paid subscriber to my substack: .asheinamerica.substack.com

@RealSKeshel Morning break. Court in recess 15 mins.

@RealSKeshel Before the jury comes in, counsel is addressing exhibits and Tina Peters deposition. Seems that Peters deposition is going to be next. Debating hearsay rule 803(8)(a). The exhibits are admitted.

Jury enters.

Plaintiff calls Tina Peters, testifying by deposition. On all the questions, Peters’ attorney objects on 5th Amendment grounds. Cuts of deposition go through many questions about Peters’ relationship with Mike Lindell, Joe Oltmann, Conan Hayes. Peters attorney (at the time, former CO SecState Scott Gessler) objects to every question on 5A grounds.

Plaintiffs appear to be painting Peters invocation of 5A as some sort of evidence against Mike Lindell. Reminder that 5A is in the bill of rights and is not to be taken as an admission of guilt. Except in lawfare I guess. Following the advice of counsel is not evidence or a crime.

@RealSKeshel OMG. “Doesn’t the dominion adjudication software create a record / log of who did what?” 5A response from Tina, but @mad_liberals or @cannconactual would probably have answered something very snarky LOL. #EMSAdmin

In a different deposition (Nov 9, 2023) she answers. Being asked about coordinating media appearances on Frankspeech or LindellTV. Who did she talk to? Names some people that work for Mike.

How many times have you been a guest on Conservative Daily? Doesn’t know, doesn’t track it. How do you talk? Signal (with deleting messages).

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual Have you seen evidence that Eric Coomer rigged the election? Not interested in Eric Coomer. But have you seen evidence that he did? I haven’t seen any, no.

Questions about Tina’s legal fees and who was paying them. Tina says she didn’t know and didn’t track or ask. Tina “never talked to Mike” about her legal fees. On Randy Corporan, “I never saw the invoices, so I have no idea… need to ask Lindell Legal Fund or Randy.”

Now questions about Joe Oltmann and the Antifa call. Tina started to answer and her attorney told her to just answer the (yes or no) question.

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual Now playing a clip of Tina on Brannon Howse show where she is talking about Eric Coomer. She says “everyone knows who Eric Coomer is” and she uses the terms “antifa” and “dominion.” More questions about how she got on that show, how was it coordinated. She doesn’t recall.

How did “everyone know who Eric Coomer is”? I would assume that audience would know. More questions where Tina is describing her understanding of what Antifa is. Tina claimed that there was a Facebook post where Coomer inferred that he rigged the election (same claim as “Antifa call” from Oltmann). They then played another clip where she is talking about the patents. “Did you ever look into the patents?” No. I’d like to…

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual More questions about Joe and the Antifa call, and whether she saw Joe’s notes. She did not. Asked about the April 2022 capital event where Mike Lindell was served with this lawsuit.

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual Asked if she believes the election was rigged? Yes. And who rigged it? This is bigger than any of us ever realized. I can’t give you a name. Asked if she knows the Chinese government was involved. She can’t say — “that’s not my interest.”

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual When you were told Eric Coomer was on an antifa call, did you care whether or not it was true? “He’s not a big part of my life.”

Peters testimony complete. Next witness to be called is Joe Oltmann. He will come on after lunch.

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual Jury exits. Joe Oltmann’s attorney has walked into the courtroom.

Court is in recess.

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual Short break. Not long enough to post Oltmann. Will post after trial is done. Sorry — it’s a lot.

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual Apologies — pouring rain so came home before posting… here we go for the second half of Day 4.

We are back. Joe Oltmann has been called to the stand. You were subpoenaed by Erik Coomer, not Mike Lindell. Coomer demanded you be here.

Want to understand relationship with defendants. “You’re the Director of the Lindell Media Corporation?” Joe says he does not work with that entity any longer. Attorney approaches and gives documents to Oltmann.

Going through details. Address is listed as Joe’s business address. Frankspeech changed name in January of this year to Lindell Media Corporation.

Joe says status changed last year. No connection to the entity now. Joe being asked about his other business entities, PIN, Pidoxa, asked about role and a contract between Frankspeech and Pidoxa. Contract admitted over objection.

