1/6 Insurrection Investigation

[Rick Plant]

'Just boneheaded': Neal Katyal counsels Barry Loudermilk to lawyer up in Jan. 6 probe



Former acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal on Thursday dissected the legal liability facing Georgia GOP Rep. Barry Loudermilk after he was asked to cooperate with the House Select Committee Investigating the Jan. 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The select committee is seeking information about a tour of the Capitol Complex that Loudermilk allegedly conducted on Jan. 5, 2021.

"In response to those allegations, Republicans on the Committee on House Administration—of which you are a Member—claimed to have reviewed security footage from the days preceding January 6th and determined that '[t]here were no tours, no large groups, no one with MAGA hats on.' However, the Select Committee’s review of evidence directly contradicts that denial," the letter stated.

Katyal was asked about Loudermilk and reports former Attorney General Bill Barr is negotiating with the select committee.

"I mean, this guy's pants look like they are on fire," he commented. "And as a lawyer, if I were a lawyer advising him, I would never want a client to take the stand if you can't trust that client and a guy like this has zero credibility."

"Lying about an election that he win in, is bad enough," he continued. "But lying about giving tours, that is just boneheaded. Of course, it was going to be found out."

Watch:

[Rick Plant]

Capitol rioter who sat in Pence's seat on Jan. 6 faces prison sentence after pleading to felony obstruction

A California man who was among the rioters occupying the U.S. Senate chambers during the January 6 has pleaded guilty to felony charges and faces substantial prison time.

Christian Alexander Secor, 23, of Costa Mesa, California, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to obstruction of an official proceeding, according to the Department of Justice. Secor, who is to be sentenced on October 7, faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

But under Secor’s plea agreement, the DOJ maintains the defendant should receive a prison sentence of 51-to-63 months, which if imposed would be among the longest handed out to date. But the agreement also states the Secor “does reserve the right to challenge that finding “solely on the grounds that his offense did not involve causing or threatening to cause physical injury to a person or property damage.” If that position prevailed, Secor would face 21 to 27 months in prison under the guidelines.

The FBI alleged in its arrest documents that “at approximately 2:47 p.m., after another rioter had jumped over the railing in the Senate Gallery to the Senate Floor, (Secor) left the Gallery and went to the door of the Senate Floor on the second story of the building. The defendant then made his way to the Senate Dais and sat in the seat that had been occupied by Vice President Mike Pence approximately 30 minutes earlier.

“While the defendant occupied the seat at the Senate Dais-and while other rioters were present inside the Senate Chambers and the U.S. Capitol building---the joint session to count and certify the votes of the Electoral College for the 2020 Presidential Election could not continue.”

According to court documents, Secor sent a text message on November 3, 2020 – Election Day -- stating, “We’re gonna win bigly and if we don’t we’re taking this ship down in flames.”

“In preparation for the events of Jan. 6, he messaged another individual on Jan. 5, 2021, stating that he “brought a gas mask” to Washington and that he “Wouldn’t be surprised if conservatives just storm the police and clobber antifa and the police but that’s wishful thinking.”

And Secor tweeted, "the facade of a free country are [sic] evaporating before our eyes. What an exciting time to be alive." And that "The institutional attacks on this demonstration are something out of the Arab Spring. More reason to go by any means necessary!"

On the evening of Jan. 6, Secor boasted about what took place that day on Twitter, saying, among other things, “One day accomplished more for conservatism than the last 30 years.”

You can read the criminal complaint here:

https://www.rawstory.com/capitol-rioter-who-sat-in-pence-s-eat-on-jan-6-faces-prison-sentence-after-pleading-to-felony-obstruction/

[Rick Plant]

In a letter to Rep Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), House Jan 6 committee writes, "Based on our review of evidence in the Select Committee’s possession, we believe you have information regarding a tour you led through parts of the Capitol complex on January 5, 2021."

January 6th Committee @January6thCmte

"The Select Committee has requested that Representative Barry Loudermilk provide information for the committee’s investigation.

The Select Committee has discovered evidence that Rep Loudermilk may have info regarding a tour through parts of the Capitol complex on January 5, 2021."

[Rick Plant]

Here is an excellent thread detailing the insurrection on Twitter from Lindsey Simmons. Check it out. 

Lindsey Simmons @LynzforCongress

"You know how less than 3 weeks ago the Alito opinion was leaked + suddenly Republican politicians noticed a baby formula shortage that’s been an issue since February—but 192 of them voted against solving that problem?

Yeah. So.

Reminder of how the 1/6 investigation is going.

https://twitter.com/LynzforCongress/status/1527243655412695041

[Rick Plant]

Roger Stone at center of leaked group chats among Jan 6th insurrectionists



According to information provided by one of the participants, conservative political gadfly Roger Stone was at the center of a group chat named after him that included now-indicted militia members who participated in the Jan 6th insurrection.

While there have been reports that the supporter of Donald Trump was seen in the company of Oath Keepers acting as his bodyguards, the existence of the so-called F.O.S. — or Friends of Stone -- group chat may shed more light on the planning and activities of the riot that forced lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to flee for their lives.

