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<div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">see parscale campaign</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">see diry tricks trump coup</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">an 12 22</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4" /><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">no lnx docs</font></div><div><b>'They will ruin my life': January 6th panel publishes additional testimony from Cassidy Hutchinson</b></div><div>
</div><div>Brandi Buchman and&nbsp;<b>Daily Kos&nbsp;</b>Staff December 22, 2022</div><div>&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div>On Thursday, the Jan. 6 committee published two transcripts from its extensive interviews with Cassidy Hutchinson, the former Trump White House aide who offered some of the most damning and explosive testimony to emerge from the 18-month probe of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.</div><div>
</div><div>When she appeared publicly before the committee this summer, Hutchinson recounted how former President Donald Trump waved off warnings from his security detail about armed people in the crowd and urged that they be allowed to pass through metal detectors unmolested. She revealed learning about how Trump had lunged at the neck of his own Secret Service agent when his request to be ferried to the Capitol after the speech at the Ellipse was denied.&nbsp;<b>She recalled the secrecy of her boss, former chief of staff Mark Meadows, who allegedly burned paperwork after a meeting with Rep. Scott Perry, an outspoken advocate of Trump’s Big Lie.</b></div><div>
</div><div>Hutchinson’s testimony was an embarrassment of riches for the committee, filling in blank spots left open by less-than-cooperative Trump White House officials. But the transcripts released Thursday also&nbsp;<b>illuminate the huge pressure she came under by testifying.</b></div><div>
</div><div>Hutchinson told the committee that she recalled telling her mother plainly: “I’m fcked.”</div><div>
</div><div>Cassidy Hutchinson Sept 14 by Daily Kos</div><div>
</div><div>She was “fcked,” she said, because she was effectively trapped.</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">She didn’t have the ability to shell out huge sums of cash to attorneys who could represent her when she went before the committee so was stuck with Stefan Passantino, a Trump White House lawyer whose fees were being paid by the former president’s Save America political action committee.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">“I am completely indebted to these people,” she told her mother, the transcript shows. “And they will ruin my life Mom, if I do anything they don’t want me to do.”</span></div><div>
</div><div>[Cassidy Hutchinson Sept 15 by Daily Kos</div><div>
</div><div><b>She went to her estranged father, a Trump supporter, and asked him for help.</b></div><div>
</div><div>“I drove up to New Jersey, and I went to his house one night and begged him. It’s probably the one thing I regret in all of this, I wish I didn’t stoop to that level because it was a no— but I begged him to help me. I said I would pay him back, like, ‘name your interest rate,’” she said. “Like I just need help. And I remember saying to him, ‘you have no idea what they’re going to do to me if I have to get an attorney with Trump world,’ because he’s a very big Trump supporter, as is his own right, and I don’t—it’s not being critical, it’s just a fact. And he just didn’t get it. And I didn’t expect him to. But I just left there feeling defeated.”</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><b>Passantino, she told the committee, urged her to skimp on details when answering the investigator’s questions. He advised her to mislead the committee, she said, though she stressed that he did not instruct her to lie explicitly</b>.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">“I want to make this clear to you,” Hutchinson said. “Stefan never told me to lie. He specifically told me, ‘I don’t want you to perjure yourself but ‘I don’t recall’ isn’t perjury.”</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">She remembered him adding: “They don’t know what you can and can’t recall.”</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">He also suggested that she avoid meeting with the committee altogether when she had an appointment in June. She should consider drawing a contempt of Congress charge instead of testifying, he allegedly advised. It would be an unpleasant risk but a smaller one.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Hutchinson said Passantino told her, “running to the right is better for you.”</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Passantino represented Hutchinson during three of her depositions before she hired a different attorney. The transcripts published on Thursday are dated Sept. 14 and Sept. 15, both dates when Passantino was not representing her. For these meetings, Hutchinson was represented by attorney Jody Hunt.</span></div><div>
</div><div>The committee has not yet published its final report in full or the complete record of its witness transcripts. Her earlier interviews under Passantino’s representation are expected to be included in that group.</div><div>
</div><div>When news first broke Wednesday about Passantino’s alleged advice to Hutchinson, he denied any wrongdoing in statements to reporters. Hutchinson, he said, was truthful and cooperative and he never instructed her to mislead the committee. His biography, meanwhile, has been pulled off the webpage of the law firm where he serves as partner.</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">During her initial interviews with the committee prior to September, Hutchinson said Trump aides would reach out to her.&nbsp;</span><b style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Jason Miller and</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"> Justin Clark extended potential job offers to her after she met with the select committee for the first time. </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">T</span></b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">he next time she was scheduled to testify, she said Ben Williamson, an aide to her former boss Mark Meadows called her on the eve of her appearance.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">‘Mark wants me to let you know that he knows you’re loyal,” Williamson said in a voicemail, Hutchinson recalled. “He knows you’ll do the right thing tomorrow and that you’re going to protect him and the boss.”</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The “boss” was watching, Passantino would later hint to her.</span></div></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">=</font></div></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><div style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></div><div style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/04/trump-georgia-lawsuit-cleta-mitchell" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">https://www.axios.com/2022/11/04/trump-georgia-lawsuit-cleta-mitchell</font></a></div><div style="font-size: small;"><p times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" overflow-wrap="overflow-wrap" break-word="break-word" font-size="font-size" rem="rem" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 1.5rem 0px; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Late on the night of Jan. 6, 2021, as the world reeled from the shocking images of a pro-Trump mob ransacking the U.S. Capitol, conservative activist and Trump legal adviser Cleta Mitchell focused her attention elsewhere — on a crumbling voter fraud lawsuit in Georgia that could open the door to criminal exposure.</font></p><p times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" overflow-wrap="overflow-wrap" break-word="break-word" font-size="font-size" rem="rem" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 1.5rem 0px; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); font-weight: 600;">The big picture:</span>&nbsp;Axios has obtained dozens of previously undisclosed emails from the time period covering Dec. 30, 2020, to Jan. 8, 2021. They shed new light on the internal machinations, pressures and disagreements at the heart of the unprecedented legal battle to keep a defeated president in power.</font></p><p times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" overflow-wrap="overflow-wrap" break-word="break-word" font-size="font-size" rem="rem" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 1.5rem 0px; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); font-weight: 600;">Why it matters:</span>&nbsp;The central question of what then-<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="President Trump" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" data-vars-content-id="15c4f163-9ff2-4a29-b76b-fdba1f7c3235" data-vars-headline="Exclusive emails: Inside Trump's botched Georgia fight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="self" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); --tw-text-opacity:1;">President Trump</a>&nbsp;and his lawyers knew when he signed sworn court documents attesting to false evidence of voter fraud in Georgia is now under scrutiny by the Justice Department, Atlanta prosecutors and the House Jan. 6 committee.</font></p><ul https="https" static.axios.com="static.axios.com" img="img" axios-site="axios-site" bullet-filled.svg="bullet-filled.svg" none="none" margin="margin" rem="rem" px="px" padding="padding" font-family="font-family" atiza="Atiza" ui-serif="ui-serif" georgia="Georgia" cambria="Cambria" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); list-style: url("><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Two lawyers advising Trump were revealed over the past several weeks to have raised concerns about the president signing the verification, which carried the penalty of perjury. The new emails show a third, Bruce Marks, also expressed concern but was overruled.</font></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">The emails also reveal new granularity about the role of Mitchell, who since then has collaborated with the Republican Party to build an activist base of national "election monitors" — many of whom will be out in force in Tuesday's midterms.</font></li></ul><p times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" overflow-wrap="overflow-wrap" break-word="break-word" font-size="font-size" rem="rem" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 1.5rem 0px; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); font-weight: 600;">Details:</span>&nbsp;The legal discussions on the night of Jan. 6 about Georgia involved Trump himself and consideration of how to minimize exposure from the botched lawsuit and attestation.</font></p><ul https="https" static.axios.com="static.axios.com" img="img" axios-site="axios-site" bullet-filled.svg="bullet-filled.svg" none="none" margin="margin" rem="rem" px="px" padding="padding" font-family="font-family" atiza="Atiza" ui-serif="ui-serif" georgia="Georgia" cambria="Cambria" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); list-style: url("><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">"I spoke with POTUS and he said do the best we can,"&nbsp;<b>Mitchell wrote in an email timestamped 9:36 p.m. ET, to Trump campaign lawyers Justin Clark</b>&nbsp;and Matthew Morgan.</font></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The nation's capital was under citywide curfew. The House and Senate had just resumed debating objections to Joe Biden's Electoral College victory.</font></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">"We are trying to protect all concerned … just wanted to be sure you were in the loop … we will send the letter now," Mitchell wrote.</font></li></ul><p times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" overflow-wrap="overflow-wrap" break-word="break-word" font-size="font-size" rem="rem" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 1.5rem 0px; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); font-weight: 600;">Context:&nbsp;</span>A federal judge last month&nbsp;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ordered John Eastman" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/10/19/judge-trump-signed-false-election-fraud-allegation" data-vars-content-id="15c4f163-9ff2-4a29-b76b-fdba1f7c3235" data-vars-headline="Exclusive emails: Inside Trump's botched Georgia fight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/10/19/judge-trump-signed-false-election-fraud-allegation" target="self" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); --tw-text-opacity:1;">ordered John Eastman</a>, a conservative attorney at the center of the scheme to overturn the election, to hand over a batch of emails to the Jan. 6 committee — finding they were "sufficiently related to and in furtherance of a conspiracy to defraud the United States."</font></p><ul https="https" static.axios.com="static.axios.com" img="img" axios-site="axios-site" bullet-filled.svg="bullet-filled.svg" none="none" margin="margin" rem="rem" px="px" padding="padding" font-family="font-family" atiza="Atiza" ui-serif="ui-serif" georgia="Georgia" cambria="Cambria" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); list-style: url("><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Eastman himself presciently predicted in one email,&nbsp;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first reported by Politico" data-vars-click-url="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/02/trump-lawyers-saw-justice-thomas-as-only-chance-to-stop-2020-election-certification-00064592" data-vars-content-id="15c4f163-9ff2-4a29-b76b-fdba1f7c3235" data-vars-headline="Exclusive emails: Inside Trump's botched Georgia fight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/02/trump-lawyers-saw-justice-thomas-as-only-chance-to-stop-2020-election-certification-00064592" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); --tw-text-opacity:1;">first reported by Politico</a>: "I have no doubt that an aggressive DA or US Atty someplace will go after both the President and his lawyers once all the dust settles on this."</font></li></ul><figure times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" color="color" rgb="rgb" font-size="font-size" px="px" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); margin: 2.5rem 0px;"><img alt="Email from Cleta Mitchell to Bruce Epshteyn" height="1080" id="a08889e5-c40e-41ea-bc4b-2df07f0cb5d1" src="https://images.axios.com/PtMProIh7RG5wCrgpm6-kOof9cM=/2022/11/03/1667474695300.jpg" width="1920" style="border: 0px solid currentcolor; box-sizing: border-box; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); display: block; vertical-align: middle; max-width: 100%; height: auto; width: 786.662px;" /><figcaption nb="NB" international="International" pro="Pro" ui-sans-serif="ui-sans-serif" system-ui="system-ui" apple-system="apple-system" segoe="Segoe" ui="UI" roboto="Roboto" ubuntu="Ubuntu" cantarell="Cantarell" noto="Noto" sans="Sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" blinkmacsystemfont="BlinkMacSystemFont" helvetica="Helvetica" neue="Neue" arial="Arial" apple="Apple" color="color" emoji="Emoji" symbol="Symbol" margin-top="margin-top" rem="rem" font-size="font-size" line-height="line-height" tw-text-opacity:1="tw-text-opacity:1" rgba="rgba" var="var" tw-text-opacity="tw-text-opacity" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);" xmlns:tw-text-opacity="tw-text-opacity"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Screenshot of email from Cleta Mitche<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">ll [foley addy]</span>&nbsp;to Boris Epshteyn, obtained and redacted by Axios</font></figcaption></figure><p times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" overflow-wrap="overflow-wrap" break-word="break-word" font-size="font-size" rem="rem" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 1.5rem 0px; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); font-weight: 600;">Frustrations among the warring factions&nbsp;</span>of outside lawyers clinging to Trump and the dream of a second term bubbled to the surface in the dying hours of 2020.</font></p><ul https="https" static.axios.com="static.axios.com" img="img" axios-site="axios-site" bullet-filled.svg="bullet-filled.svg" none="none" margin="margin" rem="rem" px="px" padding="padding" font-family="font-family" atiza="Atiza" ui-serif="ui-serif" georgia="Georgia" cambria="Cambria" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); list-style: url("><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"I must tell you that Bruce & Co are utterly outrageous," Mitchell sounded off in one furious email to Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn on Dec. 31.</font></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"They've done squat on this new case after saying it was all ready to go," she wrote, tearing into outside lawyer and decades-long voter fraud campaigner Bruce Marks. "This 'team' of Bruce's is worthless. BRUCE IS WORTHLESS. So sick of them."</font></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Fifty-four days had passed since the election was called for Joe Biden. In six days, Congress was set to meet to certify Biden's Electoral College victory.</font></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The army of fringe attorneys and conspiracy theorists that now had the president's ear was growing desperate.</font></li></ul><p times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" overflow-wrap="overflow-wrap" break-word="break-word" font-size="font-size" rem="rem" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 1.5rem 0px; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); font-weight: 600;">Mitchell’s email to Epshteyn was provoked</span>&nbsp;by a message from Marks the day before, Dec. 30, raising concerns about inconsistencies in the draft motion being prepared for the Georgia challenge — a&nbsp;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="federal lawsuit" data-vars-click-url="https://casetext.com/case/trump-v-kemp" data-vars-content-id="15c4f163-9ff2-4a29-b76b-fdba1f7c3235" data-vars-headline="Exclusive emails: Inside Trump's botched Georgia fight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://casetext.com/case/trump-v-kemp" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); --tw-text-opacity:1;">federal lawsuit</a>&nbsp;against Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.</font></p><ul https="https" static.axios.com="static.axios.com" img="img" axios-site="axios-site" bullet-filled.svg="bullet-filled.svg" none="none" margin="margin" rem="rem" px="px" padding="padding" font-family="font-family" atiza="Atiza" ui-serif="ui-serif" georgia="Georgia" cambria="Cambria" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); list-style: url("><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Marks had questioned the absence of a supporting memorandum of law in the draft.&nbsp;Mitchell fired back, blaming Marks instead: "This lawsuit is one you guys talked us into doing. So why don't you have a memorandum of law for us already?"</font></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">"Cleta, I am not going to get into emails with you like this. Please stop this," Marks responded.</font></li></ul><p times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" overflow-wrap="overflow-wrap" break-word="break-word" font-size="font-size" rem="rem" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 1.5rem 0px; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); font-weight: 600;">Behind the scenes:&nbsp;</span>Sources say Mitchell leveraged her connection to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to exert authority over the patchwork legal team.</font></p><ul https="https" static.axios.com="static.axios.com" img="img" axios-site="axios-site" bullet-filled.svg="bullet-filled.svg" none="none" margin="margin" rem="rem" px="px" padding="padding" font-family="font-family" atiza="Atiza" ui-serif="ui-serif" georgia="Georgia" cambria="Cambria" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); list-style: url("><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Her bulldozing of Marks, who has made a career out of alleging massive absentee ballot fraud since 1993, may come to bear serious legal consequences for the president and his lawyers.</font></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">On Dec. 31, Marks wrote in an email to Eastman, Epshteyn and&nbsp;<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Kurt Hilbert — the Mitchell-aligned attorney leading the Georgia lawsuit —&nbsp;that he could find no legal requirement for Trump to personally sign a verification of the claims of voter fraud that would be incorporated as evidence</span>.</font></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"I don't know why we would place this burden on the President in a suit which will receive substantial attention and scrutiny," Marks argued.</font></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">After a heated back-and-forth with Hilbert, who explained that a verification was needed to seek "equitable relief</span>," Marks eventually relented and said he would "leave this to others to resolve."</font></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Hilbert and Marks did not respond to requests for comment</span>.</font></li></ul><figure times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" color="color" rgb="rgb" font-size="font-size" px="px" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); margin: 2.5rem 0px;"><img alt="Email from Bruce Marks" height="1080" id="b837211e-04d3-452c-b7b0-cbfb0a05b72e" src="https://images.axios.com/32GrT5h_a_jfoq19oAaRm0WU9I4=/2022/11/03/1667474736716.jpg" width="1920" style="border: 0px solid currentcolor; box-sizing: border-box; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); display: block; vertical-align: middle; max-width: 100%; height: auto; width: 786.662px;" /><figcaption nb="NB" international="International" pro="Pro" ui-sans-serif="ui-sans-serif" system-ui="system-ui" apple-system="apple-system" segoe="Segoe" ui="UI" roboto="Roboto" ubuntu="Ubuntu" cantarell="Cantarell" noto="Noto" sans="Sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" blinkmacsystemfont="BlinkMacSystemFont" helvetica="Helvetica" neue="Neue" arial="Arial" apple="Apple" color="color" emoji="Emoji" symbol="Symbol" margin-top="margin-top" rem="rem" font-size="font-size" line-height="line-height" tw-text-opacity:1="tw-text-opacity:1" rgba="rgba" var="var" tw-text-opacity="tw-text-opacity" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);" xmlns:tw-text-opacity="tw-text-opacity"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Screenshot of email sent by Bruce Marks, obtained and redacted by Axios</font></figcaption></figure><p times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" overflow-wrap="overflow-wrap" break-word="break-word" font-size="font-size" rem="rem" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 1.5rem 0px; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); font-weight: 600;">Between the lines:&nbsp;</span>Marks is the third lawyer revealed to have raised concerns about Trump signing the verification for evidence now known to be false.</font></p><ul https="https" static.axios.com="static.axios.com" img="img" axios-site="axios-site" bullet-filled.svg="bullet-filled.svg" none="none" margin="margin" rem="rem" px="px" padding="padding" font-family="font-family" atiza="Atiza" ui-serif="ui-serif" georgia="Georgia" cambria="Cambria" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); list-style: url("><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Forty-five minutes after Marks' objection, Eastman warned that Trump had been made aware that some of the allegations and evidence of voter fraud used in a previous state-level&nbsp;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Georgia election lawsuit" data-vars-click-url="https://cdn.donaldjtrump.com/public-files/press_assets/verified-petition-to-contest-georgia-election.pdf" data-vars-content-id="15c4f163-9ff2-4a29-b76b-fdba1f7c3235" data-vars-headline="Exclusive emails: Inside Trump's botched Georgia fight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://cdn.donaldjtrump.com/public-files/press_assets/verified-petition-to-contest-georgia-election.pdf" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); --tw-text-opacity:1;">Georgia election lawsuit</a>&nbsp;were inaccurate, according to emails turned over to the Jan. 6 committee.