piper, adam RAGA rldf

robo calls fancelli publix heir

bailed from raga ROLF after jan 6

old pal ali alex

see landry

sep 24 war games atlanta

BREONNA TAYLOR

10 24 chutkin 2k pp redacted

10 24 no docs many

New Jack Smith documents reveal millions spent on Jan. 6 rally - Raw Story

new documents unsealed in Donald Trump's criminal Jan. 6 case disclosed $3 million spent to get people to the rally that preceded the attack on the Capitol building.

Among the nearly 2,000 heavily redacted pages of evidence for charges against Trump related to an attempt to steal the 2020 election were documents relating to a budget and trip plan for the day.

The evidence is being considered by Judge Tanya Chutkan before she rules if Trump is immune to criminal charges under a Supreme Court decision. Trump's team opposed the papers being unsealed.

IFrame Content

USA Today reported an unnamed organization spent $3 million to bring guests and protesters to D.C., and on ad buys to encourage people to make the trip. The actual costs of the event itself were under $400,000.

"Several versions of the “Confidential – Not To Be Disclosed” document are included, with some redactions, and appear to have been prepared for House Jan. 6 Select Committee investigating the attacks, which disclosed some of the information," reported USA Today.

Among the recipients of the money was the conservative group TurningPointAction, which got $1 million, according to the papers.

chase bank 906 jefferson shorewood Ill

Donald Trump Jr's super PAC, "Save the Senate" got a $500,000 payment.

The Tea Party Express got $400,000 and $200,000 was sent to a redacted name that was recruited "to assist with his organization efforts," the documents say.

There was also a $200,000 donation to the Republican Attorneys Generals (RAGA) Rule of Law Defense.

Meanwhile, "$300,000 was budgeted for speaker fees and travel for VIP speakers and a busing program to bring in rallygoers within a 180-mile radius."

A $100,000 payment was given to a redacted group to cover "the estimated cost of their hotels, private flights, car services and private security for about 10 to 15 of its members.

See some of the screen captures of the documents below or at the link here....

===

Here’s a quick overview of what’s included in this blog post:

August — October: Republican AGs attack voting rights and refuse to protect democratic norms.

November — December: Republican AGs try to overturn the results of the election multiple times.

January: Republican AGs and RAGA’s connection to the Jan 6th deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol exposed.

February: Republican AGs continue pushing the lie that the election was stolen from Donald Trump.

Below is a detailed timeline to help illustrate the un-American campaign waged by the Republican Attorneys General and the Republican Attorneys General Association:

AUGUST 2020

Indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues Harris County (largest county) over their plan to send all voters in the county mail-in ballot applications.

Republican Attorneys General FAIL to take action to protect the U.S. Postal Service after President Trump and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy alter mail delivery — with a goal of negatively impacting vote-by-mail.

SEPTEMBER 2020

Republican Attorneys General and the Republican Attorneys General Association FAIL to combat significant disinformation being put forth by President Trump:

Republican Attorneys General and RAGA do not correct President Trump for telling supporters to “vote twice.”

Republican Attorneys General and RAGA do not correct President Trump for attacking the vote-by-mail process.

Republican Attorneys General do not take action to protect voting rights that came under attack in more than 10 states.

Indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton files an appeal to block Harris County from sending mail-in ballot applications to voters across the county. Later, indicted Texas AG Ken Paxton asks the Texas Supreme Court to weigh in on the case — hoping they would block millions of people from safely voting during a pandemic.

September 24–25: Republican Attorneys General Association & Rule of Law Defense Fund hold a two day summit in Atlanta to discuss “election integrity.” Now resigned RAGA Executive Director Adam Piper refers to this meetings as “WAR GAMES — 32 AG Staff Members are huddled in Atlanta for a series of conversations planning for what could come if we lose the White House.” This information becomes public as part of a public records request by a Missouri organization [see Page 56]. Read more about this alarming preparation to attack democracy here:

Missouri AG's office had invite to Jan. 5 conference call by group urging Capitol march

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt's office had an invitation to a conference call the day before the deadly…

www.kansascity.com

OCTOBER 2020

In the lead up to the election, Republican Attorneys General Association Executive Director Adam Piper says of Republican AGs, “No group of elected officials have been more supportive of President Trump.” This comes after Trump repeatedly attacks the U.S. electoral system, refused to denounce white supremacy time and time again, and went through an impeachment trial.

see below]

https://documented.net/reporting/republican-attorneys-general-dark-money-group-organized-protest-preceding-capitol-mob-attack

The Rule of Law Defense Fund (RLDF), a 501(c)(4) arm of the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA), helped organize the protest preceding the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol that took place on January 6, 2021.

As a 501(c)(4), RLDF is not required to reveal its donors. RLDF has received at least $175,000 from the Koch-backed Freedom Partners. Other RLDF donors include Judicial Crisis Network, the Rule of Law Project, and the Edison Electric Institute.

RAGA is a 527 political organization that helps elect Republican attorneys general and can accept unlimited contributions from wealthy individuals and corporations. As previously reported by Documented, RAGA received significant funding from numerous corporations in 2020, including Koch Industries ($375k), Comcast Corporation ($200k), Walmart ($140k), Home Depot ($125k), Amazon ($100k), TikTok ($75k), 1-800 Contacts ($51k), Chevron ($50k), The National Rifle Association ($50k), Monsanto ($50k), Facebook ($50k), Fox Corporation ($50k), Uber ($50k), Coca Cola ($50k), Exxon ($50k), and Google ($25k).

RLDF appeared in a list of groups “Participating in the March to Save America” on the March to Save America website alongside entities including Stop the Steal, Turning Point Action, Tea Party Patriots and others. (MarchtoSaveAmerica.com has been taken down but an archived version of the website can be accessed through the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.)

RLDF also sent out a robocall detailing where and when the protest would take place.

[aud]

documented · Rule Of Law Defense Fund Robocall

“I'm calling for the Rule of Law Defense Fund with an important message,” the robocall stated. “The march to save America is tomorrow in Washington D.C. at the Ellipse in President's Park between E St. and Constitution Avenue on the south side of the White House, with doors opening at 7:00 a.m. At 1:00 p.m., we will march to the Capitol building and call on congress to stop the steal. We are hoping patriots like you will join us to continue to fight to protect the integrity of our elections. For more information, visit MarchtoSaveAmerica.com. This call is paid for and authorized by the Rule of Law Defense Fund, 202-796-5838.”

RLDF’s role in organizing the protests, which turned into a violent mob attack inside the Capitol, is ironic given its 2020 election campaign warning of “lawless liberal mobs'' burning down buildings and. The campaign, dubbed “Lawless Liberals”, came in the aftermath of the largely peaceful protests following the murder of George Floyd by police and the shooting of Jacob Blake.

“The Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA)’s five-month Lawless Liberals video campaign repeatedly warned Americans about the dangerous reality of lawless liberals run amok in cities across the country,” RAGA said in a statement.

[twt]

republican attorneys general have been heavily involved in efforts to undermine the results of the 2020 presidential election. Shortly after Joe Biden was declared the winner, Republican attorneys general filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court that sought to reject some mailed ballots in the state of Pennsylvania. Republican attorney general Ken Paxton--who has been embroiled in bribery, abuse of office and other criminal allegations--filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Supreme Court regarding four battleground states and alleging unconstitutional changes to their voting laws before the 2020 election. Prior to the protests, Paxton appeared on Fox News and said he hoped to be at both rallies.

RAGA and Republican attorneys general issued statements denouncing the violence. “The Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) and the Republican attorneys general (AGs) stand together to condemn the violence, destruction, and rampant lawlessness occurring at the U.S. Capitol today. These actions are an affront to the rule of law, our Constitution, and our American political discourse.”

After Documented published the robocall, RAGA issued a statement to reporters: "Republican Attorneys General Association and Rule of Law Defense Fund had no involvement in the planning, sponsoring, or the organization of Wednesday’s event."

The Democratic Attorneys General Association revealed in a tweet RAGA originally appeared on the March to Save America website under "Coalition Partners". The website later took out RAGA and put in the Rule of Law Defense Fund under "Participating in the March to Save America".

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Please read the below. It appeared in my feed nearly 24 years to the day my mom was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.

If you know anyone or anyone who might know anyone at Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. please connect them with Samantha.

Regardless, keep Samantha and her family in your thoughts and prayers.…show more

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Flying RDU->MSY today and at least in my hashtag#customerexperience hashtag#RDU is tops in the nation.

RDU climbs to 3rd from 9th for best 'large airport' in customer satisfaction study

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AboutAbout

Vision Based Leader, Mentor, Achiever.

Specialties: Marketing, Management, Public Affairs, Issue Advocacy, Campaign Management, Public Relations, Media Strategy, Political AnalysisVision Based Leader, Mentor, Achiever. Specialties: Marketing, Management, Public Affairs, Issue Advocacy, Campaign Management, Public Relations, Media Strategy, Political Analysis

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FounderFounder

Offramp · Full-timeOfframp · Full-time

Jan 2022 - Present · 6 mosJan 2022 - Present · 6 mos

Raleigh, NCRaleigh, NC

Offramp connects parents with coaching, courses, community, and access to care necessary to navigate today's technology challenges and ensure children remain children and not screen zombies.Offramp connects parents with coaching, courses, community, and access to care necessary to navigate today's technology challenges and ensure children remain children and not screen zombies.

FounderFounder

Pennant LLC · Full-timePennant LLC · Full-time

Jan 2021 - Present · 1 yr 6 mosJan 2021 - Present · 1 yr 6 mos

Raleigh, North Carolina, United StatesRaleigh, North Carolina, United States

Bespoke Positioning, Strategy, Business Development, and Community Empowerment consulting practice.

Focused on helping future generations and

expanding access to technology, education, credit, healthcare, and housing.Bespoke Positioning, Strategy, Business Development, and Community Empowerment consulting practice. Focused on helping future generations and expanding access to technology, education, credit, healthcare, and housing.…see more

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Winter 2022 Accelerator Program Winter 2022 Accelerator Program

What If Fellowship · Apprenticeship What If Fellowship · Apprenticeship

Jan 2022 - Mar 2022 · 3 mosJan 2022 - Mar 2022 · 3 mos

RemoteRemote

What if Ventures invests in mental health and addicton-focused startups via a syndicate of nearly 4,200 investors mission-alligned with What if's purpose of driving capital into solutions that can improve the human experience.

What if's fellowship accelerated the trajectory of GetOfframp.com to help parents combat screentivity.What if Ventures invests in mental health and addicton-focused startups via a syndicate of nearly 4,200 investors mission-alligned with What if's purpose of driving capital into solutions that can improve the human experience. What if's fellowship accelerated the trajectory of GetOfframp.com to help parents combat screentivity.…see more

Republican Attorneys General Association

Republican Attorneys General AssociationRepublican Attorneys General Association

3 yrs 11 mos3 yrs 11 mos

Washington D.C. Metro AreaWashington D.C. Metro Area

Executive DirectorExecutive Director

Full-timeFull-time

Dec 2018 - Jan 2021 · 2 yrs 2 mosDec 2018 - Jan 2021 · 2 yrs 2 mos

Oversaw over $20M/year in fundraising and led every vertical to surpass aggressive annual metrics.

Set 9 monthly or quarterly fundraising goals.

Achieved 35% annual revenue growth.

Recruited over 100 new major donors.

Implemented a cost-saving RFP process.

Revamped the communications process with new branding and new collateral.

Spearheaded over 100 policy panels per year featuring AGs, Cabinet Members, Governors, C-Suite Executives, NFL Hall-of-Famers, and Heisman Trophy Winners.

Safely innovated during CoVID as the only national committee to safely hold major in-person gatherings in different states.

Regained the majority by electing the most diverse class in the organization’s history.

Recognized with various national awards including 2 40-under-40 designations.

Oversaw over $20M/year in fundraising and led every vertical to surpass aggressive annual metrics. Set 9 monthly or quarterly fundraising goals. Achieved 35% annual revenue growth. Recruited over 100 new major donors. Implemented a cost-saving RFP process. Revamped the communications process with new branding and new collateral. Spearheaded over 100 policy panels per year featuring AGs, Cabinet Members, Governors, C-Suite Executives, NFL Hall-of-Famers, and Heisman Trophy Winners. Safely innovated during CoVID as the only national committee to safely hold major in-person gatherings in different states. Regained the majority by electing the most diverse class in the organization’s history. Recognized with various national awards including 2 40-under-40 designations.…see more

Policy DirectorPolicy Director

Mar 2017 - Dec 2018 · 1 yr 10 mosMar 2017 - Dec 2018 · 1 yr 10 mos

Created the organization’s first ever General Counsel Summit (annually attracts dozens for Fortune 500 leaders); the first annual Tech Summit, the first national policy trade show, and the nation’s first FinTech programming featuring AGs and their role in regulatory sandboxes.

In 2017 and 2018, curated tech summits included some of the earliest national programs with statewide elected officials focused on blockchain and cryptocurrency.

Doubled the organization’s policy fundraising and quadrupled its policy footprint.

Revamped its policy coordination and built countless coalitions of 20+ states and various national stakeholders.Created the organization’s first ever General Counsel Summit (annually attracts dozens for Fortune 500 leaders); the first annual Tech Summit, the first national policy trade show, and the nation’s first FinTech programming featuring AGs and their role in regulatory sandboxes. In 2017 and 2018, curated tech summits included some of the earliest national programs with statewide elected officials focused on blockchain and cryptocurrency. Doubled the organization’s policy fundraising and quadrupled its policy footprint. Revamped its policy coordination and built countless coalitions of 20+ states and various national stakeholders.…see more

AssociateAssociate

Moultrie AssociatesMoultrie Associates

Jan 2017 - Mar 2017 · 3 mosJan 2017 - Mar 2017 · 3 mos

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EducationEducation

University of South Carolina logo

University of South CarolinaUniversity of South Carolina

B.A., Political ScienceB.A., Political Science

2002 - 20062002 - 2006

Activities and societies: Phi Sigma Kappa, Student Senate, College Republicans, Student Gamecock Club, Student Alumni AssociationActivities and societies: Phi Sigma Kappa, Student Senate, College Republicans, Student Gamecock Club, Student Alumni Association

The Wakefield SchoolThe Wakefield School

Diploma, Classical StudiesDiploma, Classical Studies

1998 - 20021998 - 2002

SkillsSkills

PoliticsPolitics

Endorsed by Allison Cunningham and 5 others who are highly skilled at thisEndorsed by Allison Cunningham and 5 others who are highly skilled at this

Endorsed by 11 colleagues at South Carolina Office of the Attorney GeneralEndorsed by 11 colleagues at South Carolina Office of the Attorney General

99+ endorsements99+ endorsements

Grassroots OrganizingGrassroots Organizing

Endorsed by Chris Godbey who is highly skilled at thisEndorsed by Chris Godbey who is highly skilled at this

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Public RelationsPublic Relations

Endorsed by Drew Johnson and 7 others who are highly skilled at thisEndorsed by Drew Johnson and 7 others who are highly skilled at this

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Chelsie PaulsonChelsie Paulson

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Brand & Social Media SpecialistBrand & Social Media Specialist

July 8, 2011, Chelsie reported directly to AdamJuly 8, 2011, Chelsie reported directly to Adam

I had the privilege to work for Adam under the Alan Wilson for Attorney General Campaign. He is truly one of the most creative, innovative, and well-respected top GOP political strategists in South Carolina.I had the privilege to work for Adam under the Alan Wilson for Attorney General Campaign. He is truly one of the most creative, innovative, and well-respected top GOP political strategists in South Carolina.

