Timeline
Trump’s Criminal Activity in the White House
Deleted phone logs, flushed records, shredded papers, and classified documents removed from the White House: Donald Trump is trying to clean up his paper trail.
Trump should anticipate another federal probe into his administration as the National Archives requested the Justice Department to look into his handling of White House records. Trump's illegal disposal of presidential records was first reported on in 2018 but the matter has come back into the spotlight when the Jan. 6 Committee received records late last month that were torn up and taped back together. Additionally, it has come out that Trump flushed documents and clogged a White House toilet, removed classified records from Washington, and tampered with phone records during the Attack.
SCOTUS Sides Against Trump
The Jan. 6 Committee received a major victory on Wednesday as the Supreme Court rejected Trump's appeal to withhold White House records pertaining to last year's insurrection.
Donald Trump has fought to block the release of the documents to the Select Committee three times, and all three times he has lost. All of the lower-court judges who heard the case have all agreed that the Committee has the right to obtain the documents and that "Biden, as the sitting president, was the proper person to judge whether they are protected by executive privilege." Leading up to the Supreme Court, despite the former president appointing one third of the sitting Justices, only Clarence Thomas dissented with the majority opinion.
A House Divided
As the Jan 6 Committee's investigation ramps up, and fellow House Members are being called for interviews, Trump allies are continuing to refuse to cooperate, with some filing law suits against the Committee.
Scott Perry (R-Pa.), the first sitting House Member called by the Jan 6 Committee, has declined to be interviewed by an "illegitimate" panel. In addition, Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security adviser, and Alex Jones, the InfoWars broadcaster, have filed suits against the Committee in order to block subpoenas against them; many top Trump aides and lawyers are also pleading the Fifth, including John Eastman, Roger Stone, and Jeffrey Clark. Meanwhile, Trump announced a Jan 6 anniversary news conference at his resort in Palm Beach.
Trump Allies Quivering in Their Boots
Rep. Kinzinger says the Jan 6 Committee is not ruling out the possibility of issuing subpoenas to other members of Congress.
Last Friday Roger Stone appeared before the Committee but invoked the Fifth Amendment for "fear that Democrats would fabricate perjury charges." Other Trump allies such as William Walker, former commander of the D.C. National Guard, and Dustin Stockton, conservative activist responsible for organizing rallies after the election, are both complying with the Committee through witness testimony and turning over evidence that would have Trump allies "quivering in their boots".
Meadows in Contempt of Congress
The House votes to hold former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress as Trump's legal problems escalate.
Trump has a long history of abusing the legal system to bully others and to avoid accountability for his criminal behavior. Now Trump and his associates are facing multiple legal problems for failing to comply with Congressional subpoenas, criminal abuse of power, attempts to overturn the 2020 election, and a long list of other criminal and civil lawsuits.
Absolute and Unmitigated Liars
Army General Charles Flynn and Lt. General Walter Piatt are accused of lying to Congress about the long delay in sending the National Guard to protect the Capitol on January 6.
In a detailed 36-page memo, Col. Earl Matthews accuses the Pentagon Inspector General of trying to cover up the Army’s attempt to rewrite history and deflect responsibility for their delayed response to the January 6 Insurrection. Matthews calls out Gen. Charles Flynn and Lt. Gen. Walter Piatt as “absolute and unmitigated liars.”
Bannon Indicted – Meadows May Be Next
Steve Bannon has been indicted for contempt of Congress as Mark Meadows and others in Trumps inner circle attempt to hide behind dubious claims of executive privilege.
It has been a busy legal week for Trump. The January 6 Commission has issued two new rounds of subpoenas targeting Trump’s inner circle, a federal appeals court has granted a temporary stay to block the release of Trump White House records, and top Trump advisor Steve Bannon was indicted by a federal grand jury for contempt of Congress on the same day Trump’s former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows ignores a Congressional subpoena.
Steve Bannon’s Criminal Contempt
Despite Trump's threats, Nine House Republicans voted with Democrats to hold Steve Bannon in criminal contempt for defying a subpoena to testify.
Trump and his allies are attempting to hide behind executive privilege to delay the investigation into the attack on the Capitol and the attempt to overturn the 2020 election. January 6 Committee Vice-Chair Liz Cheney said prior to the House vote, “Mr. Bannon's and Mr. Trump's privilege arguments do appear to reveal one thing, however: they suggest that President Trump was personally involved in the planning and execution of January 6th.”