Order date on contract is September 2022. $1.9M per year to run the website? Not to run the website? What was it then — backend technology, sever stacks, etc. contract was for network, hardware, software, security, etc. Not the website.

Delivery contact on the contact Todd Carter, Frankspeech and MyPillow CTO. Carter was negotiating the contract.

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual Frankspeech filed lawsuit against Joe, PIN, and Pidoxa earlier this year.

Mike Lindell owes you money doesn’t he? Yes. Personally $3M and Frankspeech owes ~$900K.

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual Joe credentials:
No CISSP Certification.
No elections administration experience.
No elections work.
No work for CISA, EAC, DHS.
Never published in election security journal.
Never served as an election expert in trial.

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual Joe’s Podcast “Untamed” — formerly Conservative Daily
Record everyday
Advertisers — you derive revenue from the podcast.
Podcast is a business venture? No — back and forth on profitability — okay yes, it’s technically a business venture.

Specific facts of the case:
Are your claims about Eric Coomer what gave rise to the claims about Eric Coomer and DVS rigging elections?
Eric was on a conference call. Wasn’t looking for election stuff, looking for antifa journalists.

Approach — hands Oltmann copy of deposition transcript from December 2022. Reads transcripts where Joe appears to take credit as the “Genesis.”

Mike’s attorneys: Objection — enough commentary, just ask a question . Judge: Sustained, be more efficient.” Going through a podcast episode — playing a clip.

Clip is Joe talking about Coomer and alleging shell companies and George Soros. Attorney asking for the evidence of the claims — attorney says Joe has never produced the substance for the claims. Joe says he did in “the Clay Clark deposition.”

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual Joe mentions Limine, judge steps in, counsel approach. Sidebar.

You’ve never provided the name of “the researcher” have you? No. You don’t know his name? No. He’s your only source on these claims about Eric Coomer? Yes, but it the all the other info that we had.

Did you have people watching coomers house? I did not. New podcast clip being played. Joe speaking about Eric Coomer having dummy corporations, “we know his truck is parked outside his house.” Joe states that his sources were Eric’s neighbors in Salina.

Another Conservative Daily clip. “I have people in Salida that are literally following him around.” “He’s a terrible human being.”

Did you ever meet Eric Coomer before this happened? No.

Nov 6, 2020. Clip of Joe and Max talking about Biden not being inaugurated and how if he was inaugurated he would be illegitimate. This was before Joe ever mentioned Eric Coomer.

First podcast where Joe mentioned Eric Coomer was Dec 9, 2020. Attorney asserts that Podcast took off and grew after Joe spoke about Eric Coomer. Inference is that the motivation for talking about Coomer was business growth.

March 9, 2021: Oltmann had Lindell on his podcast.

Move to admit Email between Oltmann and Dawn from MyPillow. Admitted over objection. Email is coordination to get a MyPillow promo code for Conservative Daily.

Another email admitted over objection — confirms March 2021 Conservative Daily began using their MyPillow promo code.

Invoice admitted over objection. Invoice shows ~$35K from MyPillow to CD Solutions (Conservative Daily) over what looks like 12 months.

Another email admitted”Frank Influencer Demo — shows April 2021 info for a demo. Did your podcast get published on Frank Speech? Yes. Podcast was part of the schedule, but not on the main schedule. Joe says minimal impact.

Joe being asked about interview with Brannon Howse. Following that, Joe was invited to attend and did attend the cyber symposium. Attorney alleges that Joe missed his deposition in Coomer v. Trump to attend the cyber symposium and that Joe filed a motion with the court asserting that he was “afraid of catching covid” to miss the deposition. (Aug 9, 2021)

The statement about catching covid is read into the record.

“You weren’t afraid of catching covid were you?” No.

Who invited you? Sherronna Bishop. You were permitted on stage? Yes. No one raised any concerns about you being on stage? No. You took flew home on Mike Lindell’s plane? Yes, Mike wasn’t on the plane.

Discussion about Mike and Joe interaction at cyber symposium. Joe says Mike might not have remembered him being there. Weird exchange.

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual Attorney: “so you think Mike Lindell doesn’t remember things he says or does?” That’s accurate.