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William Earl Capps, PHR, MESHWilliam Earl Capps, PHR, MESH

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Human Resources and Safety Manager in the Charlotte, NC region making good things happen!Human Resources and Safety Manager in the Charlotte, NC region making good things happen!

January 16, 2011, William Earl worked with Adam but they were at different companiesJanuary 16, 2011, William Earl worked with Adam but they were at different companies

Adam is one of the sharpest new faces to jump into the arena of South Carolina politics and government in some time. He's extremely driven to master any challenge and has done so with amazing results in a wide array of situations.Adam is one of the sharpest new faces to jump into the arena of South Carolina politics and government in some time. He's extremely driven to master any challenge and has done so with amazing results in a wide array of situations.

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40 Under 4040 Under 40

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Adam Piper is Executive Director of the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA), where he oversees the organization's efforts to elect and reflect Republican attorneys general across the nation. Piper previously served as RAGA’s Policy Director and as President/Executive Director of its sister organization, the Rule of Law Defense Fund. From January 2011 until January 2017, Piper served in various executive leadership roles in the Office ofSouth Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson,including Executive Director, Executive Chief of Staff, and Senior Policy Advisor.

Prior to joining the Attorney General's Office, Piper successfully managed and worked on campaigns at all levels, including two presidential campaigns. Piper graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He has served as President of the University of South Carolina's Young Alumni Council and on its alumni Board of Governors. Piper and his wife, Meredith Brooks Custer of Wilmington, N.C., reside in Raleigh, N.C. with their daughter, Paige.

https://democraticags.medium.com/republican-attorneys-general-attack-on-democracy-a-timeline-42ac4c3d4e34

NO LNX GFX

Republican Attorneys General Attack on Democracy: A Timeline

Former Republican Attorneys General Association Executive Director Adam Piper says of Republican AGs, “No group of elected officials have been more supportive of President Trump.”

Over the course of 2020 and into 2021, Republican Attorneys General and the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) attacked our democratic institutions and voting rights, and even attempted to overturn the will of the American people in the 2020 Presidential election.

In fact, the more we learn about the deadly attack on January 6, 2021 at the U.S. Capitol, the more we learn about the Republican Attorneys General and the Republican Attorneys General Association’s deep ties to the attack and the campaign to undermine our democracy.

The Republican AGs’ bad behavior is not something new, but as they attempt to deny responsibility and distance themselves from one of the most unpatriotic and darkest days in our nation’s history, it’s important to understand just how coordinated and connected the Republican AGs were to the insurrection.

Here’s a quick overview of what’s included in this blog post:

August — October: Republican AGs attack voting rights and refuse to protect democratic norms.

November — December: Republican AGs try to overturn the results of the election multiple times.

January: Republican AGs and RAGA’s connection to the Jan 6th deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol exposed.

February: Republican AGs continue pushing the lie that the election was stolen from Donald Trump.

Below is a detailed timeline to help illustrate the un-American campaign waged by the Republican Attorneys General and the Republican Attorneys General Association:

AUGUST 2020

Indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues Harris County (largest county) over their plan to send all voters in the county mail-in ballot applications.

SEPTEMBER 2020

Republican Attorneys General and the Republican Attorneys General Association FAIL to combat significant disinformation being put forth by President Trump:

Republican Attorneys General and RAGA do not correct President Trump for telling supporters to “vote twice.”

Republican Attorneys General and RAGA do not correct President Trump for attacking the vote-by-mail process.

Republican Attorneys General do not take action to protect voting rights that came under attack in more than 10 states.

Missouri AG's office had invite to Jan. 5 conference call by group urging Capitol march

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt's office had an invitation to a conference call the day before the deadly…

www.kansascity.com

OCTOBER 2020

Indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton tries to block counties from having more than one ballot drop-off location.

NOVEMBER 2020

Between Election Day and well past November 7 when Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are declared the winners of the 2020 Presidential election, Republican Attorneys General — past and present — were sowing doubt in the election:

November 5: Former Florida Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi holds a press conference with Rudy Giuliani and Corey Lewandowski.

November 5: RAGA tweets “Don’t let #LawlessLiberals corrupt the election process.”

November 5: RAGA tweets “.@RepublicanAGs have boots on the ground in PA, NC, NV, AZ, WI, and MI to defend the rule of law. Don’t let #LawlessLiberals corrupt the process!”

November 6: Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes announces he will take time off to travel to Nevada in search of election fraud.

November 8: Former Nevada Republican Attorney General Adam Laxalt and Chairman of the American Conservative Union Matt Schlapp hold a press conference in Las Vegas, NV.

November 8: Former RAGA Chair West Virginia Republican Attorney General Patrick Morriseytweets “Excited to weigh in with my colleagues at the US Supreme Court about the critical role state legislatures play in setting time, place, and manner restrictions on voting and why the PA Supreme Court cannot usurp that role. The Trump campaign is correct to fight to get this right!”

November 9: Utah Attorney GeneralSean Reyes, after spending a weekend in Nevada, says “voting problems occurred there.”

November 9: RAGA, along with 10 Republican Attorneys General, file an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to throw out legally cast mail-in votes in Pennsylvania.

November 17: Former Nevada Republican Attorney General Adam Laxalt says 15,000 people voted in multiple states.

DECEMBER 2020

More than a month after Joe Biden’s and Kamala Harris’ decisive victory in the 2020 election, Republican Attorneys General continued to take frivolous and unfounded action to sow doubt in the results.

December 8: Former RAGA Chair, indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, files a lawsuit against the states of Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin seeking to overturn the results and throw out the votes of hard working Americans in these battleground states.

December 9: RAGA Vice Chair Missouri Attorney GeneralEric Schmitt leads 16 other Republican Attorneys General in supporting indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s absurd lawsuit. This includes Florida AG Ashley Moody, Kansas AG Derek Schmidt, and South Carolina AG Alan Wilson.

December 9: Republican Attorneys General meet with President Trump at the White House.Attendees include: Indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Former RAGA Chair Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, Former RAGA Chair Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, RAGA Vice Chair Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Chair of RAGA’s Policy Arm — the Rule of Law Defense Fund — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, Chair of RAGA’s Policy Arm — the Rule of Law Defense Fund (RLDF) — meeting with President Donald Trump shortly after Republican Attorneys General file lawsuit to overturn the 2020 election in four battleground states.

December 11: Alaska’s acting Attorney General Ed Sniffen (who has since resigned due to sexual misconduct allegations) announces his support of indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s frivolous lawsuit — bringing the total number of Republican Attorneys General attempting to overturn a free and fair election to 19. Later that day, the U.S. Supreme Court declines indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

JANUARY 2021

With President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration days away, indicted Texas Attorney General and former RAGA Chair Ken Paxton continues to sow doubt around the 2020 election:

January 3: Indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton confirms he will be attending the January 6th event in Washington, D.C. saying, “All Patriots need to be present to stand with President Trump.”

January 4: Indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton continues to promote the “Stop The Steal” rally in Washington, D.C. saying, “Join us in D.C. make this the largest MAGA rally ever.”

January 5: Indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton promotes “Stop The Steal” rally in Washington, D.C. saying, “Looking forward to standing with @realDonaldTrump tomorrow. It’s gonna be HUGE!”