According to the report from the New York Times, members of the chat included a rogues gallery of right-wing figures, 47 in all, including, "Owen Shroyer, the right-hand man of the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones; Enrique Tarrio, the onetime chairman of the Proud Boys; and Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers militia."

As the Times' Alan Feuer wrote, "While the origins of the group chat remain somewhat obscure, Friends of Stone has existed since at least 2019, when Mr. Stone was indicted in connection with the Russia investigation by the special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, said one of its participants, Pete Santilli, a veteran right-wing radio host. According to Mr. Santilli, the group chat — hosted on the encrypted app Signal — was a kind of safe space where pro-Stone figures in politics and media, many of whom were banned from social media, could get together and trade links and stories about their mutual friend."

According to Santilli, there was nothing untoward about the chat group, telling the Times, "The primary reason for the chat was to have a place for supporters to share stuff. You drop a link and everyone shares it on their non-traditional channels.”

The report continues, "After Mr. Trump’s defeat, Friends of Stone seemed to assume another purpose as Mr. Stone found himself in the middle of the accelerating Stop the Steal movement devised to challenge the results of the election. The Washington Post, citing footage from a Danish documentary film crew that was following Mr. Stone, said that in early November 2020, he asked his aides to direct those involved in the effort to monitor the chat for developments," adding, "In recent weeks, the Justice Department has expanded its investigation of the riot from those who physically attacked the Capitol to those who were not at the building but may have helped to shape or guide the violence. Investigators appear to be interested in finding any links between organizers who planned pro-Trump rallies at the Capitol that day and right-wing militants who took part in the assault."

The Times Feuer added, "The group chat’s membership list includes several people who fit that description."

You can read more here: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/20/us/politics/roger-stone-jan-6.html

[Rick Plant]

Adam Schiff prosecutes the case against Ginni Thomas on MSNBC after 'stunning' revelations

The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee offered a brutal analysis after a bombshell new report on efforts by Ginni Thomas seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

"Virginia 'Ginni' Thomas, the conservative activist and wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, pressed Arizona lawmakers after the 2020 election to set aside Joe Biden’s popular-vote victory and choose “a clean slate of Electors,” according to emails obtained by The Washington Post. The emails, sent by Ginni Thomas to a pair of lawmakers on Nov. 9, 2020, argued that legislators needed to intervene because the vote had been marred by fraud," the newspaper reported.

MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace interviewed Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) for analysis.

Schiff, a former federal prosecutor who was the impeachment manager during Trump's first trial and is a member of the House Select Committee Investigating the Jan. 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol, was asked by Wallace if the select committee would interview Ginni Thomas.

"There are several stunning things to me about what is publicly known and has been revealed about Ginni Thomas. Here, she is weighing in with state legislators in Arizona, seeking to get them to essentially send a bogus slate of electors, that didn't represent who won the popular election in Arizona," Schiff said.

He referenced legal proceedings over the subpoena of "coup memo" author John Eastman.

"And you know, the judge in California, Judge Carter and the case involving Eastman, this lawyer, describes what the former president was involved in as a criminal conspiracy."

"That was a conspiracy to interfere with the joint session, to defraud people, and here you have the wife of a Supreme Court justice engaged in a parallel effort to get Arizona to improperly cast aside the votes of millions," he charged. "And also to add to it, her husband, on the Supreme Court, writing a dissent in a case in a case, arguing providing records to Congress that might have revealed those same emails."

"That conflict of interest just screams at you," Schiff said.

Watch the segment below:

[Rick Plant]

Rudy Giuliani deposed for more than 9 hours by Jan. 6 committee

The former mayor of New York City was finally interviewed by the House Select Committee Investigating the Jan. 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol.

"Rudy Giuliani, former President Donald Trump's onetime personal attorney and a lead architect of his attempt to overturn the 2020 election results, on Friday met with the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, insurrection," CNN reported Friday evening, citing two sources.

The interview reportedly lasted more than nine hours.

"The Select Committee's investigation has revealed credible evidence that you publicly promoted claims that the 2020 election was stolen and participated in attempts to disrupt or delay the certification of the election results based on your allegations," Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) explained in Giuliani's subpoena in January.

"Between mid-November 2020 and January 6, 2021 (and thereafter), you actively promoted claims of election fraud on behalf of former President Trump and sought to convince state legislators to take steps to overturn the election results," he added.

"According to public reporting, on January 6 and in the days prior, you were in contact with then-President Trump and members of Congress regarding strategies for delaying or overturning the results of the 2020 election," he add.

Read more here: https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/20/politics/rudy-giuliani-january-6-committee/index.html

[Rick Plant]

Remember, there were no tours allowed at the Capitol during Jan 5, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic which was at its worst point. There should have been no "tours" happening since tours were suspended. Why was Loudermilk giving a tour?     

Jan. 6 panel presses GOP Rep. Loudermilk over tour of US Capitol on Jan. 5

The House select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection said Thursday it has evidence that GOP Rep. Barry Loudermilk led a tour of the US Capitol complex the day before pro-Trump rioters stormed the building, according to a letter requesting the Republican lawmaker's voluntary cooperation with their ongoing probe.

Watch: