Trump supporters and conspiracy theory - Part 2

[Rick Plant]

Trump headed for 'a couple of ugly nights' in May that will expose his weaknesses: adviser



Months before the 2022 midterms, a clue as to whether Donald Trump has a political future as a "kingmaker" will be put to the test as Republican voters decide if they want to embrace candidates whom he has endorsed -- or move on and leave him in the past.

With key primaries kicking off this week, the month of May will be crucial to Trump's political viability if some of his riskier choices for office fail to make the cut that would allow them to be on November's ballot.

According to a report from Politico's David Siders, one Trump advisor is privately admitting that May is not shaping up to be a month of unrivaled success for the former president if current polling is to be believed.

The first test for Trump comes on Tuesday of this week as his surprise choice to be the GOP nominee representing Ohio in the Senate, J.D. Vance, faces his first test before the voters.

Although Vance has leapfrogged the field after Trump's controversial endorsement, Politico is reporting that the rest of the month looks like a minefield for Trump.

"In a four-week stretch of primaries running from Nebraska and West Virginia to Idaho, Pennsylvania and Georgia, Trump-endorsed candidates are slogging through difficult races where the former president’s blessing hasn’t proved to be the rocket fuel some expected. In a few cases, his preferred candidates are running far behind," Siders wrote before noting that Trump himself was rejected by the voters in 2020 and Republicans lost control of the Senate and House on his watch.

That has Trumpworld nervous and conservative activists looking on anxiously.

According to GOP strategist John Thomas, a series of losses could expose Trump's diminishing influence over Republican Party.

“It’ll be a blow to his perceived power,” he explained. “He doesn’t single-handedly control the electorate unless he’s on the ballot. Is he still a very, very popular figure in the Republican Party? Absolutely, undeniably. But does he have the influence and weight in Republican primaries to be the decisive kingmaker? … Not definitively.”

One Trump advisor conceded as much, telling Siders, "The president could have a couple of ugly nights.”

According to one GOP pollster, the results of the Georgia Republican primary, where Trump has expended so much political capital, looks like it will deliver a key blow to his reputation.

“Georgia’s the big one,” Whit Ayres stated. “Trump took on an incumbent Republican governor and recruited a recent incumbent Republican senator to challenge him. That is the biggest of the challenges where Trump has tried to force his will.”

He then added, "If he’s able to take out an incumbent Republican governor, that’s a huge statement of his influence. But if he’s unable to take out an incumbent Republican governor with a recent incumbent senator, it’s a huge statement of his lack of influence on Republican voters.”

You can read more here: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/02/may-primaries-republican-donald-trump-ohio-00029149

[Rick Plant]

Criminal Donald wanted our military to shoot American citizens in the streets. And the GOP still supports this lunatic.     

'Can't you just shoot them?' Trump Pentagon chief says former president wanted to open fire on BLM protesters



Former President Donald Trump angrily demanded to know why he couldn't order the U.S. military to shoot protestors who filled streets around the White House in June 2020 in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder.

That's the explosive revelation contained in former Defense Secretary Mark Esper's soon-to-be-released memoir, according to Mike Allen of Axios.

In "A Sacred Oath," Esper confirms previous reporting that in multiple Oval Office meetings during the civil unrest, Trump suggested invoking the Insurrection Act to put U.S. military troops on the streets to quell violence. Esper opposed the move.

Esper describes a meeting in the first week of June, 2020 as "surreal, sitting in front of the Resolute desk, inside the Oval Office, with this idea weighing heavily in the air, and the president red faced and complaining loudly about the protests under way in Washington, D.C."

"Can't you just shoot them? Just shoot them in the legs or something?" Trump asked, according to the former defense secretary.

"The good news — this wasn't a difficult decision," Esper continues. "The bad news — I had to figure out a way to walk Trump back without creating the mess I was trying to avoid."

Axios reports that the book went through an extensive Pentagon clearance process, including reviews by "nearly three dozen 4-star generals, senior civilians, and some Cabinet members."