January 5: Indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton retweets an account saying, “Someday they will say that on Jan 6, 2021 “some people did a thing”…those people were Patriots and what they did was save a nation.”

January 5: Reporting by the ALReporter uncovers a meeting at Trump Hotel between RAGA’s Executive Director, Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, members of Trump’s family, and close campaign advisers. PIPER AG MARSHALL?

January 5: Reporting by Documented later uncovers arobocall paid for by RAGA’s policy arm — the Rule of Law Defense Fund (RLDF) — promoting the “Stop The Steal” rally occurs on this day. The robocall says, “At 1:00 p.m., we will march to the Capitol building and call on congress to stop the steal. We are hoping patriots like you will join us to continue to fight.” The same reporting uncovers that RAGA (later changed to RLDF) was listed as a sponsor on the march’s official website.

January 6: Indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the “Stop The Steal” rally in Washington, D.C. telling attendees, “You’ll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength … we will not quit fighting. We’re not quitting.”

January 6: Indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton tweets, “Americans are here in Washington to stand up and support the President. A lot of voters, as well as myself, believe something went wrong in this election. I’m here to support @realDonaldTrump #MarchToSaveAmerica”

After the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol building, indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton falsely tweets, “These are not Trump supporters” and spreads disinformation that “Antifa” was actually the cause for the violence.

January 7: RAGA and Republican Attorneys General attempt to distance themselves from the robocall that promoted the January 6 insurrection saying, “The Republican Attorneys General Association and Rule of Law Defense Fund had no involvement in the planning, sponsoring, or the organization of yesterday’s rally,” which is quickly dismissed.

January 8: RLDF Chair Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall indicates he will lead an internal review of how RAGA/RLDF became affiliated with the Jan 6 insurrection. More than one month later, they remain silent.

January 11: RAGA’s Executive Director [REYES?] resigns from the Republican Attorneys General Association without taking responsibility and refuses to address their support of the rally turned deadly insurrection. This includes RLDF Chair Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall saying, “Every decision Adam made on behalf of RLDF was with the best of intentions and with the organization’s best interests in mind.”

January 21: The New York Times reports that a RAGA/RLDF “donor had demanded [the robocall] and made a contribution contingent upon its release.”

January 31: The New York Times reports that Trump’s legal team drafted the lawsuit indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton would eventually bring against Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin in an attempt to overturn their results and thus give the election to President Trump.

FEBRUARY 2021

More than 40 days after the deadly attack at the U.S. Capitol, and more than three months since the 2020 Presidential election results were known, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita continues to spread disinformation around the results of the election.

Republican Attorney General and RAGA behavior during the 2020 election was par for the course for a group of election officials who jumped off the deep end following the 2018 Midterms elections. From flirting with QAnon, to promoting COVID-19 scams, to attempting to overturn a free and fair election, the top legal officers and law enforcement officials of the so-called party of “law and order” are now legally and morally bankrupt.

RAGA Chair (and former Vice Chair) Chris Carr refuses to take responsibility and refuses to acknowledge any wrongdoing by the organization he leads — and has been a leader of for years.

In 2022, there are more than 30 state AG seats on the map including many of the same Republican AGs who drove distrust in our democracy and supported the events on January 6, 2021 that led to a deadly attack.

More from Democratic Attorneys General Association

DAGA elects and supports Democratic Attorneys General. We fight for them, so they can fight for you.

Jan 22, 2021

Republican Attorneys General Under Pressure to Address Ties to January 6 Attack on the Capitol

In case you missed it, the policy arm of the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) — known as the Rule of Law Defense Fund (RLDF) —

A Powerful Republican Ally

On Jan. 5, Proud Boys and other extremists, including white supremacists on the FBI’s terrorist watchlist, flooded into Washington. Stone was spotted with an Oath Keepers security detail. That morning, Alexander tweeted that he was considering issuing an order to supporters to “occupy DC” until a “negotiated settlement” could be reached. “Stand back & stand by!” he tweeted.

A robocall went out that day encouraging “patriots” to march to the Capitol at 1 p.m. the following afternoon to “stop the steal.” The recording, unearthed by the watchdog group Documented, was paid for by the Rule of Law Defense Fund, a fundraising arm of the Republican Attorneys General Association.

RAGA, a national organization for Republican state attorneys general, is financed by big corporations and Republican megadonors, none more significant than Koch Industries, which in 2020 gave the group $375,000, according to IRS 527 filings reviewed by Documented. As a 501(c)(4) “social welfare” organization, RLDF can hide its donors. But it, too, is funded by Koch-backed organizations and other right-wing dark money groups. One of these donors demanded that the “March to Save America” robocall go out and made a contribution “contingent” upon its release, according to The New York Times.

In the months leading up to the Capitol attack,RAGA had also put out a series of propaganda videos that demonized racial justice protesters and liberals. One video used Soviet-style imagery to portray Democratic leaders in Congress as communist subversives. In official statements, RAGA said the political left was on a “mission to burn America down” and that a Biden-Harris administration would “destroy” the country. “JOIN THE FIGHT!” urged the Republican attorneys general.

It was, perhaps, no coincidence that the RAGA chairman in 2020 was Landry, the tea partier whose connection to Alexander went back at least to 2014, and the Black Conservative Fund’s “sting” on Mary Landrieu.

The two appeared to have stayed in touch.When Ken Paxton, the Republican attorney general of Texas, sued on Dec. 8 to block battleground states won by Biden from submitting their Electoral College votes, Alexander tweeted that “Some of us are hard at work behind the scenes too.” He mentioned only one name.

“I just thanked my friend @jefflandry,” he tweeted, using Landry’s personal Twitter handle.

Alexander seemed to have inside knowledge of RAGA’s plans. He noted that no “procedural vehicle” existed yet for other states to join Paxton’s suit but that an amicus brief was on its way. Sure enough, Landry and 16 other Republican attorneys general filed the brief on Dec. 9 in support of Paxton’s sham lawsuit. A day later, Landry signed on to the lawsuit in a motion to intervene that misspelled his own state’s name.

Landry shared some of Alexander’s extreme views. In RAGA statements and op-eds, the Louisiana attorney general warned of a “radical takeover” by Biden and Harris ― RAGA’s race-baiting propaganda focused heavily on America’s first Black, Asian and female vice president ― that would leave the nation “lawless, socialist, and jobless.” Landry wrote about “charging to the frontlines in order to save and defend America.”

Landry declined to answer any questions about his connection to Alexander. His spokesman, Cory Dennis, emailed HuffPost a one-line response: “The [Louisiana] Attorney General had no prior knowledge of, nor participated in, the robo call’s planning or execution.”

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry at a Jan. 22, 2020, news conference where it was announced that Republican attorneys general from 21 states submitted a letter to the Senate to reject the two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. ]

But RLDF’s involvement in the violent Jan. 6 protest was undeniable. The robocall mentioned a “March to Save America” website that Alexander highlighted in his Twitter profile and that listed 11 participating organizations. Three tied directly to Alexander: Stop the Steal, Wild Protest and the Black Conservatives Fund. The rest belonged to his partners. RAGA was the most troubling participant ― originally listed on the site before the more obscure RLDF was swapped in.

RAGA’s executive director at the time, Adam Piper, appears to have been acquainted with Alexander for more than a decade. Piper’s Twitter timeline, which is filled with years of anti-Obama rhetoric, shows him replying casually to Alexander and promoting the Republican operative’s account from 2009 to 2020. They both attended CPAC in 2009, when Alexander was making a name for himself as a tea party activist, and perhaps met there. Starting in early 2009, Piper also tweeted rabidly using #tcot, a tea party hashtag that allowed the nativist movement to organize and propagandize on Twitter, a precursor to the authoritarian MAGA network that coalesced around Trump on the platform in 2016.