Clip being played of Joe on stage at Symposium. Joe repeating his claims about the Antifa call. This was steamed on Frankspeech with a MyPillow promo code.

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual Playing another clip of the symposium event. Oltmann talking about Coomer on stage: “I would never ever ever put someone’s name out there without being sure it was them.” Back and forth about whether he knows for sure it was Coomer. He is sure.

A couple more clips from conservative daily podcast. “I can’t tell you if it’s the same Eric.” Joe says he was recounting his mental process not making a factual assertion. “I think it’s him but I can’t be sure.” Same answer, mental process — walking the audience through how he got from “Eric from Dominion” to “Eric Coomer.” In that clip, Joe said “It could be another guy.”

Three assertions in first podcast that Joe wasn’t sure of Eric was the correct Eric. The next day, Joe sent an email to OANN to tell them about the story. Email entitled “Voter Fraud Follow Up”

Email produced to jury. Joe recounts his story in the email — attorney now pressing him on the use of the word “paraphrased” regarding Coomer’s statement.

You don’t recall the full statement? “Five years is a long time.” Pressing on why he said “allegedly” then but didn’t say “allegedly” at the symposium. Heated exchange about family and death threats, judge steps in.

Did Mr. Lindell ever ask how certain you were about Eric Coomer? Mike is a brilliant marketer but doesn’t do details. Back and forth. Back to the exhibit, looking at Joe’s transcribed notes from the Antifa call. Joe confirmed the notes are his.

Another clip from CD podcast, Joe going through his notes from the “Antifa call.” In the clip Joe uses the word “paraphrasing” before he said the specific quote.

Image of Joe’s notebook and hand written notes admitted and produced to the jury. Long back and forth about why it says Denver? or Colorado Springs? You don’t know if Eric is from Denver or Colorado Springs? No.

Discussion about Zoom and why no one (except one person who was briefly visible) had their cameras on.

Back and forth between about Heidi Beedle. They had an interest in “Jojo Joey Camp” — notes say “hit this guy,” Joe says “they” on the call had an interest in Joey Camp.

Who is RD? The person that gave me access to the call. What’s his name?

Silence. Stand off. Counsel approaches.

Moving on, may come back to that question later. Going through second page of Joe’s handwritten notes. 19 ppl were on the call, some had names and some had handles.

Notes about Joey. Oltmann said “they” called Joey a rat on the call. They said that Yanni likes to fight (or someone said that Yanni likes to fight). October protests, organizing details, “keep pressure.” Other language from the call in the notes: “fortify”

Who said “fortify”? Eric. “Where is that reflected in your notes?” Note pages are out of order, they go through them, debate what terms. Joe reiterates that when he was on the call, he wasn’t looking at elections and “Eric” didn’t become important until after the election.

Back to who got him on the call — Joe’s attorney objects on reporter’s privilege. Counsel approaches.

You’re the only person who knows who got you access to Eric Coomer’s Facebook account. If you won’t identify who that person is, then we have to take you at your word, don’t we? (Note: I think Coomer’s attorney is breaking down the claim by the four part test for piercing reporters privilege.)

Short Break

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual We’re back. Note: Jury is extremely engaged during this testimony. Edge of their seats.

Back to Joe’s handwritten notes. Asked to circle a portion of the notes. Joe says they’re not included because they’re on a couple pages of notes that are not in evidence. Attorney suggests that Joe only wrote that down in preparation for the podcast but not contemporaneous with the call. Joe says they were contemporaneous but he looked for them and cannot find them. So “we’re never going to see those?”

Joe believes that Randy Corporan has those notes but he hasn’t produced them. Corporan was previously Oltmann’s attorney in this matter.

Attorney asking Joe to identify specific portions of his contemporaneous notes. “What are we going to do if fucking Trump wins?” The phrase is not in the notes. Attorney pointing out that the email to OANN had several phrases that are not in the handwritten notes. Where does it say “hahaha”? It’s not in the notes. Attorney pointing out that the notes say “Angry!!!” — “were they angry or were they laughing?”