The memoir confirms what reporter Michael Bender wrote last year in his book, "Frankly, We Did Win This Election."

https://www.axios.com/mark-esper-book-trump-protesters-24e93272-2af5-423d-be3b-164daab7b43d.html

[Rick Plant]

Georgia official begged Mark Meadows to end call where Trump pressured Raffensperger to 'find' votes

Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows exchanged frantic text messages with a high-ranking Georgia official as Donald Trump pressured the state's top election official to "find" enough votes to overturn his loss there.

The messages were revealed in a recent court filing by Atlanta-based prosecutors investigating Trump's efforts to undo his election loss, and show deputy secretary of state Jordan Fuchs was eager to end the call between her boss and the former president, reported CNN.

"Need to end this call," Fuchs texted to Meadows. "I don't think this will be productive much longer."

"Let's save the relationship," she added.

Meadows ended the Jan. 3, 2021, phone call by suggesting lawyers from both sides should contact one another soon, and Fuchs seemed astonished by what she had heard.

"Thank you," she said. "Wow."

Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis will seat a grand jury to investigate whether Trump, his campaign attorney Rudy Giuliani, or Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) broke any laws in their efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, and newly revealed texts also show Meadows in contact with former Republican Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) to discuss challenges to the voting results.

"I'm trying to set up this call with state legislature leaders and Rudy," Perdue texted on Dec. 29, 2020. "I just want to make sure I'm doing what you and the president want."

A spokeswoman for Perdue, who's challenging Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp in a GOP gubernatorial primary, declined to comment.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/02/politics/georgia-grand-jury-meadows-texts/index.html

[Rick Plant]

Rudy Giuliani and Lindsey Graham could be swept up in Trump Georgia grand jury proceedings: CNN



Reporting from in front of the Fulton County Justice Center & Courts as District Attorney Fani Willis seats a special grand jury to hear evidence that Donald Trump attempted to tamper with Georgia's presidential election results in 2020, CNN's Sara Murray pointed out that the investigation could expand and draw in members of the former president's inner circle.

Speaking with host Kate Bolduan and legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin, Murray claimed subpoenas could be slated in the future for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows over their involvement.

With Toobin describing the proceedings as a "very promising investigation," Murray noted the grand jury make take months before coming to any conclusions.

And those conclusions could go beyond the former president who called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger looking for just enough votes to flip the state's 16 Electoral College votes away from eventual winner Joe Biden.

"How big is this investigation?" host Bolduan prompted. "What is the sense that you're getting and how big is this also for this D.A.?"

"They're certainly looking into a number of matters beyond what they know from Georgia officials like Brad Raffensperger, who was talking to Donald Trump," Murray explained. "They've also made it clear they're looking into Rudy Giuliani giving a presentation for Georgia state lawmakers where he spread a bunch of conspiracies. They're looking into a phone call between Lindsey Graham, the senator, and a phone call he had with Raffensperger."

"And if she subpoenas people like Giuliani and Mark Meadows, that would be uncomfortable," she added.

Watch below:

[Rick Plant]

Grand jury selected in Trump election probe in Georgia -prosecutor's office



(Reuters) - A special grand jury was selected on Monday to consider evidence in a Georgia prosecutor's inquiry into then-President Donald Trump's alleged efforts to influence the U.S. state's 2020 election results, a county prosecutor's office said.

The selection marks a major step forward in the probe, launched after Trump was recorded in a Jan. 2, 2021 phone call pressuring Georgia's secretary of state to overturn the state's election results based on unfounded claims of voter fraud.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis requested the special jury in January in part due to its subpoena power, which she argues is needed to compel witness testimony.

A group of 23 jurors and three alternates was selected on Monday, said Jeff DiSantis, deputy district attorney overseeing media relations.

The special grand jury can investigate, then recommend charges to a regular grand jury, which would then decide whether to indict, he said.