At RAGA, Piper issued his own incendiary statements. On Election Day, he promised that a failure to thwart Biden and Harris would result in “complete annihilation.” In a press release two weeks later, he relied on selectively edited video of a street fight during Alexander’s November rally in Washington to suggest that “antifa” would run the United States if Harris and New York Democrat Chuck Schumer were allowed to take control of the Senate.

Piper, who did not respond to requests for comment, also “spearheaded” RLDF. After the revelation of the robocall, he insisted that RLDF and RAGA had “no involvement in the planning, sponsoring, or the organization” of the Jan. 6 rally. Five days later, he resigned without explanation.

Prior to the rally, Alexander had been in direct contact with Trump insider Caroline Wren, a top Republican fundraiser and former deputy to Kimberly Guilfoyle, Trump Jr.’s girlfriend and the former national chair of Trump Victory, the joint fundraising committee for Trump’s reelection campaign. Wren had previously served as the national finance director of Trump Victory and the finance director for Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.). She had access to a deep pool of Republican dark money, bushels of which had flowed to hard-right candidates and organizations. To cite one example, Citizens for a Working America, a mysterious PAC, had paid Wren’s fundraising business handsomely in the past and, in 2012, spent almost $165,000 on behalf of Landry’s unsuccessful House reelection effort. In fiscal year 2018, the same PAC gave $930,000 to RAGA.

Wren “played a central role in bringing together the disparate group of activists planning events on Jan. 6,” according to The Wall Street Journal. She reportedly even suggested to Alexander that he reschedule his Wild Protest at the Capitol for 1 p.m. When contacted by HuffPost on Feb. 27, Wren requested that questions be emailed to her. She never responded to them.

In an appearance on Alex Jones’ show, however, Alexander offered a narrative about how the Jan. 6 megarally came together that supported The Wall Street Journal’s account.

“We were going to start at 9 or 10 a.m., and we were going to have 30 members of Congress with us. When the Trump campaign called and said, ‘Let’s combine all the events,’” Alexander said on the show. “They were like, ‘The president doesn’t want to stomp on your grassroots effort. What can we do for you?’”

On the morning of the insurrection, Alexander went on SiriusXM’s Breitbart News Daily show to promote his Wild Protest one last time. The guest host that day was his Stop the Steal partner, Ed Martin. Alexander told Martin about another, more recent, call he said he’d received from the Trump inner circle.

“[Trump]’s in fighter mode, and today will determine which Republicans are going to suffer his wrath going forward,” Alexander explained. “I got a call last night from Kimberly Guilfoyle, and none of us are stopping. I know you’re not stopping, Ed. I’m not stopping. StoptheSteal.us is not stopping. The family is not stopping.”

Guilfoyle did not respond to a request for comment left via a cellphone linked to her name, or to questions HuffPost emailed to her through Alexandra Preate, a public relations executive and longtime friend who has also served as Steve Bannon’s spokeswoman.

The Aftermath

After the Capitol riot, the Stop the Steal team came undone. Martin, Posobiec and Gaetz spread disinformation about antifa causing the violence. Arizona Reps. Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar reportedly solicited preemptive presidential pardons. Charlie Kirk, who’d talked about “building up the infantry” and bringing in 80 busloads of protesters to “fight for this president,” held an excuse-laden press conference, his voice cracking. Numerous members of the Proud Boys were arrested, and the neo-fascist gang landed on Canada’s list of designated terrorist entities.

Alexander’s movement had helped upend the peaceful transfer of power for the first time since the Civil War. He reportedly went into hiding, claiming antifa was after him. Tech companies had finally started to deplatform him, which he likened to dying. “They got this close to having Ali Alexander commit suicide,” he said. But he managed to keep squeezing out livestreams. Four days after the insurrection, he broadcast from inside a vehicle rolling through the dark toward an undisclosed location. The next day, wearing the same clothes, he streamed from inside a building.He was the true victim here, he insisted. He compared himself to Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. He compared himself to Jesus Christ.

“I had to be crucified from social media in order for social media to end,” he said. “And I will fucking end social media.”

Alexander barely acknowledged the Trump supporters who died in the Capitol attack. His soliloquies focused on him, his plight, his need for money. He claimed his life was in danger and that he required funds to pay his security team ― the same apparent ruse he’d used with Loomer and Wohl in Minneapolis. Over and over, he promoted his page on GiveSendGo.com, a Christian crowdfunding platform used by many far-right extremists. At first, Alexander wanted $40,000. The next day, he demanded $100,000, so he could “open Pandora’s box.” If he didn’t get the money, he said, “we’ll all die.” (He raised over $30,000 on GiveSendGo.)

When HuffPost contacted Alexander on Jan. 19 with an interview request, he refused to talk and accused this reporter of stalking, harassing and bullying him. “Find God,” he said. “God bless.”

A few hours later, he posted a new video on his Stop the Steal site asking for money. “Stop the Steal will not stop!” he vowed on Gab, a social media network favored by neo-Nazis.

Alexander had more rallies planned for March. He was targeting indoor venues in Michigan, Arizona, Georgia and Texas. He talked about creating a new society exclusively for Trump supporters, about building MAGA megacities in the U.S. and South America, places where liberals would not be welcome.He wanted to “make lists” of his enemies. The only outcome left, he said, was “Civil War.”

“I’ve been licking my wounds but I’ve been plotting. I’ve been planning. I’ve been scheming,” Alexander told his followers. “Because we have to do away with this whole system.”

He craved revenge.

“The government outta be deathly afraid of us,” he said. “When I am ready … I will unleash a legion of angels to bring hell to our enemies. So rest assured in this, you know, the Lord says vengeance is his. And I pray that I am the tool to stab these motherfuckers.”

Fifteen years of activism ― of radicalization ― had honed him into a weapon. He was still a party man. It just happened to be Trump’s party now.

This piece has been updated to provide further clarity about O’Keefe’s illegal entry into Sen. Landrieu’s office in 2010.

https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2021/05/04/more-staff-flee-gop-attorneys-general-group-after-it-doubles-down-on-insurrection/

david a

The staff and leadership exodus at the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) continues to grow in the wake of the group’s decision to promote Peter Bisbee, who was responsible for generating robocalls to turn people out for the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, to be the group’s new executive director.

In an Apr. 25 email obtained by the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), RAGA’s director of operations, Jason Heath,writes, “After 8 years of service, I am writing to inform you that I have made the difficult decision to resign as RAGA’s Director of Operations. I respect your votes, but the direction is not one I can honestly stand behind.”

Heath had been working for RAGA since it broke off from the Republic State Leadership Committee in 2014.

Heath’s departure comes on the heels of the sudden resignation of Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr as RAGA’s chair over Bisbee’s selection, citing “a significant difference of opinion…as to the direction this organization should take going forward” and “vastly opposite views of the significance of the events of January 6.”

Bisbee was formerly the head of RAGA’s sister organization, the Rule of Law Defense Fund (RLDF), and was responsible for sending out robocalls encouraging supporters to “march to the Capitol and call on Congress to stop the steal” days prior to the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol invasion.

Other RAGA staff have quit over Bisbee’s selection as well. On April 22, the Alabama Political Reporter published a resignation letter sent to Republican attorneys general from Ashley Trenzeluk, RAGA’s finance directorstating that,

As RLDF Executive Director, Pete Bisbee approved the robocall expenditure, and was the only other person accountable for RLDF involvement in the January 6 events. Over the last few months, I have fielded, reassured and assuaged concerns from our core donor base on the future direction of our organization. The result of the executive committee vote to nominate Pete as RAGA’s Executive Director is a decision I cannot defend.