</font></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">"For him to sign a new verification with that knowledge (and incorporation by reference) would not be accurate,"<b>&nbsp;Eastman told Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro and outside lawyer Alex Kaufman, adding he was intentionally leaving out Marks and his team.</b></font></li></ul><p times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" overflow-wrap="overflow-wrap" break-word="break-word" font-size="font-size" rem="rem" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 1.5rem 0px; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); font-weight: 600;">To protect Trump from responsibility,&nbsp;</span>Hilbert suggested inserting a footnote in the lawsuit that stated the president was only relying on voter data provided to him.</font></p><ul https="https" static.axios.com="static.axios.com" img="img" axios-site="axios-site" bullet-filled.svg="bullet-filled.svg" none="none" margin="margin" rem="rem" px="px" padding="padding" font-family="font-family" atiza="Atiza" ui-serif="ui-serif" georgia="Georgia" cambria="Cambria" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); list-style: url("><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">A satisfied Mitchell pressed ahead and asked Eastman to get the verification approved by<b>&nbsp;senior White House lawyer Eric Herschmann&nbsp;</b>while she searched for a notary to certify Trump's signature via Zoom.</font></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">But a&nbsp;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="separate batch of emails" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/10/21/trump-eric-herschmann-email-voter-fraud-georgia" data-vars-content-id="15c4f163-9ff2-4a29-b76b-fdba1f7c3235" data-vars-headline="Exclusive emails: Inside Trump's botched Georgia fight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/10/21/trump-eric-herschmann-email-voter-fraud-georgia" target="self" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); --tw-text-opacity:1;">separate batch of emails</a>&nbsp;previously reported by Axios reveals that later that evening, Herschmann told Mitchell and Meadows he was concerned about Trump signing a verification in support of facts that may fall apart under scrutiny</span>.</font></li></ul><p times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" overflow-wrap="overflow-wrap" break-word="break-word" font-size="font-size" rem="rem" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 1.5rem 0px; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); font-weight: 600;">The bottom line:&nbsp;</span>None of those warnings stopped the verification<span style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); font-weight: 600;">&nbsp;</span>from being signed and notarized just hours before midnight on New Year's Eve.</font></p><ul https="https" static.axios.com="static.axios.com" img="img" axios-site="axios-site" bullet-filled.svg="bullet-filled.svg" none="none" margin="margin" rem="rem" px="px" padding="padding" font-family="font-family" atiza="Atiza" ui-serif="ui-serif" georgia="Georgia" cambria="Cambria" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); list-style: url("><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">A federal judge later cited Eastman's email warning as evidence Trump "knew that the specific numbers of voter fraud were wrong but continued to tout those numbers, both in court and to the public.</span>"</font></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Both Marks and Herschmann have been subpoenaed in the Justice Department's criminal investigation of the Trump-backed efforts to overturn the election. Federal agents&nbsp;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="seized Eastman's cellphone" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/27/us/politics/john-eastman-jan-6.html" data-vars-content-id="15c4f163-9ff2-4a29-b76b-fdba1f7c3235" data-vars-headline="Exclusive emails: Inside Trump's botched Georgia fight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/27/us/politics/john-eastman-jan-6.html" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); --tw-text-opacity:1;">seized Eastman's cellphone</a>&nbsp;in June.</font></li></ul><p times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" overflow-wrap="overflow-wrap" break-word="break-word" font-size="font-size" rem="rem" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="margin: 1.5rem 0px; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102); box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); font-weight: 600;">Flash forward:&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">On the night of Jan. 6, as many Americans were still struggling to comprehend the frightening scenes at the nation's Capitol</span><b style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">, Mitchell penned a frantic email to the </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Trump campaign lawyers, Justin Clark</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> and Matthew Morgan.</span></b></font></p><ul https="https" static.axios.com="static.axios.com" img="img" axios-site="axios-site" bullet-filled.svg="bullet-filled.svg" none="none" margin="margin" rem="rem" px="px" padding="padding" font-family="font-family" atiza="Atiza" ui-serif="ui-serif" georgia="Georgia" cambria="Cambria" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); list-style: url("><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">"I've tried [to] reach both of you and have left voicemail messages for each of you," Mitchell wrote, as she claimed that Georgia officials were threatening to move for sanctions against the Trump legal team unless they withdrew their lawsuits.</font></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">"The potential exposure to the president and the other plaintiffs could be in the millions of dollars," she warned.</font></li></ul><figure times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" color="color" rgb="rgb" font-size="font-size" px="px" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); margin: 2.5rem 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-color: currentcolor; border-image: initial; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); height: auto; width: 786.662px;"><img alt="Email from Cleta Mitchell" height="1080" id="b9ad481e-76d8-4ef5-85cf-993423b0cc09" src="https://images.axios.com/2bionJTbyER9XphyZSm8ClVP0=/2022/11/03/1667474810993.jpg" width="1920" style="border: 0px solid currentcolor; box-sizing: border-box; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); display: block; vertical-align: middle; max-width: 100%; height: auto; width: 786.662px;" /></span><figcaption nb="NB" international="International" pro="Pro" ui-sans-serif="ui-sans-serif" system-ui="system-ui" apple-system="apple-system" segoe="Segoe" ui="UI" roboto="Roboto" ubuntu="Ubuntu" cantarell="Cantarell" noto="Noto" sans="Sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" blinkmacsystemfont="BlinkMacSystemFont" helvetica="Helvetica" neue="Neue" arial="Arial" apple="Apple" color="color" emoji="Emoji" symbol="Symbol" margin-top="margin-top" rem="rem" font-size="font-size" line-height="line-height" tw-text-opacity:1="tw-text-opacity:1" rgba="rgba" var="var" tw-text-opacity="tw-text-opacity" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);" xmlns:tw-text-opacity="tw-text-opacity"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Email from Cleta Mitchell to Trump campaign lawyers, obtained and redacted by Axios</font></figcaption></figure><p times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" overflow-wrap="overflow-wrap" break-word="break-word" font-size="font-size" rem="rem" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 1.5rem 0px; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); font-weight: 600;">Mitchell had attached a draft letter&nbsp;</span>to Georgia Attorney General Christopher Carr, dated Jan. 6, agreeing to withdraw all of the Trump-backed legal team's Georgia state and federal lawsuits as part of a "settlement" allegedly proposed by Kemp and Raffensperger.</font></p><ul https="https" static.axios.com="static.axios.com" img="img" axios-site="axios-site" bullet-filled.svg="bullet-filled.svg" none="none" margin="margin" rem="rem" px="px" padding="padding" font-family="font-family" atiza="Atiza" ui-serif="ui-serif" georgia="Georgia" cambria="Cambria" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); list-style: url("><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The letter, drafted by Hilbert, claimed the Georgia officials had agreed to share election data in exchange for the dismissal of the lawsuits. Mitchell painted the alleged settlement as "something of a win" because the Georgia officials "would provide certain records that we have been requesting.</span>"</font></li></ul><span id="midStoryAd" data-ad-status="AD" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" color="color" rgb="rgb" font-size="font-size" px="px" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /><div data-vars-category="cta" data-vars-experiment="mid_story_ad" data-vars-experiment-variant="ad" data-vars-label="cta/view/mid_story_ad/ad" class="gtmView" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-48430672_37="9713" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-48430672_37="1000" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-48430672_37="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); 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--tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font><div data-cy="mid-story-ad" class="gtmView midStoryAd grid justify-center items-center py-2 up-to-lg:overflow-hidden before:content-['Advertisement'] before:text-caption before:font-sans before:text-soft-black-shade before:mb-1 before:select-none" data-vars-category="ad" data-vars-sub-category="mid_story" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-48430672_37="9713" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-48430672_37="1000" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-48430672_37="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; 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border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); list-style: url("><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;">"We think that we should immediately send this letter accepting the settlement offer because we are afraid the defendants will withdraw the settlement offer. Then we will be forced to dismiss the case without getting any records whatsoever," Mitchell wrote to Morgan and Clark.</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem;">She warned that it was "now 9:30pm" ET on Jan. 6, and that she and Hilbert would be forced to send the letter within 15 minutes if they didn't hear from the campaign. The historic, bloody events of that day had not deterred Mitchell and her team from their focus on false allegations of voter fraud in Georgia.</li></ul><p times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" overflow-wrap="overflow-wrap" break-word="break-word" font-size="font-size" rem="rem" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="margin: 1.5rem 0px; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); font-weight: 600;">"Kurt and Cleta,</span>&nbsp;[in] no way do I have authority to sign off on this decision or this letter," Morgan replied.</span></p><ul https="https" static.axios.com="static.axios.com" img="img" axios-site="axios-site" bullet-filled.svg="bullet-filled.svg" none="none" margin="margin" rem="rem" px="px" padding="padding" font-family="font-family" atiza="Atiza" ui-serif="ui-serif" georgia="Georgia" cambria="Cambria" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); list-style: url("><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Citing a previous email in which Mitchell specifically asserted that she was "in charge of Georgia," Morgan urged her to get sign-off from Trump or Meadows and said the campaign would accept the decision.</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">That's when Mitchell dropped her kicker: She had already spoken to Trump —&nbsp;whose mindset and actions on Jan. 6 are at the heart of several criminal investigations —&nbsp;and, according to Mitchell, he had encouraged her to follow her judgment.</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;">Morgan declined to comment. Spokespeople for Trump did not respond to requests for comment.</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="White House call logs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-stat/graphics/politics/jan-6-call-logs-white-house/daily-diary-of-president-donald-trump.pdf?itid=lk_interstitial_manual_10" data-vars-content-id="15c4f163-9ff2-4a29-b76b-fdba1f7c3235" data-vars-headline="Exclusive emails: Inside Trump's botched Georgia fight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-stat/graphics/politics/jan-6-call-logs-white-house/daily-diary-of-president-donald-trump.pdf?itid=lk_interstitial_manual_10" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); --tw-text-opacity:1;">White House call logs</a>&nbsp;obtained by the Washington Post confirm Trump and Mitchell spoke for approximately two minutes at 7:53 p.m. ET. At 9:36 p.m. ET — the very minute that Mitchell replied to the Trump campaign lawyers — Hilbert sent the letter to the Georgia AG's office</span>.</li></ul><p times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" overflow-wrap="overflow-wrap" break-word="break-word" font-size="font-size" rem="rem" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="margin: 1.5rem 0px; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); font-weight: 600;">The intrigue:&nbsp;</span>Kemp and Raffensperger ultimately&nbsp;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="accepted the withdrawal" data-vars-click-url="https://www.law360.com/articles/1342786/trump-campaign-pulls-plug-on-suits-contesting-ga-election" data-vars-content-id="15c4f163-9ff2-4a29-b76b-fdba1f7c3235" data-vars-headline="Exclusive emails: Inside Trump's botched Georgia fight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.law360.com/articles/1342786/trump-campaign-pulls-plug-on-suits-contesting-ga-election" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); --tw-text-opacity:1;">accepted the withdrawal</a>&nbsp;of the lawsuits but disputed that there was ever a formal settlement. "Donald J. Trump voluntarily dismissed this litigation contending the dismissal is a result of settlement between the parties. It is not.&nbsp;<b>There is no 'settlement,'" they stated in court.</b></span></p><ul https="https" static.axios.com="static.axios.com" img="img" axios-site="axios-site" bullet-filled.svg="bullet-filled.svg" none="none" margin="margin" rem="rem" px="px" padding="padding" font-family="font-family" atiza="Atiza" ui-serif="ui-serif" georgia="Georgia" cambria="Cambria" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); list-style: url("><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Axios obtained the earlier Jan. 3 letter from Georgia's attorney general that Hilbert and Mitchell were referencing. An outside counsel working with the AG's office had told Hilbert that the allegations in the lawsuit "(1) are factually wrong; (2) are based on improper speculation and faulty data and data analysis; (3) lack substantive legal merit; (4) are moot; and (5) are procedurally deficient."</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The lawyer said the AG's office was "willing to share as much information as we can" regarding election data, but only if the lawsuits were withdrawn. Remarkably, the letter made no reference to a "settlement" or "sanctions," as Mitchell and Hilbert had claimed.</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">I<b>nstead, it specifically stated that once the litigation was dropped, Hilbert could make an appointment the following day to bring exhibits from the Trump lawsuit and receive a demonstration on why the "proffered evidenced [sic] does not support the conclusions"&nbsp;</b>of their court filings</span>.</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem;">Forwarding the email to Mitchell, Hilbert wrote: "Please give to the President as this is&nbsp;<b>technically</b>&nbsp;an offer to settle."</li></ul><p times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" overflow-wrap="overflow-wrap" break-word="break-word" font-size="font-size" rem="rem" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="margin: 1.5rem 0px; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); font-weight: 600;">In court,</span>&nbsp;the Georgia officials also sharply rebuked Hilbert for his involvement in a now-infamous Jan. 2 call in which Trump sought to pressure Raffensperger to "find" enough votes to overturn Biden's election victory.</span></p><ul https="https" static.axios.com="static.axios.com" img="img" axios-site="axios-site" bullet-filled.svg="bullet-filled.svg" none="none" margin="margin" rem="rem" px="px" padding="padding" font-family="font-family" atiza="Atiza" ui-serif="ui-serif" georgia="Georgia" cambria="Cambria" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); list-style: url("><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Mitchell, Meadows and Kaufman were also on that call.</span>&nbsp;I<b>n an email to Trump campaign lawyers on Jan. 8 attempting to secure payment for members of the legal team, Mitchell said Kaufman was forced out of his law firm because of his involvement on the call. "Quite outrageous," she wrote.</b></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Mitchell&nbsp;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="abruptly resigned" data-vars-click-url="https://www.npr.org/2021/01/06/953823383/attorney-on-call-with-trump-and-georgia-officials-resigns-from-law-firm" data-vars-content-id="15c4f163-9ff2-4a29-b76b-fdba1f7c3235" data-vars-headline="Exclusive emails: Inside Trump's botched Georgia fight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.npr.org/2021/01/06/953823383/attorney-on-call-with-trump-and-georgia-officials-resigns-from-law-firm" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); --tw-text-opacity:1;">abruptly resigned</a>&nbsp;her partnership from the law firm Foley & Lardner after the firm publicly aired concerns about her own involvement in the Jan. 2 phone call.</span></li></ul><p times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" overflow-wrap="overflow-wrap" break-word="break-word" font-size="font-size" rem="rem" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="margin: 1.5rem 0px; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); font-weight: 600;">What's next:&nbsp;</span>Despite these troubles, Mitchell has over the past 18 months redoubled her efforts and&nbsp;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="established herself as a central player" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/30/us/politics/republican-poll-monitors-election-activists.html" data-vars-content-id="15c4f163-9ff2-4a29-b76b-fdba1f7c3235" data-vars-headline="Exclusive emails: Inside Trump's botched Georgia fight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/30/us/politics/republican-poll-monitors-election-activists.html" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); --tw-text-opacity:1;">established herself as a central player</a>&nbsp;in the nationwide network of Trump-allied lawyers and activists who are laying the groundwork to monitor and contest future elections.</span></p><ul https="https" static.axios.com="static.axios.com" img="img" axios-site="axios-site" bullet-filled.svg="bullet-filled.svg" none="none" margin="margin" rem="rem" px="px" padding="padding" font-family="font-family" atiza="Atiza" ui-serif="ui-serif" georgia="Georgia" cambria="Cambria" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); list-style: url("><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;">Mitchell's project, called the "<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Election Integrity Network" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cpi.org/category/election-integrity-network/" data-vars-content-id="15c4f163-9ff2-4a29-b76b-fdba1f7c3235" data-vars-headline="Exclusive emails: Inside Trump's botched Georgia fight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cpi.org/category/election-integrity-network/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); --tw-text-opacity:1;">Election Integrity Network</a>," is run out of the Conservative Partnership Institute, an influential Washington, D.C.-based think tank stocked with former senior Trump administration officials.</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">In a sign of how important Mitchell's efforts are to Trump, the former president, who is loath to share his PAC's money, authorized a $1 million donation to CPI. This was by far the Trump committee's&nbsp;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="largest donation to political allies in the second half of 2021" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/01/trump-gave-1m-to-meadows-nonprofit-weeks-after-jan-6-panels-creation.html" data-vars-content-id="15c4f163-9ff2-4a29-b76b-fdba1f7c3235" data-vars-headline="Exclusive emails: Inside Trump's botched Georgia fight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/01/trump-gave-1m-to-meadows-nonprofit-weeks-after-jan-6-panels-creation.html" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); --tw-text-opacity:1;">largest donation to political allies in the second half of 2021</a>.</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction); padding-left: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem;"><b>Mitchell told Axios in a statement: "Any assertion that we are seeking to overturn future elections is a complete fabrication.&nbsp;There's not a word in any of our materials saying this is about 'overturning elections.'&nbsp;We aren't saying that.&nbsp;We aren't doing that."</b></li></ul><p times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" overflow-wrap="overflow-wrap" break-word="break-word" font-size="font-size" rem="rem" color="color" rgb="rgb" style="margin: 1.5rem 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid currentcolor; --tw-translate-x:0; --tw-translate-y:0; --tw-rotate:0; --tw-skew-x:0; --tw-skew-y:0; --tw-scale-x:1; --tw-scale-y:1; --tw-transform:translateX(var(--tw-translate-x)) translateY(var(--tw-translate-y)) rotate(var(--tw-rotate)) skewX(var(--tw-skew-x)) skewY(var(--tw-skew-y)) scaleX(var(--tw-scale-x)) scaleY(var(--tw-scale-y)); --tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow:0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored:0 0 transparent; --tw-blur:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-brightness:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-saturate:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-sepia:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-filter:var(--tw-blur) var(--tw-brightness) var(--tw-contrast) var(--tw-grayscale) var(--tw-hue-rotate) var(--tw-invert) var(--tw-saturate) var(--tw-sepia) var(--tw-drop-shadow); --tw-ordinal:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-slashed-zero:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction:var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-font-variant-numeric:var(--tw-ordinal) var(--tw-slashed-zero) var(--tw-numeric-figure) var(--tw-numeric-spacing) var(--tw-numeric-fraction);">Axios' Emma Hurt contributed reporting</span></p></div><div></div></span></div></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/07/25/fann-townsend-subpoenas-arizona-trump/" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/07/25/fann-townsend-subpoenas-arizona-trump/</font></a></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">no lnx&nbsp; Democracy Dies in Darkness</font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><b><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Arizona fake-electors subpoenas show breadth of DOJ Jan. 6 probe</font></b></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Requests for information from two state lawmakers were released under a state public records law</font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By Devlin Barrett and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez&nbsp;</font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><b><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">July 25, 2022&nbsp;</font></b></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Arizona state Sen. Kelly Townsend, pictured in 2019, and state Senate President Karen Fann received subpoenas seeking communications “relating to any effort, plan, or attempt to serve as an Elector” for Donald Trump after the 2020 election. (Bob Christie/AP)[</font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Grand jury subpoenas issued last month to two Arizona state lawmakers show the breadth of the criminal investigation by the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington into efforts by supporters of Donald Trump to use “false electors” to try to undo Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.