During the phone call, Trump urged Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a fellow Republican, to "find" enough votes to overturn his Georgia loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

The transcript of the call quotes Trump telling Raffensperger: "I just want to find 11,780 votes," which is the number Trump needed to win Georgia.

Trump has denied wrongdoing in the phone call.

Legal experts have said Trump's phone calls may have violated at least three state election laws: conspiracy to commit election fraud, criminal solicitation to commit election fraud and intentional interference with performance of election duties.

© Reuters

[Rick Plant]

Georgia special grand jury set to hear from Raffensperger ​about what led to call where Trump demanded votes



Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R-GA) is a key witness to the investigation into possible voter fraud in the state, after it became clear that the White House and allies of Donald Trump were pressing officials to change the outcome of the 2020 election.

The Fulton County district attorney in Georgia has been working with a special grand jury to look into the actions around the 2020 election. A special grand jury, however, doesn't have the power to indict anyone. While they can issue subpoenas, the special grand jury would have to send their findings to a regular grand jury to approve the indictments.

Speaking to CNN on Monday, former federal prosecutor Jennifer Rodgers explained that the special grand jury would likely want to speak to Raffensperger, who hasn't voluntarily appeared. There are also other witnesses who haven't cooperated yet.

"Apparently there are 30 people on the list," said Rodgers. "They will also be looking strongly at [Trump's] state of mind. Anything they can learn about whether then Trump said 'find the votes.' He knew that he had lost the election and needed the votes to overturn the fair election. That's what they'll look at most specifically."

She went on to say that she doesn't anticipate Trump will be subpoenaed in the probe. His conversation with Raffensperger was recorded and released to the press. In the call, the former president demanded that the secretary of state "find 11,780 votes" to overturn the results in Georgia.

"You rarely subpoena the ultimate target of your investigation," Rodgers explained. "He has an obvious Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate himself. I would expect them to make their case by speaking to everyone around him who will know his state of mind if their conversations."

Just weeks ago, the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol filed a response in court to Mark Meadows' lawsuit resisting their subpoena. Meadows sued the House and the committee, and in response, the committee revealed 26 exhibits including text messages and depositions from key witnesses, including Raffensperger. As part of the clips of his deposition included in the exhibits, the committee revealed that Meadows was relentless in connecting Raffensperger with Trump, but Raffensperger didn't feel it was appropriate and dodged the president's calls multiple times.



At one point, the call between Trump and the secretary of state prompted Raffensperger's aide to text Meadows and encourage him to end the phone call.

Trump facing an 'octopus of an investigation' as Georgia grand jury convenes: former US attorney



On Monday Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis will impanel a grand jury to hear evidence that will allege that former President Donald Trump violated state laws when he attempted to interfere in the 2020 presidential election that he still maintains was stolen from him.

Appearing on CNN's "New Day" with host Brianna Keilar, former U.S Attorney Michael Moore explained that jurors, after looking at the evidence and hearing from witnesses, could indict the former president on a number of charges.

According to the former prosecutor, there are so many potential criminal charges, as Trump is now faced with "an octopus of an investigation."

"What exactly this special grand jury is going to be considering and what specific laws will they be looking at to see if Donald Trump broke them?" host Keilar asked.

"The consideration by the special grand jury is really up to them, they have the right to investigate the case, they have the right to issue subpoenas, they have the right to ask questions to dig a little deeper on certain topics if they want to do it," Moore replied. "If you think about it from a general sense, maybe an umbrella under which the investigation will fall. You are really talking about election fraud, a conspiracy to commit election fraud, was there a solicitation to commit election fraud or maybe was there an effort to interfere with the performance of the secretary of state's official duties."

"So those things have tentacles," he continued. "This may become a little bit like an octopus of an investigation. Some evidence may be developed that they decide that they want to pursue a little bit further."

"What penalties could Trump face and what do you think are the odds that he will actually face any?" the CNN host pressed.