Joe being asked about affidavit about the call, which was provided to his attorney. Attorney: and your attorney submitted affidavit to Sidney Powell and Trump legal team. Reading through the affidavit now.

Joe now describing his research to get from “Eric from Dominion” to “Eric Coomer.” Joe says it was the same voice in the DVS/Coomer videos as the voice of the person on the call.

Reference to a text message with a link to an article that mentioned Eric Coomer by name re: GA elections. Attorney: “you’ve never produced that article, did you?” Joe says he has it now. He found it in the way back. It was removed from everywhere. Who sent it to you? “If I had that it would make things much easier for me.” Says it wasn’t anonymous but came from someone within FEC and he cannot recall who.

Oltmann and attorney rebuked by judge for arguing and talking over each other. (Shout out to the court reporter, doing the Lord’s work on this direct examination lol.)

Another clip from Conservative Daily podcast. Clip is Joe and Max going through DVS employee list, talking about how Coomer was removed from the site.

The date on the screenshot that they were going through says “taken on 9.26.2020” — the google doodle in the screenshot proved that the date was wrong — it was 11.11.2020. The exhibit was marked as though it was produced before the public assertions about Coomer, when it was actually produced two days after.

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual Attorney asking about all the other Erics and Dominions in Denver that it could have been. Why didn’t he look up all the other ones? Joe attempts to say why it was, they argue and get rebuked by the judge again for talking over each other.

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual Attorney: you didn’t tell anyone that you changed the date on the exhibit until we asked you about it did you? Joe says that’s not true, he told his counsel about it.

Now being asked about Heidi Beedle. Exhibit of a project veritas screen grab. Joe identifies who he believed to be Heidi Beedle during deposition movement, but he learned later that it was not Heidi Beedle in the image. Joe insists that Beedle is both Antifa and Our Revolution. Attorney honing in on the level of substantiation that he used to identify Beedle at the time.

Asked if Joe did anything to validate the information identifying Beedle. He did a lot to substantiate but they weren’t concerned with that. Focused on Antifa.

Objection! Joe and attorney argue over objection. Judge intervenes and counsel approaches.

The whole thing is made up, isn’t it Mr Oltmann? Objection! Counsel approach. Overruled.

You can’t answer that because the whole thing is made up, isn’t it. “No, you’re wrong.” Attorney passes the witness to the defense. Cross examination begins.

Joe has had six depositions, 50-60 hours in this case. We have to take you at your word? But you have the article. Can you produce it today? Yes. Counsel approach. Quick recess.

Were back for the home stretch. You said Mike Lindell can talk to you and then not remember… is that because he has a lot of people around him? Joe says yes, and starts on a narrative of “Mike is his own worst enemy.” Objection! Non-responsive! Judge reminds Joe to just answer the question without broader narrative.

Discussion of how Joe learned about Coomer — recounting impetus for getting on the Antifa call. “What is FEC United?” Objection again on responding with narrative instead of what it stands for.

October 15: Joe had a meeting at Bandemere Speedway, discussed infiltrating antifa, and finding Antifa journalists. Tig Teigen affidavit.

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual Lindell has never repeated your story? Correct. He has never endorsed you? Correct. He never asked you to come on the network or on the stage. No.

Joe says Dennis Montgomery and PCAPS were a fraud and the Chinese election narrative is BS. Looked at Mike, “sorry, they don’t exist.” Attorneys at Coomer’s table look thrilled about that. They all smiled and laughed at each other. Joe apologizes to Mike again, “sorry Mike it’s garbage.”

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual Oltmann believes Eric Coomer is a genius and he has no animus towards him. Lindell attorney asks to approach. Judge is calling it for the jury. Going to consider motions after the exit.

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual We will return in the morning for the remainder of cross examination. Have a great evening everyone!

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual REMINDER: All posts are my personal notes summarizing. Please excuse typos and tag or DM for any corrections or clarifications. Reporting drafted during the proceedings and posted outside the courthouse on breaks (per the courts media order).

@RealSKeshel @mad_liberals @CannConActual APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT!
If you appreciate my reporting, please like, share snd follow, and please consider becoming a paid subscriber to my substack: .

/End for the dayasheinamerica.substack.com