</font></span></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Copies of two subpoenas issued to Republican state senators from Arizona were released Monday via a public-records request, confirming what has been previously reported about the June demands for records related “to the signing or mailing of any document purporting to be a Certificate certifying Elector votes in favor of Donald J. Trump and/or Michael R. Pence.”</font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The subpoenas issued to Karen Fann, president of the Arizona Senate, and Sen. Kelly Townsend also seek communications “relating to any effort, plan, or attempt to serve as an Elector” in favor of the then-president and then-vice president.</font></b></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">A subpoena is not an accusation but rather a demand for information that investigators believe may help them solve a crime. The documents released Monday cast a wide net for any communications that Fann and Townsend<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">&nbsp;may have had with any member of the executive or legislative branch of the federal government; any representative or agent of Trump or his campaign; or</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">&nbsp;Trump boosters Jenna Ellis, Bernard Kerik, Rudy Giuliani, Boris Epshteyn, James Troupis, Joe DiGenova, John Eastman, Joshua Findlay,<b>&nbsp;Justin Clark</b>, Kenneth Chesebro, Mike Roman or Victoria Toensing....</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">.</span></font></div></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px;"><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></span></p></div></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><div style=""><div id="article-content" style=""><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="https://unamericanbar.com/voter-suppression-lawfirms/election-law-llc" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Election Law LLC helped Trump attempt to subvert the 2020 election (unamericanbar.com)</font></a></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" style=""><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></b></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" style=""><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style=""><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">passantino</b></font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">site expired?</font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" style=""><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Election Law LLC lawyers involved with voter suppression</font></h3><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://unamericanbar.com/voter-suppression-attorney/justin-clark" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);" color="#000000">Justin Clark</font></a></li><li style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://unamericanbar.com/voter-suppression-attorney/matthew-e-morgan" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Matthew E. Morgan</font></a></li></ul><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Election Law LLC worked on these lawsuits</font></h3><table class="table table-striped table-sm table-bordered " style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem; border: 1px solid rgb(222, 226, 230); border-collapse: collapse; width: 1110px;"><thead style="box-sizing: border-box;"><tr style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box;"><th scope="col" style="padding: 0.3rem; margin: 0px; border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(222, 226, 230); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; text-align: inherit; vertical-align: bottom;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Name</font></th><th scope="col" style="padding: 0.3rem; margin: 0px; border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(222, 226, 230); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; text-align: inherit; vertical-align: bottom;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Filed On</font></th><th scope="col" style="padding: 0.3rem; margin: 0px; border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(222, 226, 230); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; text-align: inherit; vertical-align: bottom;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Court</font></th><th scope="col" style="padding: 0.3rem; margin: 0px; border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(222, 226, 230); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; text-align: inherit; vertical-align: bottom;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Finalized</font></th><th scope="col" style="padding: 0.3rem; margin: 0px; border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(222, 226, 230); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; text-align: inherit; vertical-align: bottom;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Result</font></th></tr></thead><tbody style="box-sizing: border-box;"><tr style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05);"><td style="padding: 0.3rem; margin: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(222, 226, 230); box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: top;"><a href="https://unamericanbar.com/voter-suppression-lawsuits/donald-j-trump-president-inc-v-boockvar-vote-mail" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);" color="#000000">Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. v. Boockvar (Vote By Mail Intervention)</font></a></td><td style="padding: 0.3rem; margin: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(222, 226, 230); box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: top;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">06/29/20</font></td><td style="padding: 0.3rem; margin: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(222, 226, 230); box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: top;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Federal</font></td><td style="padding: 0.3rem; margin: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(222, 226, 230); box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: top;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Yes</font></td><td style="padding: 0.3rem; margin: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(222, 226, 230); box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: top;"><span class="denied" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Trump Lost</font></span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">People are saying</font></h2><div class="quotes" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"In [its] briefing, [the Trump campaign] relied on hypotheticals, rather than actual events." -&nbsp;<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan</span></font><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;" /><hr style="box-sizing: content-box; height: 0px; overflow: visible; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);" /><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"Based on this evidentiary record, construed in [Trump]'s favor, the Court cannot conclude that there exists 'patent and fundamental unfairness.'" -&nbsp;<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan</span></font><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;" /><hr style="box-sizing: content-box; height: 0px; overflow: visible; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);" /><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"The problem with [Trump's] theory is that there does not appear to be any law to support it." -&nbsp;<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan</span></font><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;" /><hr style="box-sizing: content-box; height: 0px; overflow: visible; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);" /><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"There is nothing in the record to establish that potential voter fraud and dilution [through mail-in voting and use of drop boxes] will impact Republicans more than Democrats." -&nbsp;<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan</span></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><h1 class="display-4" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.2;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Justin Clark</font></h1><div class="bar-number" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">DC Bar #499621</font></div><p class="lead" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Affiliates with Election Law LLC in the pleadings and is currently listed as "On Leave of Absence" from the law firm of <b>Michael Best & Friedrich LLP.</b></font></p></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style=""><div class="jumbotron" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 4rem 2rem; margin-bottom: 2rem; border-radius: 0px;"><h1 class="display-4" style="background-color: rgb(233, 236, 239); box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.2;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Matthew E. Morgan</font></h1><div class="bar-number" style="background-color: rgb(233, 236, 239); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">DC Bar #989591</font></div><p class="lead" style="background-color: rgb(233, 236, 239); box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem;" /><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a class="btn btn-dark btn-sm" href="mailto:matthew.morgan@electionlawllc.com" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline-block; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; cursor: pointer; user-select: none; border: 1px solid rgb(52, 58, 64); padding: 0.25rem 0.5rem; line-height: 1.5; border-radius: 0.2rem; transition: color 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, background-color 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, border-color 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s;">E-mail Matthew</a>&nbsp;<a class="btn btn-dark btn-sm" href="tel:+12028443812" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline-block; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; cursor: pointer; user-select: none; border: 1px solid rgb(52, 58, 64); padding: 0.25rem 0.5rem; line-height: 1.5; border-radius: 0.2rem; transition: color 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, background-color 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, border-color 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s;">(202) 844-3812</a>&nbsp;<a class="btn btn-dark btn-sm" href="https://unamericanbar.com/voter-suppression-lawfirms/election-law-llc" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline-block; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; cursor: pointer; user-select: none; border: 1px solid rgb(52, 58, 64); padding: 0.25rem 0.5rem; line-height: 1.5; border-radius: 0.2rem; transition: color 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, background-color 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, border-color 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s;">Election Law LLC</a></font></div></div><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Voter suppression lawsuits Matthew E. Morgan worked on</font></h3><table class="table table-striped table-sm table-bordered " style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-collapse: collapse; width: 1110px; margin-bottom: 1rem; border: 1px solid rgb(222, 226, 230);"><thead style="box-sizing: border-box;"><tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><th scope="col" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: inherit; padding: 0.3rem; vertical-align: bottom; border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(222, 226, 230); border-image: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Name</font></th><th scope="col" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: inherit; padding: 0.3rem; vertical-align: bottom; border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(222, 226, 230); border-image: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Filed On</font></th><th scope="col" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: inherit; padding: 0.3rem; vertical-align: bottom; border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(222, 226, 230); border-image: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Court</font></th><th scope="col" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: inherit; padding: 0.3rem; vertical-align: bottom; border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(222, 226, 230); border-image: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Finalized</font></th><th scope="col" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: inherit; padding: 0.3rem; vertical-align: bottom; border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(222, 226, 230); border-image: initial;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Result</font></th></tr></thead><tbody style="box-sizing: border-box;"><tr style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05);"><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0.3rem; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(222, 226, 230);"><a href="https://unamericanbar.com/voter-suppression-lawsuits/donald-j-trump-president-inc-v-boockvar-vote-mail" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. v. Boockvar (Vote By Mail Intervention)</font></a></td><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0.3rem; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(222, 226, 230);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">06/29/20</font></td><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0.3rem; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(222, 226, 230);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Federal</font></td><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0.3rem; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(222, 226, 230);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Yes</font></td><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0.3rem; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(222, 226, 230);"><span class="denied" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Trump Lost</font></span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">People are saying</font></h2><div class="quotes" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"In [its] briefing, [the Trump campaign] relied on hypotheticals, rather than actual events." -&nbsp;<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan</span></font><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: italic;" /><hr style="box-sizing: content-box; height: 0px; overflow: visible; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);" /><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"Based on this evidentiary record, construed in [Trump]'s favor, the Court cannot conclude that there exists 'patent and fundamental unfairness.'" -&nbsp;<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan</span></font><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: italic;" /><hr style="box-sizing: content-box; height: 0px; overflow: visible; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);" /><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"The problem with [Trump's] theory is that there does not appear to be any law to support it." -&nbsp;<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan</span></font><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: italic;" /><hr style="box-sizing: content-box; height: 0px; overflow: visible; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);" /><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"There is nothing in the record to establish that potential voter fraud and dilution [through mail-in voting and use of drop boxes] will impact Republicans more than Democrats." -&nbsp;<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan</span></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump-lawyers/">https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump-lawyers/</a></font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">raw</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">A<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">ccording to the Washington Post's in-depth look at Donald Trump's strategy to save his presidency with accusations of massive election fraud, the report notes that the</span><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-election-overturn/2020/11/28/34f45226-2f47-11eb-96c2-aac3f162215d_story.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">&nbsp;president's legal options were impacted</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">when lawyers working for the campaign fled rather than implement the president's plans.</span></font></div><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The report notes that the president and his team started game-planning out a strategy to contest election results back in June with the expectation that he was looking at a tight election and plans were worked out to have Trump declare himself the winner the night of the election.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">However, after Fox News called Arizona for Vice President Joe Biden that evening, those plans fell apart which led to an all-hands-on-deck meeting to come up with a new approach.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">According to the report, that led to Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani's ill-fated press conference held in a landscape maintenance company's parking lot which set in motion an exodus of legal expertise.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The Post reports that the president's inner circle, "briefed Trump on a potential legal strategy for the president's approval. They explained that prevailing would be difficult and involve complicated plays in every state that could stretch into December. They estimated a '5 to 10 percent chance of winning,' one person involved in the meeting said. Trump signaled that he understood and agreed to the strategy."</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>The report goes on to note, "some lawyers around Trump began to suddenly disappear from the effort in what some aides characterized as an attempt to protect their reputations. Former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi, who had appeared at a news conference with Giuliani right after the election, ceased her involvement after the first week."</b></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">According to one campaign insider, "Literally only the fringy of the fringe are willing to do pressers, and that's when it became clear there was no 'there' there."</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Giuliani's widely-derided press conference then led to a gulf "between the outlooks of most lawyers on the team and of Giuliani, who many of the other lawyers thought seemed 'deranged' and ill-prepared to litigate, according to a person familiar with the campaign's legal team. Some of the Trump campaign and Republican Party lawyers sought to even avoid meetings with Giuliani and his team. When asked for evidence internally for their most explosive claims, Giuliani and Powell could not provide it, the other advisers said."</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">According to the report, Giuliani's claims that he could win the case led to a shouting match between the former New York City mayor and Trump deputy campaign manager Justin Clark during a conference call where Clark "called Giuliani an expletive and said he was feeding the president bad information. The meeting ended without a clear path, according to people familiar with the discussion."</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The report goes on to note that "the next day, a Saturday, Trump tweeted out that Giuliani, [Jenna] Ellis, [Sydney] Powell and others were now in charge of his legal strategy. Ellis startled aides by entering the campaign's Arlington headquarters and instructing staffers that they must now listen to her and Giuliani."</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Powell has since been fired by the president for making claims about voter fraud that even the president found too farfetched.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">You can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-election-overturn/2020/11/28/34f45226-2f47-11eb-96c2-aac3f162215d_story.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">read more here</a>.</font></p></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump-lawyers/">https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump-lawyers/</a></font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">raw</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">A<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">ccording to the Washington Post's in-depth look at Donald Trump's strategy to save his presidency with accusations of massive election fraud, the report notes that the</span><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-election-overturn/2020/11/28/34f45226-2f47-11eb-96c2-aac3f162215d_story.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">&nbsp;president's legal options were impacted</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">when lawyers working for the campaign fled rather than implement the president's plans.</span></font></div><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The report notes that the president and his team started game-planning out a strategy to contest election results back in June with the expectation that he was looking at a tight election and plans were worked out to have Trump declare himself the winner the night of the election.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">However, after Fox News called Arizona for Vice President Joe Biden that evening, those plans fell apart which led to an all-hands-on-deck meeting to come up with a new approach.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">According to the report, that led to Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani's ill-fated press conference held in a landscape maintenance company's parking lot which set in motion an exodus of legal expertise.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The Post reports that the president's inner circle, "briefed Trump on a potential legal strategy for the president's approval. They explained that prevailing would be difficult and involve complicated plays in every state that could stretch into December. They estimated a '5 to 10 percent chance of winning,' one person involved in the meeting said. Trump signaled that he understood and agreed to the strategy."