"You know, he could face a felony charge, certainly there is some misdemeanors that could be in play here," he answered.


'Trump probably should be concerned' he'll have to testify before Georgia grand jury: former DA



Add the possibility that Donald Trump may have to appear before a Fulton County grand jury to face questioning over his attempts to interfere with the 2020 presidential election to his legal woes, according to a veteran Georgia district attorney.

In an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, former Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter said the grand jury being impaneled by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to hear evidence against the former president should not be taken lightly.

On CNN Monday morning, former U.S. attorney Michael Moore claimed that Trump could face a multitude of charges, telling "New Day" host Brianna Keilar, "You are really talking about election fraud, a conspiracy to commit election fraud, was there a solicitation to commit election fraud or maybe was there an effort to interfere with the performance of the secretary of state's official duties."

The former president is now confronted by "an octopus of an investigation" that could be far-reaching, he added.

According to former DA Porter, Trump should expect to be summoned to testify on his own behalf.

Calling the formation of a special grand jury a "significant legal step,” Porter added, "I think (Trump) probably should be concerned in that now, instead of just investigators poking around the edges, he’s got a grand jury that can go directly to the heart of it and compel testimony. They may be able to compel his testimony.”

According to the Journal-Constitution, "Unlike regular grand juries, which meet for two-month periods in Fulton County and hear hundreds of different felony cases, special grand juries convene for much longer and focus on a single issue," adding, "This panel is authorized to meet for up to one year, but Willis said it’s possible their work could wrap up sooner."

https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/fulton-prosecutors-to-begin-jury-selection-for-trump-probe/IGCWQKPRVBDWRKNAI7LNQAMHJI/

[Rick Plant]

Republican efforts to remove Trump after Jan 6. went further than initially thought: new book



This newly released book This Will Not Pass, by New York Times reporters Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin, revealed that Washington state Republican Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler and Dan Newhouse did more than initially known about Donald Trump's attempts to overthrow the 2020 election.

The Seattle Times quoted the book's revelations that after the former president directed his supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol, where they then went on a full attack, Newhouse brought up invoking the 25th Amendment. The law allows the Cabinet to remove the president if they believe he is mentally incapacitated. It was part of the conversation happening among not only the House caucus, but also among then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

During a Jan. 10 conversation, McCarthy said he was so furious with Trump for Jan. 6 and was going to instruct him to resign. But further, McCarthy wanted to see social media sites take away the accounts of anyone pushing the so-called "Big Lie." McCarthy then claimed that the story was nothing more than "fake news." The Times writers released the audiotapes of McCarthy.

Both, after all, were among the small minority of their party who voted to impeach Trump. And both now face potentially difficult reelection campaigns, as they’re attacked for their votes by far-right Republicans, including some who claim falsely that Trump won the 2020 election.

The book, due for public release on Tuesday, cites a Jan. 11 meeting in which McCarthy had no real plan for dealing with Trump. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) was the most prominent Republican to attack Trump's behavior. However, the book cites Newhouse of the source of the 25th Amendment idea.

Herrera Beutler suggested another option for removing Trump from office.

“I think another way out that we should consider as a conference, is asking our own leadership to join with the Republican leadership in the Senate and asking this president to resign," the book quotes her saying.

Both Republicans were condemned by the state Republican Party for their votes to impeach Trump. Herrera Beutler recalled McCarthy's conversation with Trump as the Capitol was under siege. She quoted McCarthy, who said Trump told him, "Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are."

She was also among the Republicans who asked the Senate to consider the charges against Trump more seriously.

“To the patriots who were standing next to the former president as these conversations were happening, or even to the former vice president: if you have something to add here, now would be the time.”

Herrera Beutler's office wouldn't comment when the Seattle Times reached out for comment and Newhouse didn't respond to questions.

Read more here: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/herrera-beutler-newhouse-went-further-than-previously-known-in-attempts-to-oust-trump-new-book-says/