Bisbee replaced Adam Piper, who resigned a week after the violent events unfolded at the Capitol and the story broke about RAGA’s involvement. Before his resignation, Piper was adamant that RAGA and RLDF had no role in the insurrection.

At least one other GOP attorney general has signaled discomfort with RAGA’s direction following the insurrection. in a Jan. 11 email obtained by CMD, Idaho’s Chief Deputy Attorney General Brian Kane writes that “Idaho will not be participating in any RLDF activities until further notice,” and any participation in RAGA will be “subject to the approval of Attorney General Wasden.”

Carr has been replaced as RAGA’s chair by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, a strong Trump supporter. Schmitt received an invitation for an RLDF conference call with Bisbee on Jan. 5, but has not confirmed if he was on the call.

“Attorney General Schmitt absolutely had no knowledge of or involvement in the robocall, and condemns the violence that took place on [Jan. 6] in the strongest possible terms, period,” Schmitt spokesman Chris Nuelle said in a statement.

Schmitt undeniably worked hard for Trump in trying to prove that voter fraud led to Biden’s victory in November. On Nov. 9, nine Republican AGs joined Schmitt in filing an:{ :(style="box-sizing:inherit"):}:*:{amicus brief:(style="box-sizing:inherit"):}:* with the U.S. Supreme Court in a case challenging Pennsylvania’s vote-by-mail ballots.

Schmitt also joined Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s controversial suit against Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin in the U.S. Supreme Court, challenging those states’ election law changes as unconstitutional. That case was dismissed.

Paxton, also a co-chair of Lawyers for Trump, was a speaker at the Jan. 6 rally preceding the violent events at the Capitol, where he told the crowd, “We will not quit fighting.”

Schmitt’s Solicitor General John Sauer registered for a “Senior Staff Summit” organized by RLDF on Sept. 23 and 24, where it held “war games” to map out post-election strategies if Trump lost.

Piper emailed on Sept. 24, “WAR GAMES – 32 AG Staff Members are huddled in Atlanta for a series of conversations planning for what could come if we lose the White House.”

Piper also huddled the night of Jan. 5 at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. in Trump’s “private residence” with Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Peter Navarro, Corey Lewandowski, Michael Flynn, and others.

RAGA, RLDF, its members, and donors will be forever tied to the Jan. 6 insurrection, especially now that they have apparently doubled down on fanning the flames of Trump’s Big Lie.

DAGA

NEW EMAILS SHOW REPUBLICAN AGs ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY PLANNED FOR MONTHS

In case you missed it, as part of a report by a Missouri organization called “Take Back Missouri” new emails released via a public records request uncovered alarming planning meetings by the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA), its policy arm the Rule of Law Defense Fund (RLDF), and Republican Attorneys General to attack our country’s democratic institutions.

According to :{reporting:(style="box-sizing:inherit"):}: by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, there was a two-day summit in Atlanta, Georgia at the end of September ahead of the 2020 election. The meeting, which occurred in-person, consisted of more than 30 senior staff members from Republican Attorneys General office from across the country, 12 senior staffers attending virtually, and high-ranking staff from RAGA. It was described by former RAGA Executive Director as, “WAR GAMES.”

In the first email to Republican AGs on September 24^th RAGA’s then Executive Director described the summit as, “WAR GAMES – 32 AG Staff Members are huddled in Atlanta for a series of conversations planning for what could come if we lose the White House.”
In the second email to Republican AGs on September 25^th– which noted an increase in attendance – RAGA’s then Executive Director wrote, “Thank you to the 30+ AG Staff members who came the Atlanta and the other 12 who participated virtually. It was a fast paced, productive series of war games, which hopefully will not have to be utilized in November.”

This new information comes as Republican Attorneys General continue to deny that they, their senior staff, or RAGA staff knew about the sponsorship of – and robocalls to :{promote:(style="box-sizing:inherit"):}: – the January 6^{th “rally,}” that resulted in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and lives lost. In fact, once again RAGA and RLDF refused to answer questions when pressed by reporters.

What is becoming clear though is the Republican AGs defense of not knowing what RLDF/RAGA was up to regarding the attacks on the election – including the January 6^th rally turned deadly insurrection – is crumbling.

With more than 30 state Attorneys General races on the ballot in 2022, voters deserve to know the role their state’s Republican Attorney General played in attacking our democracy and undermining a free and fair election, including support of the deadly insurrection on January 6^th.

For more on RAGA and Republican AGs involvement in the January 6^th rally turned deadly insurrection and the numerous attacks on our country’s democratic institutions these last 6+ months, check out the timeline :{here:(style="box-sizing:inherit"):}:.

https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2021/05/04/more-staff-flee-gop-attorneys-general-group-after-it-doubles-down-on-insurrection/

david a

[docs]

Heath had been working for RAGA since it broke off from the Republic State Leadership Committee in 2014.

As RLDF Executive Director, Pete Bisbee approved the robocall expenditure, and was the only other person accountable for RLDF involvement in the January 6 events. Over the last few months, I have fielded, reassured and assuaged concerns from our core donor base on the future direction of our organization. The result of the executive committee vote to nominate Pete as RAGA’s Executive Director is a decision I cannot defend.

Paxton, also a co-chair of Lawyers for Trump, was a speaker at the Jan. 6 rally preceding the violent events at the Capitol, where he told the crowd, “We will not quit fighting.”

Piper emailed on Sept. 24, “WAR GAMES – 32 AG Staff Members are huddled in Atlanta for a series of conversations planning for what could come if we lose the White House.”

RAGA, RLDF, its members, and donors will be forever tied to the Jan. 6 insurrection, especially now that they have apparently doubled down on fanning the flames of Trump’s Big Lie.

https://www.alreporter.com/2021/01/26/trump-appointee-says-tuberville-raga-director-met-with-trump-family-top-advisors-on-eve-of-capitol-attack/

no lnx

lAST UPDATED ON JANUARY 27, 2021,

Update: Sen. Tommy Tuberville, through a spokeswoman, denied attending the Jan. 5 meeting. Facebook and Instagram posts appear to tell a different story.

The night before the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol, Alabama Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville and the then-director of the Republican Attorneys General Association met with then-President Donald Trump’s sons and close advisers, according to a social media post by a Nebraska Republican who at the time was a Trump administration appointee.

Charles W. Herbster, who was then the national chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Advisory Committee in Trump’s administration, in a Facebook post at 8:33 p.m. on Jan. 5 said that he was standing “in the private residence of the President at Trump International with the following patriots who are joining me in a battle for justice and truth.”

Tuberville, through a spokeswoman Tuesday, told APR that he did not attend a Jan. 5 meeting at the Trump International Hotel in Washington.

Among the attendees, according to Herbster’s post, were Tuberville, former RAGA director Adam Piper, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Trump’s former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, adviser Peter Navarro, Trump’s 2016 campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and 2016 deputy campaign manager David Bossie.

RAGA’s dark-money fundraising arm, theRule of Law Defense Fund, led by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, paid for robocalls directing people to the March to Save America and rally, which took place just before the Capitol attack.

Herbster attended the Jan. 6 rally, but said he left before the riot, according to the Omaha World-Herald. The newspaper also reported that Herbster “also met Tuesday in Trump’s private residence in his Washington, D.C., hotel with Trump’s sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, and other campaign advisers.”

“They discussed how to pressure more members of Congress to object to the Electoral College results that made Joe Biden the winner,” The Omaha World-Herald reported.

Flynn earlier on Jan. 5 spoke at a rally of pro-Trump supporters in support of Trump’s baseless claims of widespread election fraud.

“We stand at a crucible moment in United States history. This country is awake now,” Flynn told the crowd, according to numerous news outlets.