</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>The report goes on to note, "some lawyers around Trump began to suddenly disappear from the effort in what some aides characterized as an attempt to protect their reputations. Former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi, who had appeared at a news conference with Giuliani right after the election, ceased her involvement after the first week."</b></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">According to one campaign insider, "Literally only the fringy of the fringe are willing to do pressers, and that's when it became clear there was no 'there' there."</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Giuliani's widely-derided press conference then led to a gulf "between the outlooks of most lawyers on the team and of Giuliani, who many of the other lawyers thought seemed 'deranged' and ill-prepared to litigate, according to a person familiar with the campaign's legal team. Some of the Trump campaign and Republican Party lawyers sought to even avoid meetings with Giuliani and his team. When asked for evidence internally for their most explosive claims, Giuliani and Powell could not provide it, the other advisers said."</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>According to the report, Giuliani's claims that he could win the case led to a shouting match between the former New York City mayor and Trump deputy campaign manager Justin Clark during a conference call where Clark "called Giuliani an expletive and said he was feeding the president bad information. The meeting ended without a clear path, according to people familiar with the discussion."</b></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The report goes on to note that "the next day, a Saturday, Trump tweeted out that Giuliani, [Jenna] Ellis, [Sydney] Powell and others were now in charge of his legal strategy. Ellis startled aides by entering the campaign's Arlington headquarters and instructing staffers that they must now listen to her and Giuliani."</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Powell has since been fired by the president for making claims about voter fraud that even the president found too farfetched.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">You can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-election-overturn/2020/11/28/34f45226-2f47-11eb-96c2-aac3f162215d_story.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">read more here</a>.</font></p></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">---=</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trumps-top-campaign-strategist-is-hiding-payments-from-steve-bannon/" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trumps-top-campaign-strategist-is-hiding-payments-from-steve-bannon/</a></font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">no lnx</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Trump's top campaign strategist is hiding payments from Steve Bannon</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Roger Sollenberger and Salon November 03, 2020</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp;</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">President Trump's top campaign strategist, Jason Miller, has been paid tens of thousands of dollars a month through a third-party campaign vendor rather than taking a salary from the campaign, obscuring the flow of money and apparently concealing how much he makes — an arrangement campaign finance experts say is illegal.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Miller, a 2016 senior adviser who joined the re-election campaign in early June, appears to have been paid as recently as July by Citizens of the American Republic (COAR), a nonprofit founded by Steve Bannon which is currently part of a federal fraud and money laundering investigation into the former Trump campaign chief, as a vehicle used to fabricate invoices in furtherance of that scheme. (Salon first reported that COAR had paid Miller $20,000 a month.)</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Miller also appears to have taken monthly payments of several thousand dollars from a firm co-founded by two Trump officials — one of them being Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien. Salon was first to report that the campaign does not report any salary payments to Stepien, either.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The question of the campaign payments, and Miller's mysterious and varying monthly income, is important not only for reasons of public transparency, but for determining how much Miller, who is married, should pay for child support in a contentious custody case with a 2016 Trump campaign adviser which has dragged out for years in Florida family court.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Prior to re-enlisting on the Trump campaign, Miller worked over the last two years as a consultant and, for about six weeks this spring, a lobbyist, reporting monthly incomes ranging between $27,000 and $99,000, including side payments from his&nbsp;<b>old firm, Teneo, where he had collected a $500,000 salary.</b></font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">During this time Miller paid the mother of his child as little as $500 a month, one-sixth of what a courts had demanded. That sum of $500 would also the minimum monthly amount required by the state for a parent who makes $2,300 a month. Miller spends $2,300 a month just on expenses related to his cars, according to a financial affidavit filed in August, which states that he made more than $600,000 last year.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">After Trump's 2016 victory, Miller expected a White House post, but had to withdraw when news broke that he had fathered a child with fellow 2016 campaign adviser AJ Delgado, who is not his wife.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Delgado, who joined the transition team and expected a job in the administration or cable news before news broke of the affair, alleges that Miller, a staunch conservative who once worked for Sen. Ted Cruz, told her at the time that he was separated from his wife, and twice asked her to have an abortion. Delgado also alleged in a court filing which later leaked to the press that Miller had slipped an abortion pill into the smoothie of another woman he had gotten pregnant.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Miller denies that accusation and has sued the outlet, Gizmodo, for $100 million. In a 2019 sworn deposition for that suit he admitted to hiring prostitutes and receiving sexual favors at multiple "Asian themed" massage parlors, an industry known to have connections to sex trafficking rings.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>Throughout his professional political life, Miller has been known as an attack dog, someone "not beyond throwing binders,</b>" a former colleague of his told Salon.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">In recent months he has become the Trump campaign's preferred media presence, the 2020 answer to Kellyanne Conway. On television, comes across as a deft but maddening dissembler, sailing through the Sunday shows on currents of lies and backtalk — the exact personality that Trump wants to put out front.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>"He sort of failed his way up," Rick Wilson, longtime Republican strategist and co-founder of the Lincoln Project, told Salon. "He's got a certain shamelessness about him that media bookers can't get enough of."</b></font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Miller has built those skills over the last 20-odd years, working for former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani — who officiated what a longtime friend of the Miller family described as the Millers' "shotgun" wedding — as well as Cruz and former Rep. Mark Sanford, a South Carolina Republican whose extramarital affair scuttled his political ascent</span>.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Like many Cruz-backing conservatives, Miller was initially anti-Trump. The Millers' longtime friend recalled Miller's wife, Kelly, going out of her way to compliment his social media posts blasting Trump during the 2016 primary, going so far as to put their conversation on speakerphone and calling Jason in to the room to take part. A few months later, the Millers cut that social tie.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>In 2003 and 2004, Miller joined Jack Ryan's ill-fated Senate campaign in Illinois against then-state senator Barack Obama.</b>&nbsp;He was brought on as a PR specialist, a known dirty player who in his first weeks onboard allegedly fought not to fire an Obama tracker who had been so aggressive he followed the then-candidate with a camera to a bathroom, and waited outside the door.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">When Miller arrived on the Ryan campaign, Chicago media outlets were trying to unseal custody documents which later revealed that Ryan pressured his wife to perform sexual acts with him at strip clubs, a scandal that ended his campaign. According to a person who worked on the campaign, Miller himself enjoyed strip clubs and was frequently seen in "obvious embraces with women who were not his fiancée."</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">"Women in particular got a lot of his wrath," the person said, adding that Miller was "uneven towards women."</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Ryan, who now runs a real estate business, briefly hired Miller as a lobbyist this spring, Salon previously reported.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Other people who knew Miller characterized him as "untrustworthy," and that his behavior around women had made them nervous.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>"I can handle being around assholes at work. All my life. But not this guy," said one person, who described Miller as pugnacious, especially when he'd been drinking: "Get a little liquor in him, and you get the sense he's not somebody totally in control."</b></font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Miller has invoked substance abuse and mental illness multiple times in his custody case, including multiple stints in rehab. Delgado, herself a graduate of Harvard Law, has expressed suspicion about the timing and forthrightness of these check-ins, which have coincided with court dates.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">A few years before he joined the Ryan campaign, Miller had a central role in a Washington Post article about the party scene at George Washington University, where he was a fraternity member:</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The frat brothers show off for the girls and the cameras, ripping off shirts and chugging beers. ... Jason Miller surveys the crowd like a proud father. "It's my senior year so I'm going to party," he says. Miller says he's got a 3.0 average, a major in political science and a job as a staff assistant in Sen. Slade Gorton's (R-Wash.) office on Capitol Hill. He will become a lawyer and probably a politician some day. Life is good.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">"He wants you to know he's there, that he's the guy with the rolodex," the Ryan campaign colleague said. "He kicked the campaign director out of his office and just took it. Demanded a personal driver. Now, this is Chicago. We don't put on airs. But he had a tailor come into the campaign office once, to work on his suits."</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">"The attitude he brought into every room — the attitude fit him, but it didn't fit the room," the person added.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">"You'd think he would have burned his bridges," the person said. "But Jason knows how to play nice."</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Salon reviewed communications that illustrate those two sides today.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">In an email last January, Miller's attorney wrote that Delgado, who often drags Miller on Twitter, acted out as a jilted and jealous ex who couldn't process that Miller's interest in her did not range beyond the sexual:</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">She cannot accept that the relationship was simply just sexual encounters and Mr. Miller's decision not to have any emotional commitment or future involvement with Ms. Delgado made your client launch a venomous campaign designed to publicly harm and humiliate Mr. Miller.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">(A Page Six piece that ran shortly after their son's birth in 2017, and which Delgado alleges Miller planted, describes their relationship in similar terms, as "a wild night in Vegas.")</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Miller later admitted in court, however, that the relationship was not just a one-night stand, an implication echoed by multiple voicemails reviewed by Salon, which Miller left on Delgado's phone early in their relationship.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">"Hey beautiful, it's me. I just wanted to call, say I miss you," Miller says in one, his voice smooth. "Hope you're having a nice Thanksgiving with Nancy. I miss you so much. Just want you to know I'm thinking about you. I'll try you again tomorrow. Bye."</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">In two other voicemails Miller expresses the same concern, endearment and attention to detail. Delgado says that he later had a D.C. gossip website remove the only existing picture of the two of them together, taken at a media party during the campaign. ("That is actually, to make it even weirder, the night things 'started,'" Delgado told Salon.)</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Miller's mother-in-law has repeatedly and publicly weighed in on the custody case, which the judge has told Miller is not helpful. At one point, for instance, she accused Delgado in a since-deleted tweet of being "ALL about the Benjamin's. ... No doubt about it!!"</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">In a 2018 Daily Mail article Miller accused Delgado broadly of a "pattern of harassment," which later was more narrowly defined in court as Delgado's filings and critical tweets.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">"First, he falsely portrays me as a drunken one-night encounter in Vegas, only to then privately admit in a deposition the involvement was months-long," Delgado told Salon. "His false narrative will harm [their son] in the future. It was completely unnecessary and done for his wife's benefit. Then, as if it that isn't bad enough, he goes to the Daily Mail in 2018 and ... heavily indicates I'd been harassing him only to then admit in the family-law matter that that wasn't true, either."</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>Delgado was fired from her position at America First Policies after that article ran. She claims no specific reason was given.</b></font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">"Jason doesn't understand how all of this is playing out in the public square," said a former Miller colleague. "He doesn't seem to have that fatherly instinct."</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Miller's parenting plan, which he submitted to Florida family court in May 2019, when his son with Delgado was not yet two years old, did not express any desire to see his son: "This parenting plan does not contain any time sharing between the child and the father."</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Delgado, a former journalist and political analyst — she shared with Salon a 2016 email from a top Fox News executive saying that one day she would "have her own show" on the network — says she believes Miller and his allies have tried to block her professional opportunities.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">"My career? There is none of which to speak," she told Salon, claiming that her former media go-tos dropped her after the affair. "As an example, after my tweets disclosing I was pregnant and, essentially, complaining about Miller still being promoted — I don't know if Jared [Kushner] called up Fox News, but I was suddenly never invited on again."</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">"I don't think people realize how degrading it is to have to beg for money from strangers doing a GoFundMe just to be able to keep up on costs of the litigation, and not even then," she said.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">"There is a reason she is sitting home, unemployed and blackballed from the political arena," reads one recent email that Miller's attorney sent Delgado's attorney in the custody case. "She has nobody to blame besides herself."</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">It is unclear who "blackballed" Delgado.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">"Jason is a problem child," said Wilson, whose never-Trump group of former Republicans raked in nearly $40 million last quarter. "If you're a real campaign, you cannot justify giving this guy fiduciary responsibilities of any kind, or putting him out there any sort of public-facing role. He is leaving the mother of his child out in the cold."</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">But even Miller couldn't successfully ride out the smoothie allegations, after which his CNN contributor gig vanished. He had ducked into the private sector and landed the Teneo job. Last June, Teneo severed public ties with Miller, reportedly as a result of crass insults he tweeted at Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., over what Miller saw as Nadler's rude treatment of Hope Hicks, another 2016 Trump campaign aide who has now returned to the White House.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Delgado alleged in court that Miller's apparent split with Teneo was fraudulent. Citing Miller's financial disclosures, Delgado asserted that in the month after Miller's departure Teneo began paying him through a corporation called SHW Partners tat Miller had set up for that purpose, and which Delgado characterizes as a "ruse" for Teneo to keep working with him.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">In the months after leaving Teneo, Miller decreased his child support payments, citing an inability to pay, which, according to Delgado's court filing, appears fraudulent and the fruit of his private arrangement with Teneo (which has not replied to Salon's request for comment).</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Indeed, Miller has pulled in a remarkable amount of money for a man who paid $500 in child support — between $27,000 and $60,000 a month over the last year, court documents show. In July, communications reviewed by Salon show, his income hit $99,000.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">But none of those payments came from the Trump campaign — or at least none did so officially or directly.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">As Salon previously reported, though the campaign does not list payments to Miller, it does pay a firm called Jamestown Associates, a media company founded in New Jersey which specializes in campaign publicity, and which lists Miller as an executive and partner. The campaign attributes all the disbursements to "video production services."</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">According to Salon's analysis of court documents, FEC filings and other communications, as well as a senior campaign source who confirmed the arrangements, Miller has been paid $35,000 a month through<b>&nbsp;Jamestown Associates.</b>&nbsp;That would be $420,000 annually — a larger salary than the president.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Salon previously reported that FEC filings show that the Trump campaign made a number of payments to Jamestown from January and June, each somewhere between approximately $7,500 and $45,500. In July, however, those expenditures increased significantly, including a $78,394 payment on July 13 and a $133,800 payment on July 28 — at the time the campaign's single largest payment to the firm.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Communications reviewed by Salon show that the next day, Miller received $70,000 in a single payment from Jamestown. In a public court document from the child support case, Miller reported an unattributed $35,000 monthly payment, exactly half the amount Jamestown paid him in late July — which was apparently two months' pay.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>Jared Kushner personally signed off on the payment arrangement, according to the senior campaign source, who added that the president was typically aware of such decisions.</b></font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Trump campaign chief spokesperson Tim Murtaugh did not respond to Salon's multiple requests for comment.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">"If the Trump campaign is paying Jason Miller for consulting services, but disclosing the payments as disbursements to Jamestown Associates for 'video production,' then the campaign would be violating its legal reporting requirements," Brendan Fischer, director of federal reform at&nbsp;<b>Campaign Legal Center (CLC),</b>&nbsp;an organization that advocates for fairness and transparency in elections, told Salon.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">In July, CLC filed an FEC complaint that alleged the Trump campaign hid the true recipients of at least $170 million in payments through the scheme Fischer described above, most specifically through American Made Media, a consulting firm co-founded by top campaign officials.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">"These campaign finance violations would be in addition to, and separate from, the violations that arise from the Trump campaign routing its spending through LLCs created and managed by senior campaign officials," Fischer said.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Campaign finance experts say that FEC advisory opinions dating back to the 1980s have held that political committees only have to report expenditures to the primary vendor, but do not have to report expenditures to subvendors. The FEC has held, however, in a series of enforcement cases, that the initial vendor cannot simply act as a conduit for payments to subvendors.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">In short, experts say, the arrangement is illegal.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">In recent weeks, Miller and his attorney have refused to tell Delgado whether he is being paid by either Jamestown Associates or the Trump campaign. In an email and court filing, Miller's attorney no longer refers to Jamestown CEO Larry Weitzner as a "former" associate of Miller, but has refused to clarify the current relationship.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Over the course of the last year, court documents show, Miller has dramatically and inventively reduced his child support payments. While reporting income of between $27,000 and $99,000 a month, he made six monthly support payments of $500, often in immediate proximity to mandatory court dates.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">While his creative accounting in court documents somehow reduces the monthly sums to around zero, the court has recently ruled those arguments invalid. In March, for instance, Miller paid $500 to his child's mother, yet spent more than $4,000 on guns. At one point he argued that he did not have enough money for a plane ticket.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">And while Miller has paid the full mandated $3,167 the last two months — since taking the campaign job for no official salary — he ignored a July 22 court order to pay more than $11,000 to make up for the payments he ducked earlier this year. Delgado has requested that the court hold him in contempt.