Two days after the 2020 presidential election, as votes were still being tallied, Donald Trump's eldest son texted then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows that 'we have operational control' to ensure his father would get a second term, with Republican majorities in the US Senate and swing state legislatures, CNN has learned.
In his text to Meadows, Trump Jr. identifies two key dates in December that serve as deadlines for states to certify their electoral results and compel Congress to accept them. Though the dates are largely ceremonial, in his text Trump Jr. appears to point to them as potential weaknesses to be exploited by casting doubt on the legitimacy of the election results.Trump Jr.
Trump Jr.'s text, however, refers to an untested legal theory that state houses are the ultimate authority in elections and can intervene to put forward a different slate of electors than those chosen by the voters, when in reality this is a ceremonial process and the outcome is essentially a foregone conclusion.within the context of what unfolded on January 6 and Trump's broader effort to overturn the election.
A spokesman for Perry told CNN at the time that the former Energy secretary denies being the author of the text. However, multiple people who know Rick Perry previously confirmed to CNN that the phone number the committee has associated with that text message is Perry's number.Trump Jr.
Eastman's memo laid out a six-step plan for Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the election for Trump, which included throwing out the results in seven states because they allegedly had competing electors. In fact, no state had actually put forward an alternate slate of electors -- there were merely Trump allies claiming without any authority to be electors.
"Fire Wray; Fire Fauci," he texts, referring to FBI Director Christopher Wray and White House coronavirus adviser Anthony Fauci. Trump Jr. then proposes making former acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell interim head of the FBI and having then-Attorney General Bill Barr "select Special prosecutor on HardDrivefromHell Biden crime family."
While Wray remains in his post and Barr resigned in mid-December 2020 without naming a special prosecutor to investigate the Bidens, Trump Jr.'s text underscores just how precarious the situation at DOJ was in the immediate aftermath of the election.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump Jr. texted Meadows after 2020 election to press Trump second term, CNN reportsDonald Trump Jr. reportedly sent texts to Mark Meadows two days after election outlining ways to keep his father in office, according to CNN
Read more »
CNN Exclusive: 'We control them all': Donald Trump Jr. texted Meadows ideas for overturning 2020 election before it was calledCNN Exclusive: ‘We control them all’: Donald Trump Jr. texted Meadows ideas for overturning 2020 election before it was called
Read more »
CNN Exclusive: 'We control them all': Donald Trump Jr. texted Meadows ideas for overturning 2020 election before it was calledCNN Exclusive: ‘We control them all’: Donald Trump Jr. texted Meadows ideas for overturning 2020 election before it was called
Read more »
Trump Jr. texted Meadows after 2020 election to press Trump second term, CNN reportsDonald Trump Jr. reportedly sent texts to Mark Meadows two days after election outlining ways to keep his father in office, according to CNN
Read more »
Australia’s government prepares to call electionAustralia Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s government expected to call election in coming days
Read more »
Canada's and China's frigid relationship shows slight sign of thaw with first call between foreign ministers since 2020But, perhaps not surprisingly, the readouts of the calls give the impression that the countries refer to two different conversations
Read more »