Memo from Trump attorney outlined how Pence could overturn election, says new book
Source: ABC News
In a memo not made public until now, then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows emailed to Vice President Mike Pence's top aide, on New Year's Eve, a detailed plan for undoing President Joe Biden's election victory, ABC News' Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl reports.
The memo, written by former President Donald Trump's campaign lawyer Jenna Ellis, is reported for the first time in Karl's upcoming book, "Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump Show" -- demonstrating how Pence was under even more pressure than previously known to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Ellis, in the memo, outlined a multi-step strategy: On Jan. 6, the day Congress was to certify the 2020 election results, Pence was to send back the electoral votes from six battleground states that Trump falsely claimed he had won.
The memo said that Pence would give the states a deadline of "7pm eastern standard time on January 15th" to send back a new set of votes, according to Karl.
Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/memo-trump-attorney-outlined-pence-overturn-election-book/story?id=81134003
Another view of the planning for the insurrection.
erronis
(15,241 posts)Such a scenario would leave neither Biden nor Trump with a majority of votes, Ellis wrote, which would mean "Congress shall vote by state delegation" -- which, Ellis said, would in turn lead to Trump being declared the winner due to Republicans controlling the majority of state delegations with 26.
The day after Meadows sent Ellis' memo to Pence's aide, on Jan. 1, Trump aide John McEntee sent another memo to Pence's chief of staff, Marc Short, titled, "Jefferson used his position as VP to win."
Although McEntee's memo was historically incorrect, Karl says, his message was clear: Jefferson took advantage of his position, and Pence must do the same.
What followed during that first week of January was an effort by Trump, both personally and publicly, to push his vice president to take away Biden's victory.
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,988 posts)During the riot he was scared shitless as evidenced by the fact that he didn't want to get into any cars with Secret Service agents, saying he might never be seen again.
And the next day or week he was firm about how certifying the vote to accept the certifications was the right thing to do.
Not sure of timing, but it wasn't long after that Pence was downplaying the rioters, kissing up to the MAGAts.
reACTIONary
(5,770 posts)RE: "saying he might never be seen again"
This is not true. The secrete service was determined to evacuate him from the capitol and he was determined to stay. As a compromise it was suggested that he get in the car, ready to go, if, at the last minute they needed to move him out quick. He thought it was a trick to evacuate him, so he refused.
He insisted that he remain in the capital building and he insisted that the proceedings be resumed as soon as the capitol was cleared, even though some suggested they be delayed until the next day.
erronis
(15,241 posts)llmart
(15,536 posts)How gullible do you have to be to allow a guy like Trump to treat you like shit and you come back smiling like you're asking for more?
SMH
bucolic_frolic
(43,128 posts)Thomas Hurt
(13,903 posts)Not sure it should be surprising coming from a rabid evangelical who lives his life by a big daddy in the sky religion, a patriarchy, a single male clergy based church structure.
Peregrine Took
(7,413 posts)How on earth that was supposed to please trump I don't know.
For some reason it makes me think of the old humiliation of using your defeated enemy as your footstool.
secondwind
(16,903 posts)Fiendish Thingy
(15,585 posts)Someone is leaking like a sieve, and this memo, and others like it, if substantiated, could be enough for criminal referrals even if the big fish dont testify.
Im wondering who provided Karl with a copy of Meadows email and Elliss memo
Hugh_Lebowski
(33,643 posts)I kinda doubt there are any.
Lame-ducks can apparently hamstring their duly-elected replacement, up to and including making up bogus claims of fraud, and leveraging government power (like letters to DoJ) and just generally doing everything possible to prevent their successor's ascension to the position.
Dems would be wise to try to pass some laws against this sort of thing now, while in power, but I've not heard a word about anyone doing anything to shore up the situation.
I guess not, since, after all ... the election system 'held' ... this time.
Fiendish Thingy
(15,585 posts)Im not suggesting those crimes will likely be prosecuted, at least not against Trump, but the actions certainly fit the statutes.
maxsolomon
(33,310 posts)Or a confirming memo?
Trump's entire MO is "If it's not explicitly written that it's illegal, it's legal, so why not do it?".
Grasswire2
(13,568 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(145,129 posts)Evolve Dammit
(16,723 posts)Kid Berwyn
(14,876 posts)The treasonous John Eastman had a six-point plan proffered up to Dumpler.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/21/politics/read-eastman-memo/index.html
question everything
(47,470 posts)American citizen.
Raven123
(4,828 posts)mrsadm
(1,198 posts)this memo and the Eastman memo. Anyone understand this?
malthaussen
(17,187 posts)These guys remind me of a bunch of kids sitting in a treehouse and fantasizing. There was virtually no chance of making their fantasies a reality, but they sounded so cool on paper.
And while those clowns pushed, the idiots queued up to attempt a violent insurrection, but fortunately couldn't find their asses with both hands and blew it. The Marx Brothers could have done better.
-- Mal