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">It is unclear why Miller's income structure over the last year has been so opaque, and why in recent months he has fought to keep the details secret. It's also not clear why Miller's most lucrative month of the last calendar year — July, when he earned $99,000 — was the same month he dedicated himself to working for the campaign without taking a paycheck.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">However, one source of Miller's income over the last year has recently become the subject of federal scrutiny: Bannon's nonprofit, COAR, which prosecutors alleged in a charging document this August was a vehicle that Bannon and his collaborators used to create fake invoices as part of a money laundering scheme.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">In an Aug. 23 interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," Miller told host Chuck Todd that although he had worked for COAR, he had not been interviewed by government investigators: "I have not, and from public reports it looks like this investigation was going long before the podcast even started, the podcast and the radio show that I co-hosted with Steve."</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The indictment says that a financial institution had alerted Bannon and his collaborators that they were under federal investigation around October 2019, after which group members began communicating via encrypted messaging apps.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Miller co-hosted a podcast with Bannon for COAR, reportedly beginning in October 2019, the month after he left a stint in rehab. Ordinal invoices that Miller references in his custody filings suggest that COAR began to pay him around that time.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Those filings, obtained by Salon, along with additional communications, show that Miller appears to have been paid tens of thousands of dollars a month for his work at COAR, from October 2019 through as late as July —&nbsp;<b>nine months after Bannon's group allegedly took steps to conceal communications after learning they were under investigation.</b></font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">At the time of that July payment, of $10,000, Miller had been working on the Trump campaign for at least a month, and had recorded his last COAR podcast in May. It is unclear whether the Trump campaign is aware that Miller was being paid by Bannon's nonprofit while working for them.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Communications reviewed by Salon also show that&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Miller received $7,500 in July from a group called </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">National Public Affairs, a consulting firm cofounded by former White House official Justin Clark and Trump's current campaign manager, Bill Stepien.&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Miller received at least one other payment from the firm in that amount, communications show....</span></font></p></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></div><div style=""><font face="Times New Roman" size="4" /><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>Inside the Project Veritas Plan to Steal the Election</b></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">James O’Keefe’s group is part of a sprawling campaign to delegitimize mail-in balloting in the fall—a campaign being led by the White House.</span></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/158622/inside-project-veritas-plan-steal-election" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">https://newrepublic.com/article/158622/inside-project-veritas-plan-steal-election</font></a></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</font><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">https://newrepublic.com/article/158622/inside-project-veritas-plan-steal-election&nbsp;</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;James O’Keefe had big plans for 2020. The founder of Project Veritas, the conspiratorial right-wing group that specializes in Fox News–friendly “stings” intended to expose supposed liberal bias and corruption in American society, was planning on getting married this past May. The wedding, to a&nbsp;<b>public school teacher</b>, was to be at an exclusive country club in upstate New York. The guest list was packed with Make America Great Again world cognoscenti:&nbsp;<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Donald Trump Jr., Sean Hannity, Michelle Malkin, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and his activist wife Ginni were all invited, as were several of O’Keefe’s most generous conservative donors, including Texas shale oil billionaire George Bishop and Bullpen Capital founder Paul Martino.</span></font><aside id="recirc-0" class="recirc-most-popular pull-right pull-small hide"><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The wedding was, per an email blast, “postponed indefinitely” over the coronavirus, as the pandemic swept across the state this spring and early summer. Although O’Keefe himself declined to comment on this and many other details for this story, a well-placed frenemy is “<b>90 percent sure they broke up.”</b>&nbsp;In any event, while the pandemic may have derailed his personal life, it has only heightened the urgency of some of O’Keefe’s most lucratively funded dirty tricks.&nbsp;</font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">For well over a year, Project Veritas has been secretly producing undercover stings designed to undermine the integrity of absentee and mail-in ballot counts—an endeavor codenamed “Diamond Dog,</span>” according to documents we have obtained.&nbsp;<b>Diamond Dog began as only one facet of Project Veritas’s 2020 rat-fucking strategy, but with the onset of the pandemic, which has made in-person voting a dicey proposition, it has since become one of the group’s top-line action items.</b></font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The shift reflects the Republican Party’s near-existential concerns about mail-in voting in November. Donald Trump has disingenuously railed against the practice numerous times over the past few months, betraying a deep anxiety. “</font><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="Hyperlink0">Mail in ballots substantially increases the risk of crime and VOTER FRAUD!</span>” he has tweeted. At other times he has claimed: “<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1264558926021959680" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">It will be the greatest Rigged Election in history</span></a>”; “<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1266172570983940101" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">IT WILL ALSO LEAD TO THE END OF OUR GREAT REPUBLICAN PARTY</span></a>”; and “<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1259147372984180736" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">SCAM!</span></a>” Last week, he went so far as to suggest that the election should be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53597975" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">delayed</a>, saying that because of “Universal Mail-in Voting,” the vote would be “INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT.”</font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The purpose of Diamond Dog, as one source close to the organization put it, is “literally to get Trump reelected.” This source, like other past and present Project Veritas employees who have talked to us for this article,<b>&nbsp;expressed fear of reprisals from the group and would only speak under the condition of anonymity.</b></font></p></aside></div><div class="article-text-wrap" style="max-width: 1210px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><div class="article-text-grid" style="line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.09px;"><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Last year, Project Veritas’s donor development team solicited big-ticket funders with a pitch deck—frequently tailored to a given patron’s pet ideological grievances and personal hang-ups—offering tantalizing details about the group’s undercover operations for the 2020 campaign cycle.</span>&nbsp;One iteration of this Apple Keynote file was prepared for an ask meeting with a person who appears to be<b>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cognex.com/company/senior-management/dr-robert-shillman" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">Cognex Corporation founder</span></a>&nbsp;Robert Shillman, a&nbsp;<a href="https://archives.frontpagemag.com/fpm/warrior-cause-frontpagemagcom/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">devoted funder of Islamophobic causes</span></a></b>&nbsp;who was also one of O’Keefe’s would-be wedding guests. (Shillman ended up pledging to donate $50,000 to the group.)&nbsp;<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The slate of investigations in the “Dr. Bob” pitch included schemes to procure evidence of “illegal aliens voting,” mail-in ballot tampering at “nursing homes,” and “the sale of absentee ballots and voter profiles on the ‘Dark Web.’”</span></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By the end of summer 2019, Diamond Dog had already grown to be a cross-country effort, based on internal Project Veritas memos, research notes, and other documents that we have obtained. In<b>&nbsp;California and Texas,</b>&nbsp;Project Veritas has tasked its operatives with unearthing supposed evidence of widespread mail-in ballot forgery.&nbsp;<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">In both states, Project Veritas has worked to<b>&nbsp;infiltrate t</b>he groups of volunteers and paid canvassers who collect absentee and mail-in voter applications from low-income, elderly, and minority groups—a perfectly legal practice in most states that conservatives have tried to label as nefarious “ballot harvesting.”</span></font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">In Texas, Project Veritas has also coordinated in secret with a local Republican operative named Aaron Harris, codenamed “Dragon,” currently chief of staff to</span><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">Republican congressman Lance Gooden</b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">. In turn, through the activist group&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.usccr.gov/press/2018/03-07-PR.pdf" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102); text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">he founded</span></a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">, Direct Action Texas, Harris has helped Project Veritas covertly strategize with a&nbsp;</span><b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">staffer working for the office of the state’s Republican Attorney General&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Ken Paxton</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">. Paxton is leading the state’s “</span><a href="https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/initiatives/election-integrity" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102); text-decoration-line: none; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">election integrity initiative</span></a></b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">,” one of many Republican efforts nationwide to suppress the vote under the guise of rooting out the nearly non-existent threat of voter fraud.</span></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Granted, Project Veritas, whose fervor to own the libs is matched only by its comical incompetence, is hardly likely to tip the election in Donald Trump’s favor all by itself. But it is at the vanguard of a larger underhanded approach that Republicans, starting at the very top, are taking to the 2020 cycle. If they want to win, they really have no other choice but to undermine the vote: Trump’s poll numbers are in the basement, and he appears constitutionally incapable of making appeals beyond his hardcore supporters on the right.</font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style=""><span style="text-align: center; letter-spacing: -0.09px;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">Republicans have all but admitted that this is their strategy. In coordination with the Republican National Committee and a raft of independent conservative groups, Trump has&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><b style="">staked the success of his entire reelection campaign to a widespread voter suppression effort built on the pretext of preserving election integrity.</b><b style="">&nbsp;The project, led by his campaign’s senior counsel Justin Clark,</b>&nbsp;has worked to place operatives in at least&nbsp;<b style="">10 battleground states</b>&nbsp;to challenge voter rolls and procedures.</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">&nbsp;</span><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Between lawsuits and local advertising blitzes—all regularly relayed to Trump in the Oval Office—the effort could cost “well over $20 million,” as the RNC told</b></span><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="text-align: center; letter-spacing: -0.09px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="text-align: center; letter-spacing: -0.09px;">T</i><i style="text-align: center; letter-spacing: -0.09px;">he Washington Post</i><span style="text-align: center; letter-spacing: -0.09px;">.&nbsp;</span></b></font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">Project Veritas has been among the on-the-ground organizations at the forefront of these efforts and has benefited substantially as a result</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">. According to internal Project Veritas documents, the</span><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">&nbsp;group’s fundraising total for 2019 leaped up to more than</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">$13.44 million,</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">&nbsp;$4.58 million more than their 2018&nbsp;</span></b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">returns and the group’s largest reported annual revenue figure to date. The group may be comically incompetent, but in these cursed times, we all know how dangerous comical incompetence can be once enough money and clout line up behind it.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">For an operation premised on conspiracy theories and fueled by raging paranoia, it will come as no surprise that the agents helping to spearhead Project Veritas’s election mischief are&nbsp;<b>oddballs on the fringes</b>&nbsp;of American political life. In one slide prepared for Dr. Bob, a 69-year-old Florida resident, a registered Republican named Joseph Vancheri notifies O’Keefe of his soon-to-be status as a<b>&nbsp;poll worker in Broward County, likely for undercover&nbsp;</b>Election Day snooping on Project Veritas’s behalf. Vancheri,&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joseph.vancheri/posts/2975603109123552?cft%255B0%255D=AZV3yPhDgP3Wr275FgE-qQfiInAUUa3hwxrvT9W8VBkqLCBbDvUfWAO-6OJyauTOwNTFQnDV-Ysr41toJ0kst6OzLg_TrkglHb4MFuoJV7nbvHb_4byEnn2k1296mBGX1Fx7JntFuSlXxtNuEIgaaH6c&tn=%252CO%252CP-R" target="blank" rel="nofollow" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">an ex-cop</span></a><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">&nbsp;and&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joseph.vancheri/posts/2299088966774973?cft%255B0%255D=AZU6ZuqzekcmskCcOeJyWXNlBwC_DIscfIavNHe_5egAi6jz1Ry_oBpVMb0zPMTjoRh0ouDW_gUEcMt0CPKEnmzQRs1P1E0kDfUjQG3qqbu7FwE-kYPr0gPNda51uRw-P0I&tn=%252CO%252CP-R" target="blank" rel="nofollow" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">die-hard</span></a><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joseph.vancheri/posts/2448563271827541?cft%255B0%255D=AZVBhOruASQ9RuRr1LVmTl-MHM-8AKASBJwBelHuE5H1TVPF9YtSUkfU-IzuGN9Z7G1aKmUWrA2SIygvt4B8E4x-K0WuQj2FdfXnGuzCKt4JuUNrjmrYbUKpk5zwtIWRcOg&tn=%252CO%252CP-R" target="blank" rel="nofollow" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">Trump</span></a><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joseph.vancheri/posts/2159202610763610?cft%255B0%255D=AZX5oTpAw4NSPOIMtGSbMB9mX6U7S9TNlVDDJJR3mXKSFr6ooM12TtPKa7oIot6dIldWQIGXaESnLa3P289_7NCe_PxUK9B9e9BDRbV_vYdMavavTLiwnmtmcS9o8ooygnY&tn=%252CO%252CP-R" target="blank" rel="nofollow" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">supporter</span></a><span class="Hyperlink0" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">,</span><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">&nbsp;has routinely taken to Facebook to lash out against “</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joseph.vancheri/posts/2140446149305923?cft%255B0%255D=AZV-oVlu84dKQhR98P0s9XSGeo5vItJUtLe-hlubKMy1nGbneNNNylKhcEYHXDH7MwgWPLuTTuOYIvo71LN-6NMyh0O-gVUsy2bxLAOWvCmYDYy4gbARKqamI7L6BzopJrY&tn=%252CO%252CP-R" target="blank" rel="nofollow" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">all the Trump haters</span></a><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">” and “</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joseph.vancheri/posts/2140446149305923?cft%255B0%255D=AZV-oVlu84dKQhR98P0s9XSGeo5vItJUtLe-hlubKMy1nGbneNNNylKhcEYHXDH7MwgWPLuTTuOYIvo71LN-6NMyh0O-gVUsy2bxLAOWvCmYDYy4gbARKqamI7L6BzopJrY&tn=%252CO%252CP-R" target="blank" rel="nofollow" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">SHEEP</span></a><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">,” including “</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joseph.vancheri/posts/3274039952613198?cft%255B0%255D=AZW3Cc8Bjw8UnuBtw3mY2ErtJyv8-TRVsz0ZOyhOuwMaopnOU7B3yBwrH80eykd8nv3ImlHj1eGy9RcjN_Ush9pKnXupv4osP0rvNJGSBLCmL255ig-cgF3ZeIX3tugPG0k&tn=%252CO%252CP-R" target="blank" rel="nofollow" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">SHIFTY SCHIFF</span></a><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">” and “</span><span class="Hyperlink0" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joseph.vancheri/posts/1596151270402083?cft%255B0%255D=AZWF8xakwGLdWTsF7wOv8zry2f7lmjAvRM2FufvkfqBZs02gq4PdeTW2agJWPe1rewqhHlud9bEs79NKaoMkYR6Ea-jVl10LfNJqcbXR9HbGfZOMaluXJutRznDIxnUPvW0&tn=%252CO%252CP-R" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">the Idiot Warren</a>,</span><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">” using Trump’s preferred epithet “</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joseph.vancheri/posts/2273290049354865?cft%255B0%255D=AZVbW5tWnOmmrb1s3cECAaeZuzyqraoPkS8qAmQZtdqSKGgGlGx-Mmi5Pk-InfYT1z6Xa_Yp80Yv_XKEWF4FnRrebcPEi28z9mfcnIrdRK0uT19dLX_xGxZ5pAyv7etsyzU&tn=%252CO%252CP-R" target="blank" rel="nofollow" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">Pocohontas</span></a><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">&nbsp;[</span><i times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">sic</i><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">].” A&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joseph.vancheri/posts/2164548696895668?cft%255B0%255D=AZV8B4F26fhOdIYhsjCZq80ro6fVWrkR70eT8JjnfZLw6S_EfP2RFGQ7TrOanL23SB1F4FNnKvQtygV82tXqdvfb7Y83TOtES3Bs94rn4S0J78TU-U3Vx2Mm0hz_gdfjZrA&tn=%252CO%252CP-R" target="blank" rel="nofollow" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">first-generation immigrant</span></a><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">&nbsp;himself, Vancheri has nevertheless long harbored&nbsp;</span><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O9p4m4tDUtaERAXcdroI5niywMSmxSPq/view" target="blank" rel="nofollow" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">hardline views</span></a><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">&nbsp;on immigration that echo&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joseph.vancheri/posts/1600015913348952?cft%255B0%255D=AZU-gx7L6ZLDkAs5sXbfvuIaw9E95Sfi08dAFjJXTTysJGD1iz62s48pcELFNnWCsqGUxLfopLRN-5ynrVrGzQXcAuiRS5hPk5COw75tltKQls9uGgTA15T5SfFrQFx1uT0&tn=%252CO%252CP-R" target="blank" rel="nofollow" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">his anxieties</span></a><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">&nbsp;over the potential for illicit enfranchisement of foreigners.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">In another slide, Project Veritas boasts of receiving a tip from&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/archkennedy/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">a former broadcast meteorologist</span></a><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">&nbsp;named Arch Kennedy, who found it suspicious that 300 people were all registered to vote at the address for Emory University’s Emory Muslim Student Association in Atlanta. (In all likelihood these voters, who constitute 2 percent of Emory’s total student population and .0028 percent of Georgia’s population, have their mail forwarded there.) In 2017, Arch organized one of the anti-Muslim group&nbsp;</span><a href="https://bridge.georgetown.edu/research/factsheet-act-for-america-2/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">ACT! For America</span></a><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">’s 28 nationwide “</span><a href="https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2017/06/10/live-blog-act-americas-march-against-sharia-rallies" target="blank" rel="nofollow" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">March Against Sharia</span></a><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">” rallies. Held in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park, it was a sparsely attended affair but still managed to include Republican Georgia State Senator Michael Williams, then mounting a doomed primary campaign for governor.&nbsp;</span><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px" text-align="text-align" center="center">[graf]</span></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">Iit’s unclear if either Vancheri or Kennedy’s offerings matured into full-fledged stings banked for the 2020 election. Neither they nor Project Veritas responded for comment, while the Project Veritas source who supplied the “Dr. Bob” pitch deck admitted that “a lot of it was kinda BS,” another example of the group “hyping themselves up to make themselves look better” and squeeze more money out of donors.<b>&nbsp;Project Veritas went back to the well this weekend, soliciting donors<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">&nbsp;</span></b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">in a</span></span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">&nbsp;</span><span class="Hyperlink1" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">mass</span><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">&nbsp;</span><span class="Hyperlink1" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">email</span></span><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">&nbsp;</span><span class="Hyperlink1" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">Saturday afternoon</span><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">&nbsp;</span><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">that promised a major ballot harvesting investigation that needs to be “</span><span class="Hyperlink1" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">completed as soon as possible.