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This inside-look at the DOJ line of questioning of 1-6 defendants is a hopeful sign, that the Justice Dept is in actuality taking the failed insurrection attempt seriously — as well they should.
That is if these Defendants Lawyers’ accounts of the ‘working-up-the-ladder’ questioning of their clients, are accurate accounts of the ongoing legal events:
Is there a link between Jan. 6 suspects and Trump's inner circle? FBI's questions show hunt is still on
by Bart Jansen, Josh Meyer and Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY; via Yahoo News — Jan 28, 2022
Federal investigators asked suspects in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol attack, including members of the far-right extremist group Oath Keepers, about possible links between Donald Trump, his inner circle and the rioters.
[...]
“They asked a ton of open-ended questions when I was allowed to be there," [Lawyer Brian Lockwood] said, adding that he wasn't permitted to accompany [his Oath Keepers client Marc] Grods when he testified before a federal grand jury. "What happened next? What did you see? Who was there? What did you see them doing? What were they wearing? What were they doing? Did you see them communicating with other people?"
[...]
“During the interviews, the government was focused on establishing an organized conspiracy between defendant, President Donald J. Trump, and allies of the former president, to disrupt the Joint Session of Congress on January 6,” wrote Bilal Essayli, [Brandon] Straka's attorney, who didn't respond to calls seeking comment. “Defendant answered all questions truthfully and denied the existence of any such plot.”
The line of questioning illustrates how government prosecutors are documenting the attack and casting a wide net for potential conspirators in the violence that interrupted the counting of Electoral Votes in Congress.
[...] [Emphasis added]
Legally, defendant Grods is facing these charges, which went before a Federal Grand Jury:
GRODS, Mark — www.justice.gov
Charge(s):
Conspiracy
Obstruction of an Official Proceeding and Aiding and Abetting
Case Status:
Arrested 6/30. Plea agreement hearing held 6/30 and pleaded guilty to counts 1 and 2.
Case Documents:
Legally, defendant Straka is facing these lessor charges, yet still faced intense questioning:
STRAKA, Brandon — www.justice.gov
Case Number: 1:21-mj-134
Charge(s):
Impeding law enforcement officer during civil disorder; knowingly entering and remaining on restricted grounds without lawful authority and/or engaging in disorderly conduct within proximity to a restricted building to impede official functions; engage in disorderly conduct with intent to disturb a hearing before Congress
Location of Arrest: NEBRASKA, Omaha
Case Status:
Arrested 1/25/21 in the District of Nebraska
Initial appearance 1/26/21. Released on conditions.
Plea agreement entered 10/6 and pleaded guilty to count 1.
Sentencing set for 12/17 at 10 am. Defendant remains on personal recognizance.
Case Documents:
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Oh yeah, there was this 1-6 Investigation news today too. 14 more subpoenas issued to the “chairperson and secretary of each group of so-called alternate electors.” Concerning who they met and “who was behind that scheme” ...
My, my, my — sounds like the easy enough questions. … Any takers?
We shall see.
The
January 6 Select Committee has issued
subpoenas for 14 Republicans from seven states who served on bogus slates of Trump electors in 2020 as part of the Trump campaign's scheme to subvert the Electoral College.
[...]
The committee subpoenaed the following chairperson and secretary of each group of so-called alternate electors. Each state pair is listed as chairperson and secretary respectively:
- Nancy Cottle and Loraine Pellegrino from Arizona. Cottle is listed on the Arizona Federation of Republican Women's website as being the group's vice president.
- David Shafer and Shawn Still from Georgia. Shafer is the chair of the Georgia GOP and was a plaintiff in some of Trump's longshot lawsuits to overturn the election in Georgia. Still was the Georgia GOP's finance chair and is now running for a Georgia Senate seat.
- Kathy Berden and Mayra Rodriguez from Michigan. Berden was a national committeewoman at the Republican National Committee and served as a Trump delegate at the 2016 GOP convention. Rodriguez unsuccessfully ran for a Michigan House seat in 2020.
- Jewll Powdrell and Deborah Maestas from New Mexico. Powdrell recently told the Albuquerque Journal that he signed the fake certificate at the behest of former Rep. Steve Pearce, the head of the New Mexico GOP. Maestas previously served in that role, leading the state GOP.
- Michael McDonald and James DeGraffenreid from Nevada. McDonald is the Nevada GOP chairman and reportedly promoted false voter fraud claims in 2020. DeGraffenreid's Facebook page says he is a national committeeman from Nevada for the RNC.
- The committee subpoenaed Bill Bachenberg and Lisa Patton from Pennsylvania. Bachenberg is a board member of the National Rifle Association and spoke at a pro-Trump fundraiser in 2020.
- Andrew Hitt and Kelly Ruh from Wisconsin. Hitt is the former chairman of the Wisconsin GOP and a staffer for former Gov. Scott Walker. Ruh is currently an alderperson from the city of De Pere.
[...]
"The Select Committee is seeking information about attempts in multiple states to overturn the results of the 2020 election, including the planning and coordination of efforts to send false slates of electors to the National Archives" said Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, who chairs the committee, of this batch of subpoenas. "We believe the individuals we have subpoenaed today have information about how these so-called alternate electors met and who was behind that scheme."
In its subpoena letters, the panel says it has in its possession these fake elector certificates from the National Archives. The committee also says it has documentation showing that these delegations sent the bogus electors to Congress "as a justification to delay or block the certification of the election" and specifically for Pence to consider while in his role as President of the Senate when he certified the 2020 presidential election.
[...] [Emphasis added]
Documentation showing the illegal intent for the scheme is a good thing.
It could serve as weighty incentive for at least some of the “stooge” electors, to try to get out from under the legal consequences of their own fraud — which they themselves did not organize, co-ordinate, or scheme up — with the coordinated intent to defraud the voters of seven states.
Classic technique: Get the small fry to flip on the Big Fish, in exchange for leniency.
It usually works, especially when the pending charges becoming REAL.
We shall see.
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