Topline
Just two days after Election Day in 2020, Donald Trump Jr. texted former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows a lengthy list of ideas to ensure his father held onto the presidency, according to CNN, suggesting then-President Donald Trump’s inner circle was working on plans to overturn the election results before President Joe Biden was even declared the winner.
Donald Trump Jr. speaks during a Republican National Committee Victory Rally at Dalton Regional … [+]
Key Facts
Donald Trump Jr.’s message reportedly contained wide-ranging ideas that largely went on to become the Trump team’s playbook over the coming months: lawsuits to challenge election results, attempts to appoint fake “Trump electors” and, as a fallback, convincing Congress to reinstall Trump on January 6, 2021.
Trump’s eldest son relied heavily on the dubious legal claim that Republican-controlled legislatures could have ignored their states’ vote tallies and instead appointed a Trump-friendly slate of electors to the Electoral College, according to CNN, referring to a strategy that then-Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani later attempted to carry out.
The November 5 text was sent as votes were still being counted, and came two days before major media outlets declared Biden the winner.
Alan S. Futerfas, Trump Jr.’s attorney, told CNN his client received numerous texts after Election Day and the message “likely originated from someone else and was forwarded”; Futerfas did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Forbes.
The text message has reportedly been obtained by the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot.
Crucial Quote
“We have multiple paths We control them all,” CNN reported the text message as saying.
Key Background
Trump and his allies pursued numerous strategies to overturn his loss, all of which were unsuccessful. Multiple recounts in states Trump lost failed to show evidence of widespread irregularities or change the outcome, while slates of fake electors from seven states has prompted a Justice Department investigation. Attempts to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence and GOP lawmakers to somehow block certification results on January 6, 2021, also failed despite Trump supporters mounting a deadly storming of the Capitol. Federal District Court Judge David Carter wrote late last month that Trump “more likely than not” committed a felony by trying to overturn the election, making the remarks in a ruling granting the January 6 committee access to emails from former Trump legal advisor John Eastman.
Tangent
The House of Representatives on Wednesday night voted to recommend contempt of Congress charges for ex-White House trade advisor Peter Navarro and former White House social media director Dan Scavino Jr. after they failed to comply with a subpoena. Meadows and former White House strategist Steve Bannon have also been referred to the DOJ for failing to comply with their subpoenas. Only Bannon has been charged so far.
Further Reading
Deputy AG: DOJ investigating fake Trump electors (The Hill)
Trump ‘More Likely Than Not’ Illegally Tried To Obstruct Election, Federal Judge Says (Forbes)
Bannon Contempt Trial Set For July After He Ignores Subpoena From Jan. 6 Committee (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/04/08/trump-jr-reportedly-texted-plans-to-overturn-results-just-after-election-day/