</span><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">”</span><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" text-align="text-align" center="center" letter-spacing="letter-spacing" px="px">&nbsp;</span></p><div class="inserted-housead" style="margin: 4rem 5rem; max-width: 80%; width: 968px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; padding: 0px 1rem !important;"><div class="article-text-wrap" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); max-width: 1210px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><div class="article-text-grid" style="line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.09px;"><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">But other stings outlined in the Keynote file did materialize. The presentation, forexample, teased an inside man at&nbsp;<b>Pinterest&nbsp;</b>who was “increasingly worried” about the platform’s “expanding community safety restrictions.” Sure enough, two months later, an ex-Pinterest Android app developer named Eric Cochran came forward with (<a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90363206/pinterest-bans-anti-abortion-group-joins-deplatforming-wars" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">later debunked</span></a>) allegations in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.projectveritas.com/news/eric-cochran-pinterest/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">series</span></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.projectveritas.com/video/project-veritas-features-pinterest-insider-speaks-out-the-tech-companies-cant-fight-us-all/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">of</span></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.projectveritas.com/2019/06/11/tech-insider-blows-whistle-on-how-pinterest-listed-top-pro-life-site-as-porn-bible-verses-censored/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">Project Veritas</span></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/qJg_yGfmSAk" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">videos</span></a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/i-blew-whistle-pinterest-censorship-opinion-1445496" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">a&nbsp;<i>Newsweek&nbsp;</i>op-ed</span></a>&nbsp;claiming that the platform was censoring anti-abortion Christian advertisers</span>. The pitch deck also promised an exposé from a “CNN Insider” named Cary Poarch, a bombshell that fizzled in October 2019 when Poarch’s hidden recordings, taken while working as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/cnn-says-no-one-project-014158797.html" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">a freelance satellite truck operator</span></a>&nbsp;for the news network, failed to expose more than the personal opinions of a few random employees.&nbsp;</font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Well before the pandemic drew national attention to mail-in voting, these documents show a discernible focus on “ballot harvesting” as part of the larger Republican effort to paint voting by mail as a threat to democracy. The concern stems from the party’s entrenched belief that, as Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1247861952736526336" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">tweeted</span></a>, vote-by-mail “doesn’t work out well for Republicans,” since it often helps low-income people and minorities.&nbsp;</font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">By late August 2019, the “Story Objective” for Diamond Dog had expanded, per one internal meeting document, to exposing “corruption within CA ballot harvesting companies and other states (TX) based on intel gains.”</span>&nbsp;A Project Veritas undercover operative codenamed “Magnum” had been busy “attending local Democratic events in CA to find discussions of harvesting.” Another operative codenamed “GDog” was creating an<b>&nbsp;entrapment scheme by posting “ads online looking for people to join his ballot harvesting.”&nbsp;</b></font></p></div></div><div class="full-width inserted-dfp ad-container-0"><div class="article-text-wrap" style="max-width: 1210px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><div class="article-text-grid" style="line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.09px;"><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">Texas</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;has been a major theater for Project Veritas’s Diamond Dog operations, in no small measure because raw demographics&nbsp;</span><a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/154723/texas-bracing-blue-wave-2020-yes-texas" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">have been threatening to turn the state blue for years</span></a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The sense of crisis comes from the state GOP’s failure to bring Latinos into their voting bloc. The legacy of such botched strategizing has been an assault on the state’s Latino electorate itself, with right-wing officials and political operatives raising suspicions about their very legitimacy as legal participants in the voting process.</span></font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Aaron Harris,</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2017/august/how-dallas-city-council-elections-work-fraud-mail-in-ballot/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">a son of white evangelical missionaries</span></a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;who picked up Portuguese while growing up in Brazil and went on to become fluent in Spanish, has been&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.texasobserver.org/how-tea-partiers-fueled-texas-latest-voter-fraud-freakout/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">relentlessly stoking paranoia over mail-in ballots</span></a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;since his first failed foray as a&nbsp;</span><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">paid political consultant</b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;in 2014. Despite&nbsp;</span><a href="https://fortworthbusiness.com/government/monty-bennett-businessman-water-district-activist/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">a sizable war chest</span></a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;from Dallas hotel magnate and Tea Party financier Monty Bennett, Harris’s candidates in the 2015 local election for the Tarrant Regional Water District lost. He quickly became fixated on the idea that thousands of forged mail-in ballot applications had been responsible for their defeat.&nbsp;</span></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Unlike some Project Veritas associates, Harris has already managed to stir up some public alarm about alleged balloting fraud in cooperation with elected officials from the Republican Party. He has made repeated open records requests for “applications for ballot by mail” and copies of signed “ballot carrier envelopes”&nbsp;<a href="http://directactiontx.com/tag/open-records/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">in Tarrant County</span></a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://directactiontx.com/voter-fraud-is-not-realhavent-you-heard/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">elsewhere in Texas</span></a>, eyeballing the signatures on each for signs of fraud.&nbsp;<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">(<a href="https://www.qdewill.com/famouscases.html" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">Emily J. Will</span></a>, the board-certified forensic document examiner who tried to warn&nbsp;<i>60 Minutes</i>&nbsp;about the dubious provenance of President George W. Bush’s supposedly doctored Air National Guard records in 2004, told us that a non-expert like Harris couldn’t be relied upon to discern a forged signature.</span>)&nbsp;</font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">In 2016, Harris sent the fruits of that labor to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, leading to four&nbsp;<a href="https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2018/10/12/women-accused-paid-voter-fraud-ring/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">conspicuously timed</span></a>&nbsp;indictments two years later on the eve of the 2018 midterm elections.</font><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">&nbsp;Paxton described the four Hispanic women, paid canvassers soliciting mail-in ballot applications door-to-door, as an “<a href="https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/work-ag-paxtons-election-fraud-unit-results-arrests-4-members-organized-voter-fraud-ring-north-fort" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">organized voter fraud ring</span></a>.” He named (but did not charge) a former local Democratic Party leader, Stuart Clegg, as the ringleader in the court filings.&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></p></div></div><div class="full-width inserted-dfp ad-container-0"><div class="article-text-wrap" style="max-width: 1210px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><div class="article-text-grid" style="line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.09px;"><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">That case, which is still ongoing, reveals the ways in which the official GOP subtly coordinates with its army of right-wing irregulars in the field.</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">&nbsp;Paxton&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-racist-voting-laws/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">stridently enforces</span></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://campaignlegal.org/sites/default/files/Veasey%20v%20Abbott%205.18.16%20One%20Pager.pdf" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">one of the strictest voter I.D. laws in the nation</span></a>,</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">&nbsp;while Harris and his political allies at Direct Action Texas and Empower Texans work to independently legitimize the attorney general’s partisan vendettas</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">. Harris and local Republican lawyer Alex Kim, for example, inserted themselves into the prosecution’s case</span><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;<a href="https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/election/article222952040.html" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none;">by independently visiting one of the charged canvassers in prison</a>, seemingly on their own initiative, in an effort to coerce the woman into flipping on Clegg.&nbsp;</b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(A month after helping Harris sneak into the Tarrant County Jail to harass the canvasser,&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Kim&nbsp;<a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Alex_Kim" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">won</span></a>&nbsp;a local race to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article238656628.html" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">preside</span></a>&nbsp;over the entire county as a judge for Texas’s 323rd District Court.</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">)&nbsp;</span></font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><b>Paxton’s office has often pursued these voter fraud cases through a prosecutorial diversion program, allowing them&nbsp;<a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-voter-fraud_n_5cb105cfe4b098b9a2d3d766" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">to juke their stats with&nbsp;</span><span class="Hyperlink0">“</span></a><a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-voter-fraud_n_5cb105cfe4b098b9a2d3d766" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink2">de minimis</span></a><a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-voter-fraud_n_5cb105cfe4b098b9a2d3d766" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">”</span><span class="Hyperlink0">&nbsp;cases</span></a>&nbsp;without ever having to prove their arguments in open court or subject their methods to independent review.</b>&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Their biggest confirmed conviction to date: sending a 37-year-old Mexican citizen and&nbsp;<b>mother of four, Rosa Maria Ortega,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courthousenews.com/woman-faces-20-years-for-voting-in-texas/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">to prison for eight years</span></a>&nbsp;for the high crime of being confused that her status as a legal resident in Texas did not actually confer unto her the voting privileges of full United States citizenship</b></span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><b>.</b>&nbsp;Ortega voted in five elections between 2004 and her 2017 sentencing, c</span><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">asting ballots for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in 2012—and, tragically,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/02/11/republican-green-card-holder-who-voted-illegally-in-texas-gets-8-years-in-prison/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">for Ken Paxton himself in the 2014 Texas attorney general</span><span class="Hyperlink0">’</span><span class="Hyperlink0">s race</span></a>.</b></font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">All signs point toward Paxton getting even more aggressive in 2020, thanks to a wrecked-up and paralyzed response to the pandemic by both Trump and Texas</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Governor Greg Abbott.&nbsp;Republicans are nervous that even blood-red Texas might be in play come November. Last April,&nbsp;Paxton&nbsp;<a href="https://lawandcrime.com/covid-19-pandemic/texas-ag-threatens-voting-rights-groups-with-felony-charges-for-pushing-vote-by-mail/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink3">threatened</span></a>&nbsp;felony charges for anyone who requests or advocates for mail-in ballots “based solely on fear of contracting Covid-19</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">”—a move that was upheld&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/05/27/texas-vote-by-mail-coronavirus/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">by the Texas Supreme Court in May</span></a>, then&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/26/us/supreme-court-texas-vote-by-mail.html" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">by the Trump-stacked U.S. Supreme Court in June</span></a>.&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">It’s now sure to set the stage for many of the alleged mail-in schemes that Project Veritas will purport to expose later this year.</span></font></p><hr class="section-break" style="background: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 1px; border: 0px; margin: 45px 0px 45px 302.5px; max-width: 41.25%;" /><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>One local Project Veritas operative assigned to coordinate with Aaron Harris in Texas is also a former undercover volunteer: Cassandra Spencer, codenamed “Foxtrot</b>” and sometimes “Foxtrot Smith” internally. In 2017, Spencer became O’Keefe’s&nbsp;<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">“<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/27/18243097/facebook-leaker-project-veritas-moderation-documents" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">Facebook Insider</span></a>” after leaving&nbsp;<a href="https://nextdoor.com/agency-post/tx/pflugerville/pflugerville-police-department/criminal-mischief-vehicle-damage-50255295/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">a public information officer post</span></a>&nbsp;with the Pflugerville, Texas, police department to join&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/contingent-workforce-business-operations-analyst-at-facebook-1569827378/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">Facebook’s contingent workforce operations</span></a>&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Employee-Review-BCForward-RVW20876612.htm" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink1">BCForward</span></a>&nbsp;</span>in Austin as a social media content moderator.</font></p></div></div><div class="full-width inserted-dfp ad-container-0"><div class="article-text-wrap" style="max-width: 1210px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><div class="article-text-grid" style="line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.09px;"><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Spencer has positioned herself at the extremely online intersection of gaming culture and the alt-right. She has&nbsp;<a href="https://medium.com/@HouseCorgarian" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">described herself</span></a>&nbsp;as a “Proud Boy’s Girl” on Medium and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B6n1Bz5l43j/?igshid=y0k6en058rqm" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">attended</span></a>&nbsp;“Austin’s premier anime convention”&nbsp;<a href="http://ikkicon.com/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">IKKiCON</span></a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuna(Final_Fantasy)" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">Final Fantasy X</span></a>&nbsp;cosplay.</span>&nbsp;She traveled to Washington, D.C., for the inaugural&nbsp;<a href="https://gab.com/Corgarian/posts/3278537404013991" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">DeploraBall</span></a>&nbsp;and operates&nbsp;<a href="https://clips.twitch.tv/PiercingPiliableCaterpillarPupper" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">her own Twitch stream</span></a>, which she dubbed “<a href="https://www.twitch.tv/corgarian/about" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">a First Amendment zone</span></a>” for her conservative followers, “<a href="https://www.twitch.tv/corgarian/about" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">not like many others</span></a>.”<b>&nbsp;For the 2020 Democratic primary in Iowa, Spencer posed as a volunteer for presidential hopefuls Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders as part of a Project Veritas sting then-codenamed “Gold Mine."</b></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[graf doc]</font></span></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">al?ready staked out on the Texas ballot-harvesting vanguard, Aaron Harris “met with Foxtrot”</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">&nbsp;</span><span class="Hyperlink1" style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">in person</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">and “gave her a lead with someone to follow,” per internal Project Veritas research notes. As Diamond Dog progressed, Harris’s ties to Project Veritas deepened to include</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">&nbsp;</span><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=wYe9DgAAQBAJ&lpg=PT253&ots=yasVM0-2f&dq=%2522american%2520pravda%2522%2520%2522spencer%2520meads%2522&pg=PT253%23v=onepage&q=%2522american%2520pravda%2522%2520%2522spencer%2520meads%2522&f=false" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none; letter-spacing: -0.09px;"><span class="Hyperlink1">longtime</span></a><span style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">employee and</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">&nbsp;</span><span class="Hyperlink1" style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">recruiting director</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">&nbsp;</span><span class="Hyperlink1" style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">Spencer Meads</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">, codenamed “</span><span class="Hyperlink1" style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">Brady</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">,” and possibly an</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">&nbsp;</span><span class="Hyperlink1" style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">undercover journalist&nbsp;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MEd6N_I-P1Tt3XHXvOlDgskd6AbsOtuA/view?usp=sharing" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">(</a>UCJ<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MEd6N_I-P1Tt3XHXvOlDgskd6AbsOtuA/view?usp=sharing" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">)</a>&nbsp;</span><span class="Hyperlink1" style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">codenamed</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">“</span><span class="Hyperlink1" style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">Peter Pan</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">.”&nbsp;<b>Project Veritas’s expanding pool of Texas sources was meant to be a state secret, but the document offered a huge clue about who might be involved in an all-caps and highlighted portion that read: “</b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><b>CANNOT MENTION ATTORNEY GENERAL</b>.</span>” In the same document, after listing a series of major metropolitan areas in Texas as potential sites for their “ballot harvesting” investigation,<b>&nbsp;a question is proposed: “Where does the AG’s guy suggest they go?”</b></span></font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">When pressed for comment on his apparent role in facilitating communications between the Texas attorney general’s office and Project Veritas, Harris responded via his congressional email, “Do not contact me about my previous employment on official channels. Learn to be competent at your job.” After it was pointed out to Harris that the internal Project Veritas documents were sourced in the early fall of 2019, approximately 10 months after he became&nbsp;</span><b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Congressman Gooden’s chief of staff,</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">Harris</span></b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">became belligerent. To questions reiterated via personal text message, he responded, “I’ve asked you to stop harassing me and you want to argue about it? You are an idiot. You just keep proving it.”</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Spencer did not respond to requests for comment for this story.&nbsp; &nbsp;</font></p></div></div><div class="full-width inserted-dfp ad-container-0"><div class="article-text-wrap" style="max-width: 1210px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><div class="article-text-grid" style="line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.09px;"><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Only two principal targets, old Harris foes, were mentioned by name in the Project Veritas strategy document: Texas-based personal injury attorney Domingo Garcia, a former state representative and&nbsp;<a href="https://lulac.org/about/president/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">the president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC</span></a>; and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.harvestproject.co/?fbclid=IwAR3f1-XvflE0C0V6D6WcKXpXh0kx80gvdKiys97g7jRqK0d0q0W0EiU4m08" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">Harvest Project Food Rescue</span></a>&nbsp;of Dallas, a community group that Harris&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2017/august/how-dallas-city-council-elections-work-fraud-mail-in-ballot/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">seems</span></a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="http://directactiontx.com/aaron-harris-direct-action-texas-drive-reform/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">believe</span></a>&nbsp;is an insidious front through which the state’s left-wing operatives entice immigrant communities, with the lure of unsold fresh produce donated by local distributors, into filling out their own mail-in ballots and thus enfranchising themselves.</span>&nbsp;(“I wake up usually at 4:30 in the morning, I have to go pick up the food by six,” Harvest Project co-founder Danaë Gutiérrez-Martínez said when asked about Harris’s allegations. “I don’t get home ’til eight at night, nine at night, sometimes, to get up the next day and do it again, especially right now with everything that’s happening. You know, I must be Superwoman if I have time to do anything else.”)