Congressman Mo Brooks, R-Alabama, spoke at the rally prior to the Capitol attack, telling the crowd: “Today is the day that American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass.” Right-wing political activist and an organizer of the Jan. 6 “Stop the Steal” rally, Ali Alexander, in videos posted on social media claimed that Brooks was involved in the planning of the rally that day, meant to pressure lawmakers inside the Capitol as they prepared to vote on certifying the Electoral College votes.

The Jan. 5 meeting, as discussed in the Facebook post, was first reported by journalist Seth Abramson on Tuesday. Abramson in his article states that it’s unclear if Trump himself attended the Jan. 5 meeting at his hotel.

“I’ve dedicated my life to promoting and preserving the American Dream. Tonight, as I look at our nation’s flag, I’m reminded of the battles and blood spilled to protect our way of life,” Herbster wrote in his post:

In numerous photos posted to his Facebook page in the months prior to the Jan. 5 meeting, Herbster can be seen posing with Trump and Trump’s sons and close advisors.

APR sent questions to a Tuberville spokesperson asking whether the senator had attended a Jan. 5 meeting with Trump, Piper and others at his hotel, and if so, why was he called to the meeting and what was discussed. The Tuberville spokeswoman replied in an email: “the answers to your questions are No and Not Applicable.” Attempts to contact Herbster on Tuesday were unsuccessful.

As pro-Trump supporters, far-right groups and militia members were breaking into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, Trump and his attorney Rudy Giuliani both mistakenly called Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah while trying to call Tuberville, according to multiple news accounts, a recording of a voicemail message by Giuliani left for Tuberville and statements by Lee.

In the recorded voicemail message mistakenly left on Lee’s phone, first reported by The Dispatch, Giuliani asks Tuberville to stall the counting of electoral votes.

“I want to discuss with you how they’re trying to rush this hearing and how we need you, our Republican friends, to try to just slow it down so we can get these legislatures to get more information to you,” Giuliani said in a voicemail.

Piper resigned as director of RAGA on Jan. 12 following much public scrutiny over robocalls paid for by the Rule of Law Defense Fund.

“Every decision Adam made on behalf of RLDF was with the best of intentions and with the organization’s best interests in mind,” Marshall said in a statement at the time. “Adam leaves a void that will be difficult to replace, but we wish Adam well as he pursues other opportunities that will allow him to spend more time with his family.”

Marshall has not publicly said why Piper resigned. Attempts to reach Piper for comment Tuesday were not successful.

RLDF was listed as a participating organization for the Jan. 6 “March to Save America” on the march’s website. The website is now down, but archived versions show RLDF as a participating group. Prior to the protest, RLDF sent out robocalls detailing when and where citizens should meet for the Jan. 6 rally, which was first reported by the watchdog investigative journalism group Documented.

“I’m calling for the Rule of Law Defense Fund with an important message,” the robocall stated, according to Documented. “The march to save America is tomorrow in Washington D.C. at the Ellipse in President’s Park between E St. and Constitution Avenue on the south side of the White House, with doors opening at 7:00 a.m. At 1:00 p.m., we will march to the Capitol building and call on Congress to stop the steal. We are hoping patriots like you will join us to continue to fight to protect the integrity of our elections. For more information, visit MarchtoSaveAmerica.com. This call is paid for and authorized by the Rule of Law Defense Fund, 202-796-5838.”

“Serving Republican attorneys general has been the honor of a lifetime and honestly a dream job,” Piper said in a statement on his resignation, according to the Associated Press.

In a statement to APR on Jan. 7, after APR’s story on the matter had published earlier that day, Piper said neither RAGA nor RLDF was involved with the planning of the rally and seemed to place the blame on staff.

“The Republican Attorneys General Association and Rule of Law Defense Fund had no involvement in the planning, sponsoring, or the organization of yesterday’s rally,” Piper said in the statement at the time. “No Republican AG authorized the staff’s decision to amplify a colleague speaking at the rally. Organizationally and individually, we strongly condemn and disavow the events which occurred. Yesterday was a dark day in American history and those involved in the violence and destruction of property must be prosecuted and held accountable.”

Marshall, in a statement to APR on Jan. 8, blamed unnamed RLDF staff and said he was not aware of his organization’s involvement:

“I was unaware of unauthorized decisions made by RLDF staff with regard to this week’s rally. Despite currently transitioning into my role as the newly elected chairman of RLDF, it is unacceptable that I was neither consulted about nor informed of those decisions. I have directed an internal review of this matter. As I said yesterday, I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the actions of those who attempted to storm the U.S. Capitol, a place where passionate but peaceful protestors had gathered and lawmakers debated inside. Our country is built upon the foundation of the rule of law. American democracy guarantees the right of peaceful protest. Those who chose to engage in violence and anarchy should and will be held accountable under the law.”

Marshall, speaking to The Montgomery Advertiser on Jan. 12, after a press conference on human trafficking and before Piper’s resignation was announced, said the internal review was ongoing. Asked by the Advertiser whether he felt Trump bore any responsibility for the violence at the Capitol on Wednesday, and for comment on Trump’s potential impeachment, Marshall declined to comment.

“I didn’t see anything about the rally,” Marshall said, according to the newspaper. “I don’t know anything about his remarks.”

APR’s questions to Marshall’s office Tuesday about the status of Marshall’s investigation into the matter, and whether he has learned of Piper’s possible attendance at that Jan. 5 meeting, weren’t immediately answered.

Have a question or a scoop? Send us a tip. We'll track it down.

In this article:Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, Featured, Former President Donald Trump, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, U.S. Capitol attack

WRITTEN BY

Eddie Burkhalter is a reporter at the Alabama Political Reporter. You can email him at eburkhalter@alreporter.com or reach him via Twitter.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/571725-gop-ag-offshoot-group-held-war-games-prep-before-trump-loss/

the policy arm of the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) reportedly held a two-day “war games”

meeting in September 2020 to discuss strategies in the event that Trumpwas not reelected.

The Rule of Law Defense Fund held an in-person event in Atlanta, Ga., amid a series of other weekly calls and virtual meetings to discuss overall strategy, according to emails made public this year, according to The Associated Press Friday.

The documents were acquired by a transparency group that filed a records request.

In a Sept. 24 email from RAGA’s then-Executive Director Adam Piper addressed to “Generals,” the “war games” meeting included 32 staff members who met “for a series of conversations planning for what could come if we lose the White House.”

In an email the following day, Piper wrote that the event “was a fast paced, productive series ofwar games, which hopefully will not have to be utilized in November.”

According to the emails, the group held a Zoom “strategy session” eight days after the November 2020 election.They also discussed immigration policy in a Dec. 1 call, according to the AP.

RAGA spokesperson Johnny Koremenos said in a Thursday statement to the AP that the September 2020 meeting was “strictly focused on administrative law and preparing attorneys general teams for a potential Biden Administration or a second term of President Trump— common practice in an election season.”

The Hill has reached out to RAGA for further comment.

The release of the electronic communications comes after RAGA and the Defense Fund attracted widespread scrutiny and backlash after it was revealed that the policy wing sent out a robocall to supporters a day before the Jan. 6 riot urging them to attend the pro-Trump rally that preceded the violence at the Capitol building.

The call, which was first reported by :{the investigative organization Documented:(style="box-sizing:border-box"):}:, told Trump supporters, “At 1 p.m., we will march to the Capitol building and call on Congress to stop the steal.”

“We are hoping patriots like you will join us to continue to fight to protect the integrity of our elections,” the message added.

The incident prompted a wave of resignations in the organization, including Piper himself, who stepped down just days after the insurrection.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr (R) stepped down as RAGA’s chairman in April, citing a “significant difference of opinion” with the strategic direction of the group.

Carr said that the robocall went out without his knowledge or approval.