&nbsp;</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">A long-since-ousted co-founder of the Harvest Project, Jose Barrientos was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wfaa.com/article/features/originals/whistleblower-alleges-voter-fraud-extends-into-dallas-county-elections-office/287-440359433" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">very publicly</span></a>&nbsp;implicated in a mail-in ballot forgery scheme in 2017. But Paxton and the local district attorney ultimately indicted someone else entirely, 27-year-old Miguel Hernandez, for the felony offense. After 180 days stewing in jail, Hernandez was allowed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor with the understanding that his sentence would be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fox4news.com/news/dallas-county-voter-fraud-suspect-gets-180-days-in-jail" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">limited to time served</span></a>.&nbsp;</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The beef between Harris’s groups and LULAC has been considerably more fraught. In the fall of 2016<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">, Garcia publicly offered&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fwweekly.com/2016/11/02/left-right-left-right-left/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">a $25,000 reward</span></a>, funded through LULAC, for any information leading to the conviction of individuals “trying to intimidate a senior in Fort Worth or anywhere in Texas.” The target of their bounty was pretty clear, teed-up as it was by a Texas state representative, Ramón Romero, who had called out Harris&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fwweekly.com/2016/11/02/left-right-left-right-left/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">by name</span></a>&nbsp;for his door-to-door inquisition of seniors in Fort Worth’s predominantly Hispanic north side.</span>&nbsp;Later at that same press conference, a related community service nonprofit, the United Hispanic Council of Tarrant County, announced that it had filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice against Harris’s Direct Action Texas for creating “an atmosphere of fear and intimidation” in local Hispanic neighborhoods.</font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">In January 2019, LULAC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5699919-LULAC-lawsuit-against-SOS-Paxton.html" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">filed a lawsuit against Attorney General Paxton and the secretary of state in Texas, David Whitley</span></a>, accusing them both of violating the Voting Rights Act in their haphazard attempt to purge the state’s voter rolls of non-citizens.</font></p></div></div><div class="full-width inserted-dfp ad-container-0" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div class="article-text-wrap" style="max-width: 1210px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><div class="article-text-grid" style="line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.09px;"><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><b>Whitley’s offices would&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2019/01/29/texas-voter-citizenship-list-problems-state-tells-counties/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">quietly walk back</span></a>&nbsp;their initial list of 95,000 suspicious voters, many of whom were discovered to be, in fact, naturalized citizen</b>s. Shortly thereafter, San Antonio federal district court Judge Fred Biery&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texasobserver.org/senate-republicans-back-secretary-of-state-despite-ham-handed-voter-purge/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">put a stop to the purge</span></a>, declaring that state Republicans were trying “<a href="https://texascivilrightsproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Voter-Purge-MTD-Order.pdf" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">to ferret the infinitesimal needles out of the haystack of 15 million Texas voters.</span></a>” Harris, for his part, was unrepentant,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texasobserver.org/how-tea-partiers-fueled-texas-latest-voter-fraud-freakout/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">telling the&nbsp;</span></a><a href="https://www.texasobserver.org/how-tea-partiers-fueled-texas-latest-voter-fraud-freakout/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink2"><i>Texas Observer</i></span></a>, “We are changing the entire discussion on voter fraud in Texas.” He was not wrong. While Harris is now&nbsp;<a href="https://aaronharrisforcongress.com/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">planning to run for a House seat himself</span></a>, his tireless efforts there have laid the groundwork for Project Veritas and its GOP partners this election season.</font></p><hr class="section-break" style="height: 1px; background: rgb(0, 0, 0); border: 0px; margin: 45px 0px 45px 302.5px; max-width: 41.25%;" /><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">When mainstream Americans think about James O’Keefe, if they think about James O’Keefe at all, it’s usually in reference to his most hilarious failures:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/05/30/james-okeefe-accidentally-stings-himself" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">ruining his own sting on George Soros</span><span class="Hyperlink0">’</span><span class="Hyperlink0">s Open Society Foundation</span></a>&nbsp;by leaving a self-incriminating voicemail;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/09/29/okeefe.cnn.prank/index.html" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">failing to lure a CNN reporter onto his yacht</span></a>&nbsp;for a detailed “<a href="http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2010/09/specials/cnn.caper/index.html" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">faux seducing</span></a>” prank;&nbsp;<a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/05/03/erik-prince-trump-uae-project-veritas/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">revealing his unseemly ties to the billionaire mercenary Erik Prince</span></a>&nbsp;by posting his own&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BQYxRGxByZa/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">vanity spy training photos</span></a>&nbsp;on social media. If Diamond Dog follows the Project Veritas playbook, it will likely focus on goosing a few unguarded comments out of canvassers and other volunteers in the hope of netting an inflammatory sound bite or two.</font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">A modest, practically harmless October Surprise. But it’s typically down ballot where the average Project Veritas video tends to have its most pernicious effects. Less well known than O’Keefe’s blunders on the national stage are the numerous documented instances in which his s<b>tings have been cited to justify new and more onerous voter I.D. laws or other election integrity legislation in state legislatures across the country.</b></font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">In April 2012, Chris McDaniel, then Mississippi’s Senate elections committee chairman, cited a Project Veritas voter fraud video as evidence justifying the passage of the state’s “photo identification requirement” bill⁠, which the state’s Republican Governor Phil Bryant signed that May. Despite&nbsp;<a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/democrats-voting-rights-act_n_5c75a48ce4b0031d9562ecee?guccounter=1" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">legal</span></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/policy-solutions/effects-shelby-county-v-holder" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">challenges</span></a>, this law is still on the books today.&nbsp;</font></p></div></div><div class="full-width inserted-dfp ad-container-0"><div class="article-text-wrap" style="max-width: 1210px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><div class="article-text-grid" style="line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.09px;"><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Also that year, a Republican&nbsp;<b>Minnesota</b>&nbsp;state representative, Steve Drazkowski, praised a locally shot O’Keefe video—in which Project Veritas undercover operatives requested ballot applications for their friends “Timothy Tebow and Thomas Brady”—during a floor debate for his party’s own draconian voter I.D. bill. While Minnesota’s Democratic Governor Mark Dayton vetoed a strict version of that voter I.D. legislation, and Minnesota voters backed his decision in a ballot initiative later that year, the state’s&nbsp;<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Republican Party still&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/02/27/voter-id-bill-clears-mn-senate-panel" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">plans to revisit the issue again this year</span></a>. (</span>“We have had a number of studies that have been completed, there’s a lot of new data on this topic, and there are court cases that have been decided,” as Minnesota GOP State Senator Scott Newman ominously put it, “none of which we had in 2012.”)&nbsp;</font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">O’Keefe’s “Primary of the Living Dead” stunts during the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-uVhhIlPk0" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">New Hampshire</span></a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptSrcNvJzBQ" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">North Carolina</span></a>&nbsp;primaries in 2012—in which his operatives requested but crucially did not actually attempt to use, the ballots of deceased primary voters—aided&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/policy-solutions/voter-id-laws-passed-2011" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">the passage of stringent voter I.D. laws</span></a>&nbsp;in those states. After New Hampshire&nbsp;<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190713074751/https:/www.governor.nh.gov/news-media/press-2018/20180713-bill-signing-hb-1264.htm" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">enacted</span></a>&nbsp;a law in 2018 tightening the state’s voting statutes, partly in response to a new series of Project Veritas videos,&nbsp;<b>Democratic legislators made&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nhpr.org/post/nh-legislators-vote-overriding-handful-sununu-vetoes%23stream/0" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">repeated</span></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wmur.com/article/sununu-vetoes-democratic-passed-voting-bills-says-election-integrity-to-remain-in-place/28543142" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">attempts</span></a>&nbsp;to repeal them, only to be thwarted by Republican Governor Chris Sununu’s veto.</b></font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">O’Keefe’s wealthy donors surely remember these and other victories in vivid detail, in no small measure because they are reiterated tirelessly during O’Keefe’s paid speaking engagements and fundraising conclaves. Among Project Veritas’s 2019 contributors were several wealthy political groups, charitable foundations, and conservative billionaires with apparent interests in the outcome of Diamond Dog.</font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">From California,&nbsp;<span class="Hyperlink0">a donation of at least $10,000</span>&nbsp;from&nbsp;<span class="Hyperlink0">a pledged $100,000</span>&nbsp;came to Veritas from Susan Groff,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-groff-71027746/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">president</span></a>&nbsp;of the Los Angeles-area construction equipment rental company Northwest Excavating</span>.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/search?order=desc&q=Susan+Groff&sort=D&type=donors" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">A prolific Republican donor</span></a>&nbsp;along with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/search?q=Howard+Groff&type=donors" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">her husband Howard</span></a>, both Groffs were praised as “<a href="https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/2012/12/19/extensions-of-remarks-section/article/E1967-4" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">good friends, entrepreneurs and patriots</span></a>” in a loving tribute entered into the Congressional Record by&nbsp;<a href="https://littlesis.org/person/13297-Elton_W_Gallegly%23" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">their longtime beneficiary</span></a>, former&nbsp;<b>GOP House Rep. Elton Gallegly.&nbsp;</b>(Another $50,000 came into Project Veritas from a donor listed only as “Arnott”; the&nbsp;<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Orange County-based investment guru Robert D. Arnott, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prwatch.org/news/2020/01/13533/right-wing-business-billionaires-launch-attack-bernie-sanders" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">Koch network ally</span></a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/search?order=desc&q=robert+arnott&sort=D&type=donors" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">prolific Republican donor</span></a>, denied responsibility when reached via email.)</span></font></p></div></div><div class="full-width inserted-dfp ad-container-0"><div class="article-text-wrap" style="max-width: 1210px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><div class="article-text-grid" style="line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.09px;"><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">In Texas, another $50,000 was passed on to Project Veritas from the Texas Free Market Fund through the group&nbsp;<a href="https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/02/donors-trust-donor-capital-fund-dark-money-koch-bradley-devos/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">Donors Trust</span></a></span>, the dark money “donor-advised fund” that has helped make contributions from the Kochs, the DeVos family, and others untraceable in future IRS filings. The charitable foundation of late Texas oilman Ken W. “<a href="https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/rich-man-dead-man/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">Stinky</span></a>” Davis, based like Project Veritas ally Aaron Harris in Tarrant County, also kicked in $5,000 to the group, the latest in the foundation’s influential spending spree on Republican politics&nbsp;<a href="https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article3902423.html" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">in the Lone Star State</span></a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article3902423.html" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">across the country</span></a>.</font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In Florida, another donation of $50,000 came to the group through Donors Trust, this time from the free market defenders at the&nbsp;<b>Thomas W. Smith Foundation.&nbsp;</b></font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">There was also a whopping $261,000 donation from the “Smith Family.” Could it be the Smith family that has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vox.com/2018/4/3/17180020/sinclair-broadcast-group-conservative-trump-david-smith-local-news-tv-affiliate" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">monopolized local network TV affiliates through Sinclair Broadcasting</span></a>? Or is it Randall and Barbara Smith, Palm Beach residents whose&nbsp;<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">vulture fund Alden Global Capital was once described by Joshua Benton, the founder of Harvard’s Nieman Journalism Lab, as “<a href="https://www.niemanlab.org/2020/02/a-management-transition-is-the-latest-gloomy-sign-to-come-out-of-tribune-publishing/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">the gelatinous cube scouring the news industry</span><span class="Hyperlink0">’</span><span class="Hyperlink0">s dungeon</span></a>”</span>? Neither Smith families responded to requests for clarification on this issue.</font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Many additional hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of contributions to Project Veritas were attributed solely to “DT” on the group’s quarterly financial meeting documents. The initials may refer to Donors Trust or to the constellation of corporate and (ostensibly) philanthropic organizations tied to President Donald<b>&nbsp;Trump himself. While Trump is a well-known past donor to Project Veritas—a framed photo of him and O’Keefe rests prominently on a bookshelf at Project Veritas headquarters in Mamaroneck, New York</b>—many other donors were evidently so secret that they were listed simply as “anonymous” even on the group’s own internal documents.&nbsp;</font></p></div></div><div class="full-width inserted-dfp ad-container-0"><div class="article-text-wrap" style="max-width: 1210px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><div class="article-text-grid" style="line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.09px;"><hr class="section-break" style="height: 1px; background: rgb(0, 0, 0); border: 0px; margin: 45px 0px 45px 302.5px; max-width: 41.25%;" /><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Cash matters, but O’Keefe’s personal connections&nbsp;</b>are where the depth and seamlessness of this coordination with the Republican Party become truly apparent. They also offer a glimpse into the vast network that has formed to suppress the vote this fall—a network years in the making, of which Project Veritas is but a humble node.</font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Take litigator&nbsp;<a href="https://consovoymccarthy.com/team/william-s-consovoy/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">William Consovoy</span></a>, the legal point man on many of the conservative-funded election integrity cases pursued during the Trump era.</b>&nbsp;He is, like O’Keefe, a New Jersey native with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/15/us/elections/voting-william-consovoy-trump.html" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">a long history in local Republican politics</span></a>. A former law clerk for Clarence Thomas, Consovoy is also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/as-trump-attacks-voting-by-mail-gop-builds-2020-strategy-around-limiting-its-expansion/2020/05/31/a17ccfa0-a00d-11ea-b5c9-570a91917d8d_story.html" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">reportedly</span></a>&nbsp;a friend of Federalist Society Executive Vice President&nbsp;<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/investigations/leonard-leo-federalists-society-courts/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">Leonard Leo</span></a>, whose nephew David Maxham has been a friend of O’Keefe’s since their undergraduate years at Rutgers.&nbsp;</span>(Maxham, naturally, was also invited to O’Keefe’s wedding.)</font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">This year, Leonard Leo has stepped aside from day-to-day management of the Federalist Society&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/leonard-leo-crc-advisors-federalist-society-50d4d844-19a3-4eab-af2b-7b74f1617d1c.html" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">to run</span></a>&nbsp;a new conservative donor group,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6889355-The-85-Fund-Fictious-Name-Certificate-Honest.html" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">CRC Advisors</span></a>, that is pouring money into Consovoy’s legal challenges in key battleground states across the country</span>. CRC has been steering money into something called the “Honest Election­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­s Project,” a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6889355-The-85-Fund-Fictious-Name-Certificate-Honest.html" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">fictitious name</span></a>&nbsp;filed in Virginia for&nbsp;<b>Leo’s old group the Judicial Education Project,&nbsp;</b>now officially called the 85 Fund. As&nbsp;<i>The Guardian</i>&nbsp;reported, 99 percent of the Judicial Education Project’s funding in 2018 was&nbsp;<span class="Hyperlink0">a single $7.8 million donation funneled through Donors Trust</span>.guk?</font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">With generous assistance from the Honest Election­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­s Project and the RNC, Consovoy’s firm Consovoy McCarthy PLLC has recently<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">&nbsp;brought cases against the re-enfranchising of felons in Florida and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mailing-of-ballots-to-all-voters-in-las-vegas-area-puts-sharp-focus-on-election-safeguards/2020/05/28/912c099a-9f63-11ea-b5c9-570a91917d8d_story.html?itid=lk_inline_manual_44" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">sued</span></a>&nbsp;to block California’s plans to deliver absentee ballots to all of the state’s registered voters.</span>&nbsp;<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Consovoy has contributed to related motions filed in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada, Michigan, and Texas, where Ken Paxton’s victory against mail-in voting in May&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1265827032707072000" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><span class="Hyperlink0">earned praise from President Trump on Twitter</span></a>.&nbsp;</span></font></p></div></div><div class="full-width inserted-dfp ad-container-0"><div class="article-text-wrap" style="max-width: 1210px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><div class="article-text-grid" style="line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.09px;"><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">If you strain to look beyond the lonely partisan kitsch of James O’Keefe’s bungled scams and harebrained hoaxes, it’s plain to see the march of a whole battalion of Diamond Dog operatives and lawyers turned loose on the integrity of the ballot in key battleground states.</font></p><p style="margin: 20px 20px 20px 252.078px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; max-width: 625px; width: 625px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Liz Farkas,&nbsp;a&nbsp;New&nbsp;York state–licensed private investigator,&nbsp;provided additional reporting and research for this article.</font></p></div></div></div></div><div class="article-footer" data-reactid="231"><div class="article-footer-wrap" data-reactid="232" style="margin: 40px auto 70px; max-width: 1210px;"><div class="footer-text-wrap" data-reactid="234" style="line-height: 23px; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; max-width: 54.1667%; margin-left: 252.078px; margin-right: 20px; padding-top: 6px; border-top: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 40px;"><div class="article-author-bio" data-reactid="235"><div class="article-author-bioheader" data-reactid="236"><div class="article-author-bioheader" data-reactid="237"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://newrepublic.com/authors/matthew-phelan" class="article-author-bioheadername" data-reactid="238" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: 600; outline: none;">Matthew Phelan</a><span class="article-author-bioheadertwitter" data-reactid="239"><a href="https://twitter.com/CBMDP" target="blank" class="bio-twitter" data-reactid="240" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">&nbsp;@CBMDP</a></span></font></div></div><div class="article-author-biobody" data-reactid="244"><p style="margin-top: 25px; margin-bottom: 25px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Matthew Phelan has written for&nbsp;<i>Chemical Engineering</i>,&nbsp;<i>New York</i>,&nbsp;<i>Jacobin</i>, and Gawker, where he founded the conspiracy vertical Black Bag in 2014.</font></p></div></div></div><div class="footer-text-wrap" data-reactid="245" style="line-height: 23px; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; max-width: 54.1667%; margin-left: 252.078px; margin-right: 20px; padding-top: 6px; border-top: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 40px;"><div class="article-author-bio" data-reactid="246"><div class="article-author-bioheader" data-reactid="247"><div class="article-author-bioheader" data-reactid="248"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://newrepublic.com/authors/jesse-hicks" class="article-author-bioheadername" data-reactid="249" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: 600; outline: none;">Jesse Hicks</a><span class="article-author-bioheadertwitter" data-reactid="250"><a href="https://twitter.com/jessehixxx" target="blank" class="bio-twitter" data-reactid="251" style="text-decoration-line: none; 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font-weight: bold; outline: none;">Michelle Malkin</a><span class="tag-list-comma" data-reactid="286">,&nbsp;</span></span><span class="tag-list-item" data-reactid="287"><a class="tag tag-sean-hannity " href="https://newrepublic.com/tags/sean-hannity" data-reactid="288" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">Sean Hannity</a><span class="tag-list-comma" data-reactid="289">,&nbsp;</span></span><span class="tag-list-item" data-reactid="290"><a class="tag tag-fox-news " href="https://newrepublic.com/tags/fox-news" data-reactid="291" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">FOX News</a><span class="tag-list-comma" data-reactid="292">,&nbsp;</span></span><span class="tag-list-item" data-reactid="293"><a class="tag tag-texas " href="https://newrepublic.com/tags/texas" data-reactid="294" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">Texas</a><span class="tag-list-comma" data-reactid="295">,&nbsp;</span></span><span class="tag-list-item" data-reactid="296"><a class="tag tag-california " href="https://newrepublic.com/tags/california" data-reactid="297" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">California</a><span class="tag-list-comma" data-reactid="298">,&nbsp;</span></span><span class="tag-list-item" data-reactid="299"><a class="tag tag-republican-party " href="https://newrepublic.com/tags/republican-party" data-reactid="300" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">Republican Party</a><span class="tag-list-comma" data-reactid="301">,&nbsp;</span></span><span class="tag-list-item" data-reactid="302"><a class="tag tag-federalist-society " href="https://newrepublic.com/tags/federalist-society" data-reactid="303" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">Federalist Society</a><span class="tag-list-comma" data-reactid="304">,&nbsp;</span></span><span class="tag-list-item" data-reactid="305"><a class="tag tag-ken-paxton " href="https://newrepublic.com/tags/ken-paxton" data-reactid="306" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">Ken Paxton</a><span class="tag-list-comma" data-reactid="307">,&nbsp;</span></span><span class="tag-list-item" data-reactid="308"><a class="tag tag-greg-abbott " href="https://newrepublic.com/tags/greg-abbott" data-reactid="309" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">Greg Abbott</a><span class="tag-list-comma" data-reactid="310">,&nbsp;</span></span><span class="tag-list-item" data-reactid="311"><a class="tag tag-aaron-harris " href="https://newrepublic.com/tags/aaron-harris" data-reactid="312" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">Aaron Harris</a><span class="tag-list-comma" data-reactid="313">,&nbsp;</span></span><span class="tag-list-item" data-reactid="314"><a class="tag tag-george-soros " href="https://newrepublic.com/tags/george-soros" data-reactid="315" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">George Soros</a><span class="tag-list-comma" data-reactid="316">,&nbsp;</span></span><span class="tag-list-item" data-reactid="317"><a class="tag tag-erik-prince " href="https://newrepublic.com/tags/erik-prince" data-reactid="318" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">Erik Prince</a><span class="tag-list-comma" data-reactid="319">,&nbsp;</span></span><span class="tag-list-item" data-reactid="320"><a class="tag tag-voting-rights " href="https://newrepublic.com/tags/voting-rights" data-reactid="321" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">Voting Rights</a></span></font></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">=</font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></div></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.8; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">As the death toll from coronavirus continues to soar in the United States, President Donald Trump is being lambasted by a variety of Democrats, liberals, progressives, centrists and Never Trump conservatives over the weeks he spent carelessly downplaying the severity of COVID-19. And in Politico, reporter Alex Isenstadt describes a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/27/trump-campaign-china-strategy-memo-213958" target="blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; cursor: pointer;">conflict with the GOP</a>&nbsp;over how Republican candidates should or shouldn’t defend Trump’s record on coronavirus.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.8; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Earlier this month,” Isenstadt explains, “the Senate Republican campaign arm circulated a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/24/gop-memo-anti-china-coronavirus-207244" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; cursor: pointer;">memo</a>&nbsp;with shocking advice to GOP candidates on responding to coronavirus: ‘don’t defend Trump, other than the China travel ban — attack China.’”</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.8; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">On Monday, April 27, according to Isenstadt, Trump campaign adviser Justin Clark expressed his “displeasure” to Kevin McLaughlin, executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) — angrily telling McLaughlin that any Republican candidate who followed the advice of the memo should not expect the campaign’s support.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.8; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">McLaughlin, Isenstadt reports, “responded by saying he agreed with the Trump campaign’s position and — &nbsp;according to two people familiar with the conversation — clarified that the committee wasn’t advising candidates to not defend Trump over his response.” According to Isenstadt, McLaughlin stressed to Clark that the memo wasn’t saying that Trump shouldn’t be defended on coronavirus but rather, was offering advice on&nbsp;<em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">how</em>&nbsp;he should be defended.</font></p><div class="alt_ad_block true_ad_free story-page-in-content-graph-4" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div class="alt_ad_msg" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 10px; background: rgb(234, 234, 234);"><div class="header" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">AD REMOVED FOR SUBSCRIBED USER</font></div></div></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.8; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In an official statement and an attempt at damage control, McLaughlin asserted, “There is no daylight between the NRSC and President Trump. Senate Republicans have worked hand in glove with the Trump Administration to ensure a highly effective federal response to COVID-19.”</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.8; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Isenstadt explained that the 57-page memo “urged GOP Senate candidates to stay relentlessly on message with attacks against China, where the coronavirus originated, when pressed about the pandemic on the campaign trail. When asked about Trump’s response to the pandemic, the document advised candidates to pivot to an attack on the authoritarian country rather than offer an explicit defense of Trump’s response.”</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.8; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">McLaughlin, Isenstadt reports, didn’t like that advice at all; nor did Trump’s campaign manager, Brad Parscale.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.8; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Clark asserted, “Candidates will listen to the bad advice in this memo at their own peril. President Trump enjoys unprecedented support among Republican voters, and everyone on the ballot in November will want to tap into that enthusiasm.”</font></p></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">===</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">nyt</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">no lnx</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><b><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The Quiet Hand of Conservative Groups in the Anti-Lockdown Protests</font></b></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Groups in a loose coalition have tapped their networks to drive up turnout at recent rallies in state capitals and financed lawsuits, polling and research to combat the stay-at-home orders.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Kenneth P. VogelJim RutenbergLisa Lerer</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By Kenneth P. Vogel, Jim Rutenberg and Lisa Lerer</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">April 21, 2020</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">WASHINGTON — An informal coalition of influential conservative leaders and groups, some with close connections to the White House, has been quietly working to nurture protests and apply political and legal pressure to overturn state and local orders intended to stop the spread of the coronavirus.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The groups have tapped their networks to drive up turnout at recent rallies in state capitals, dispatched their lawyers to file lawsuits, and paid for polling and research to undercut the arguments behind restrictions that have closed businesses and limited the movement of most Americans.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Among those fighting the orders are FreedomWorks and Tea Party Patriots, which played pivotal roles in the beginning of Tea Party protests starting more than a decade ago. Also involved are a law firm led partly by former Trump White House officials, a network of state-based conservative policy groups, and an ad hoc coalition of conservative leaders known as Save Our Country that has advised the White House on strategies for a tiered reopening of the economy.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>The effort picked up some influential support on Tuesday, when Attorney General William P. Barr expressed concerns about state-level restrictions potentially infringing on constitutional rights,</b>&nbsp;and suggested that, if that occurred, the Justice Department might&nbsp; weigh in, including by supporting legal challenges by others. Separately, in Wisconsin, Republicans in the state legislature sued to block the Democratic governor’s order extending stay-at-home rules through May 26.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Those helping orchestrate the fight against restrictions predict the effort could energize the right in the same way the Tea Party movement did in 2009 and 2010, and potentially be helpful to President Trump as he campaigns for re-election. But the cause has yet to demonstrate that kind of traction.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Polls show a majority of Americans are more concerned about reopening the country too quickly than they are about the damage to the economy. And coronavirus protests have drawn smaller crowds ranging from a few dozen to several thousand at a rally in Michigan last week.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Conditions are hardly ideal for a protest movement related to the virus. In addition to the health risks, demonstrators potentially face legal exposure for violating the very measures they are protesting. Plus, some key Republican leaders have embraced the types of restrictions being targeted, while powerful grass-roots mobilizing groups, including those spearheaded by the billionaire activist Charles Koch, have so far not embraced the protests.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Still, the fight has emerged as a galvanizing cause for a vocal element of Mr. Trump’s base and others on the political right. Organizers see it as unifying social conservatives, who view the orders as targeting religious groups; fiscal conservatives who chafe at the economic devastation wrought by the restrictions on businesses; and civil libertarians who contend that the restrictions infringe on constitutional rights.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Groups are united in purpose on this,” said Noah Wall, advocacy director for FreedomWorks, which in 2009 organized a Tea Party protest that drew tens of thousands of people or more to Washington. He described the current efforts as appealing to a “much broader” group. “This is about people who want to get back to work and leave their homes,” he said.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">More than 10 protests are planned for this week, Mr. Wall said, adding that elected officials “are going to see a lot of angry activists, and I think that could change minds.”</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The protests mostly appear to have been organized by local residents, and are framed primarily as pushback against what they view as government overreach. But some rallies have prominently featured iconography boosting Mr. Trump and Republicans and denouncing Democrats, as well the occasional Confederate flag and signs promoting conspiracy theories.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">As was the case with the Tea Party movement, established national groups that generally align with the Republican Party have sought to fuel the protests, harnessing their energy in a manner that can increase their profiles and build their membership base and donor rolls.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Nonprofit groups including FreedomWorks and Tea Party Patriots have used their social media accounts and text and email lists to spread the word about protests across the country.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><b><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></b></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Most of FreedomWorks’s 40 employees are working remotely on the effort, helping to connect local protesters and set up websites for them</b>.&nbsp;<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The group is considering paid digital advertising to further increase turnout, and has been conducting weekly tracking polls in swing suburban districts that it says show support for reopening parts of country. It is sharing the data with advisers on the president’s economic task force and other conservative allies on Capitol Hill.</span></font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">While social media has been a key platform for organizing the protests, those efforts have drawn scrutiny. Facebook removed some posts devoted to the protests on Monday for encouraging violations of social distancing laws. And similarities in online organizing efforts behind different protests have sparked accusations that they are not, in fact, organic grass-roots campaigns, but “astroturfing” efforts that are manipulated by Washington conservatives to appear locally driven.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Organizers of recent protests in Oklahoma acknowledged that FreedomWorks helped arrange the events and said they hoped the “rolling protests</b>,” which were intended to keep people in their vehicles, helped Mr. Trump politically. But they stressed that the events reflected real concerns from real people about the economic damage inflicted by mitigation measures.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Carol Hefner, an Oklahoma co-chair of Mr. Trump’s 2016 campaign who helped organize a protest last week in Oklahoma City, cited the state’s flat terrain as a factor in any decision to ease restrictions. “We have a lot of wind and the wind has pretty much helped us here,” she said. “We are in a much better position than many of the other states to go ahead and open back up.”</font></span></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ronda Vuillemont-Smith, an Oklahoma HVAC contractor who helped with the capital rally and another one on Monday in Tulsa, said she encouraged protesters to remain in their vehicles. But Ms. Vuillemont-Smith, who serves on FreedomWorks’s activist advisory council, added, “I see absolutely no risks whatsoever” for open-air protests. “We are adults. We assume personal responsibility for the decisions that we make,” she said.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The Oklahoma organizers and Mr. Wall, as well as the White House and the Trump campaign, said there was no coordination between the protests and Mr. Trump’s team.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">But the protests coincide with messages from Mr. Trump, and have been helped and organized by his supporters, some of whom have begun new ventures to advance the cause.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">One of them is Reopen America Political Action Committee, which aims to bring small business owners to Washington to lobby lawmakers to reopen, starting with a 24-hour rally at the White House on May 1 — the target Mr. Trump set for reopening.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><b><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The group, which was created this month, has yet to report any financial activity. But its founder, Suzzanne Monk, who is active on Twitter with the handle @Trumpertarian, called the idea for the rally “pushback against these governors who want to stay shut down far beyond their economic capacity to do so.”</font></b></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Support for the protests features more direct ties to the White House than simply support for Mr. Trump. The administration recently formed an advisory group for reopening the economy that included<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">&nbsp;Stephen Moore, the conservative economics commentator. Mr. Moore had been coordinating with FreedomWorks, the Tea Party Patriots and the American Legislative Exchange Council in a coalition called “Save Our Country,” which was formed to push for a quicker easing of restrictions.</span></font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">At the same time, Mr. Moore was communicating with a group of local activists in Wisconsin involved in organizing a protest at the State Capitol set for Friday. On a conservative YouTube program that went online the day Mr. Trump named him to the task force, Mr. Moore said he had “one big donor in Wisconsin” who had pledged financial support for the protesters, telling him, “‘Steve, I promise, I will pay the bail and legal fees of anyone who gets arrested.’”</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In an interview with The New York Times, Mr. Moore declined to identify the donor, but said, “I do think you’re going to see these start to erupt.”</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">He said he would probably turn down an invitation to speak at the protest in Wisconsin, because “it’s important that no one be under the impression that it’s sponsored or directed by national groups in Washington.”</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">A legal offensive against the restrictions is also being waged by groups and individuals supportive of Mr. Trump.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><b><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Mr. Barr’s comments on Tuesday came a few days after a letter sent by groups including FreedomWorks, Tea Party Patriots and the anti-abortion-rights group Susan B. Anthony List urging the Justice Department to consider intervening to block restrictions that the officials said were unconstitutional infringements on civil liberties.</font></b></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Lawyers aligned with socially conservative causes have filed their own lawsuits against governors.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Many are focused on allowing smaller churches to keep holding services, but the objections cover a range of other activities. In Michigan, a lawsuit is challenging provisions of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order banning travel to vacation homes and gatherings of non-household members.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></span></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">A law firm that advises the Trump Organization, Michael Best & Friedrich</b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">, is representing members of a new protest group in North Carolina called ReOpenNC.<b>Michael Best’s ranks include the former Trump chief of staff Reince Priebus, the former deputy White House counsel Stefan C. Passantino and the current senior counsel at the Trump campaign, Justin Clark.</b></span></font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">ReOpenNC had told its members that a “generous donor” had arranged to pay for buses to bring protesters to Raleigh from around the state. But, in a sign of how loath the groups are to be viewed as “astroturf” creations, the group said it had scrapped the plan when a&nbsp;<b>news station, WRAL, asked about it. (Afterward, a former defense contractor and perennial North Carolina political candidate, Tim D’Annunzio, stepped forward on Facebook to say he was the donor and was still hoping to run the buses.)</b></font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>On Friday, Anthony J. Biller, a Raleigh-based lawyer with Michael Best, wrote to Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, on behalf of a ReOpenNC co-founder, Kristen Elizabeth, and a member who was arrested at a protest last week, seeking dismissal of the charges</b>. In an interview, Mr. Biller said he hoped the state would agree to allow ReOpenNC to demonstrate safely without fear of arrest, adding, “What is sufficient safety to buy toilet paper at Costco should be sufficient safety to practice one’s fundamental rights, particularly about these issues.”</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">He said that he was working pro bono but that there was “no coordination with the Trump administration, as some bozos have implied.”</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">One force in conservative politics that has kept its distance from the stay-at-home protests is the network of groups backed by the&nbsp;<b>billionaire Mr. Koch.</b>&nbsp;The largest Koch-backed group, Americans for Prosperity, which played a leading role in facilitating the Tea Party movement, has remained on the sidelines of the coronavirus protests.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>GoDaddy records show that a public relations firm tied to the Koch network, In Pursuit Of LLC, registered the domain name “reopenmississippi.com.</b>” An official said the group had planned to use the site to highlight a nuanced approach being developed by the network to reopen the economy while balancing health concerns.</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“The question is — what is the best way to get people back to work?” said Emily Seidel, the chief executive of Americans for Prosperity. “We don’t see protests as the best way to do that,” she said, adding that “the choice between full shutdown and immediately opening everything is a false choice.”</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Reid J. Epstein contributed reporting.</font></div>