The head of the Defense Fund, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, also stated that the robocalls were made without his knowledge, though the operative who did approve the calls, Peter Bisbee, was named RAGA’s new executive director earlier this year.

TAGS 2020 ELECTION CAPITOL RIOT DONALD TRUMP REPUBLICAN ATTORNEYS GENERAL ASSOCIATION RULE OF LAW DEFENSE FUND THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TRUMP TRUMP ELECTION CLAIMS

https://www.salon.com/2022/06/06/whitehouse-dark-money/

no lnx in orig relev to piper]

September 2020, a dark-money group called the Rule of Law Defense Fund convened a meeting in Atlanta of staffers from the fund's corporate sibling, the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA). Their purpose was to run "war games," to be ready in the event Donald Trump lost reelection in November. A little over three months later, the same group would help to assemble the mob before the White House on Jan. 6, 2021.

This wasn't an isolated incident. Shadowy preparations like these began long before the violence of Jan. 6. As the House Select Committee investigating those events begins hearings this week, we may learn much more about those preparations and the people behind them.

RELATED: The Jan. 6 committee hearings are finally here — and Republicans are running scared

But it will be difficult to see the full picture, because much of the preparation is shrouded in dark-money secrecy, with funds channeled through front groups that don't have to disclose who controls them.

For now, we're left with mysteries, like Georgia. It was Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger whom Trump personally pressured to "find" the 11,779 votes necessary to flip the state in Trump's favor. Georgia was ground zero for some of Trump's lawyers' most desperate and ridiculous legal claims about the election results — like the "Kraken" suit alleging a role by the deceased Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chávez in rigging Dominion voting machines. Georgia is where the Rule of Law Defense Fund hatched its scheme. Georgia also saw efforts to create an alternative slate of Trump electors.

Then came the attempt to wield the power of the Justice Department to attack Georgia's election results. For this mission, someone cranked up Jeffrey Clark, a relative unknown who was acting chief of the Department's Civil Division as a result of pre-election DOJ vacancies. Clark prepared a draft letter alleging, falsely, that the department was investigating accusations of voter fraud in Georgia. Of course, we don't know if Clark actually wrote that letter himself; he had no expertise in this area, and evidence suggests the White House communications office was involved. Either way, on New Year's Eve 2020, Trump tried to install Clark as acting attorney general, until then-acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and his deputies threatened mass resignation.

As the Georgia maneuvers foundered, the effort shifted to Washington. The Rule of Law Defense Fund — the same group convened in Atlanta months earlier — made robocalls hours before Jan. 6 urging followers to "march to the Capitol building and call on Congress to stop the steal." President Trump whipped up insurrectionists at the rally and sent them down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol. Violence ensued.

In the aftermath, many of these actors were quick to close ranks. RAGA's leader, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, claims to have had no knowledge of the robocall, but he also refuses — to this day — to admit that Joe Biden is the "duly elected and lawfully serving" president of the United States. At the end of the Trump administration, Clark landed a job at a right-wing dark money group.

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Given the anonymity dark money affords, we likely cannot connect all the dots between these dark-money groups, Trump's Georgia obsession and the Jan. 6 riots. We don't know who paid for the planning of the Rule of Law Defense Fund's "war games";we don't know how Jeffrey Clark nearly vaulted into the attorney general's office to attack Georgia's election results, where his letter came from or who paid his salary when he was gone; we don't know who was behind groups like Women for America First, which footed much of the bill for the Jan. 6 rally.

We don't know who was behind secret pro-Trump "war games" or how Jeffrey Clark nearly vaulted into the attorney general's office or who was behind the groups that paid for the Jan. 6 rally.

Successful investigations often "follow the money." But when the money flows through anonymizing channels, investigators hit impenetrable dead ends. The select committee must rely instead on texts, emails, testimony and other documents to make its case. It doesn't have to be this way. Our political system doesn't need to aid and abet the destruction of our democracy.

For starters, we could enforce the rules on the books. Groups like the Rule of Law Defense Fund and Women for America First are 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations. As such, they do not have to disclose their donors, but they are also not allowed to spend more than half their funds on political activity. Is anyone checking compliance with those rules?

Spending reports from 501(c)(4) groups to the IRS can differ markedly from what they report to the Federal Elections Commission. Filing conflicting reports to two federal agencies meets the prima facie definition of a criminal false statement. There is adequate predication for the Treasury Department, the FEC and the Department of Justice to take a look. Have they?

Although dark-money groups can hide their influence apparatus from the IRS and the public, nothing says that grand juries can't get access to that information. In the Watergate investigation, courts decided that even executive privilege had to yield to grand jury investigative subpoenas. But investigators won't get what they don't ask for — or don't subpoena.

The strongest solution is to require disclosure of who spends to influence our politics. My DISCLOSE Act would require groups that spend money in elections — including super PACs and 501(c)(4) dark-money groups — to disclose donors who gave $10,000 or more during an election cycle. Pass this law and the American people might find out who funded the Jan. 6 insurrection.

The dark channels of influence that have corrupted our politics for years were used to plan and execute the Jan. 6 coup attempt. The American people ought to know who the planners are and what they wanted — and we ought to help them find out.

Read more on the Jan. 6 House committee and its upcoming hearings:

House coup plotters stand firm — but DOJ and the Jan. 6 committee are closing in

No country for insurrectionists: Will the Republican traitors finally face the music?

Do the Democrats know how to fight? Jan. 6 committee signals it's still scared of Trump

SEN. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE

Sheldon Whitehouse is a Democratic U.S. senator from Rhode Island.

GOP AG offshoot group held 'war games' prep before Trump loss

https://thehill.com › homenews › campaign › 571725-g...

Sep 10, 2021 — The policy arm of the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) reportedly held a two-day “war games” meeting in September 2020 to ...

Missing: rolf ‎| Must include: rolf

How dark money fueled the Jan. 6 insurrection - Salon.com

https://www.salon.com › whitehouse-dark-money

Jun 6, 2022 — In September 2020, a dark-money group called the Rule of Law Defense Fund convened a meeting in Atlanta of staffers from the fund's ...

Missing: 24 ‎rolf

ICYMI: RAGA & REPUBLICAN ATTORNEYS GENERAL ...

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Feb 26, 2021 — NEW EMAILS SHOW REPUBLICAN AGs ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY PLANNED FOR MONTHS. In case you missed it, as part of a report by a Missouri organization ...

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GOP group held 'war games' for state AGs before Trump loss

https://apnews.com › article

Sep 10, 2021 — TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An offshoot of the Republican Attorneys General Association that sent a robocall urging “patriots” to support ...

Missing: rolf ‎| Must include: rolf

GOP group held 'war games' for state AGs before Trump loss

https://abcnews.go.com › Politics › wireStory › gop-gro...

Sep 10, 2021 — An offshoot of the Republican Attorneys General Association held a special meeting weeks before the election to discuss its strategies if ...

Missing: rolf ‎| Must include: rolf

Rule of Law Defense Fund - InfluenceWatch

https://www.influencewatch.org › non-profit › rule-of-l...

The Rule of Law Defense Fund (RLDF) is a right-of-center advocacy organization affiliated with the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA).

Missing: war ‎games ‎atlanta ‎rolf ‎september

Rule of Law Defense Fund - SourceWatch

https://www.sourcewatch.org › index.php › Rule_of_La...

According to its website, RLDF's mission is to "provide a forum for conservative attorneys general and their staff to study, discuss, and engage on important ...

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GOP group held 'war games' to plan for possible Trump loss in ...

https://www.yahoo.com › entertainment › gop-group-h...

Sep 10, 2021 — A Republican attorneys general group reportedly held a two-day "war games" event to plan strategies for a Donald Trump election loss in 2020 ...

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