Can the Courts Hold Trump Accountable?
Trump sues to block the January 6 Committee and is questioned for hours by lawyers representing protestors assaulted by his security guards.
Trump is facing numerous civil and criminal court cases. Civil cases include assaulting protestors, defrauding investors and family members, defamation from women claiming rape and sexual assault, and for violating civil rights and the Ku Klux Klan Act. The criminal cases include investigations into his business dealings, bank and tax fraud, and his failed attempt to overturn the 2020 election.
GOP Leaders “Promise” Revenge
Republicans are threatening to “shut down” tech companies that preserve telecommunication records of the January 6 Insurrection.
Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy vows to retaliate against companies that comply with the House Select Committee’s investigation of the January 6 Insurrection saying, “a Republican majority will not forget.” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene declared on Fox News, “These telecommunications companies, if they go along with this, they will be shut down, and that's a promise.”
House Investigation Targets Trump
The House January 6th Committee targets Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election with a “Sweeping Demand for Executive Branch Records.”
“In letters to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and seven other Executive Branch agencies, Chairman Thompson renewed and expanded upon the requests of other committees from earlier this year. Chairman Thompson gave the agencies a two-week deadline to produce materials.” – House Select Committee Press Release.
GOP Fear, Lies, and Broken Promises
President Biden calls out Trump for lying about the January 6 Insurrection.
President Joe Biden has called Donald Trump’s lies about the Capitol insurrection as “bizarre.” Despite overwhelming video evidence, Trump and his allies have been trying to whitewash the violence of the January 6 Insurrection. President Biden added, “the Republican Party today offers nothing but fear, lies and broken promises."
January 6 Committee is a Problem for Republicans
Kevin McCarthy threatens his own GOP members who support January 6 investigation, while remaining silent on Republican extremist who incite violence.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has selected 7 Democrats and Republican Liz Cheney to serve on the January 6 Select Committee, but House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has not committed to any appointments. McCarthy threatened to strip Republican members of their committee assignments if they accept an appointment from Pelosi to investigate the January 6 insurrection. At the same time, McCarthy has failed to rein in radicalized GOP members like Marjorie Taylor Greene who encourage violence against Democrats with racist, bigoted lies and conspiracy theories.
Republicans Filibuster Truth, Justice, and Voting Rights
The filibuster of voting rights is yet another example of a Republican Party that has doubled down on an election strategy of lies, obstructionism, and voter suppression.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Mitch McConell declares “No Quarter” in an admission that Republican opposition to voting rights is nothing more than an election strategy to win back Congress. Republican controlled states are rushing to pass laws that will disenfranchise millions of black and brown voters ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.
Nixon on Steroids: DOJ Spied on Trump’s Critics
It is shocking, but no surprise that the Department of Justice spied on Trump’s political critics including Democratic leaders and journalists in a failed attempt to find leaks about Trump’s ties to Russia.
The DOJ spied on Democratic leaders Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell, their aids, and their families. This is on the heels of recent disclosures that Trump’s DOJ also spied on multiple reporters including obtaining CNN reporter Barbara Starr’s email and phone records. Trump is known for frequently complaining that his political critics should be investigated and imprisoned.
The Elephant in the Room
The Senate Capitol Attack report details security failings but fails to address Trump’s role and GOP complicity in inciting the January 6 Insurrection.
The Report includes 20 recommendations but fails to address Trump’s role in inciting an attack on the Capitol. The report does include a transcript of Trump’s “Save America Rally” speech noting that Trump “continued his claims of election fraud and encouraged his supporters to go to the Capitol.”
Republican Obstruction of Truth and Justice
Don McGahn, Matt Gaetz and Mike Pence all part of the larger GOP strategy of obstruction of truth and justice.
After two years of delays, Don McGahn will finally be forced to testify about Trump’s obstruction of justice of the Mueller investigation. U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz is being investigated for obstruction of justice for attempting to influence a witness in his federal sex trafficking probe. And former Vice-President Mike Pence continues to cover up Trump’s complicity in the January 6th Insurrection saying, “I will always be proud of what we accomplished.”
The Heartless Politics of Mitch McConnell
Mitch McConnell, the self-proclaimed “Grim Reaper” of the Senate, is calling in personal favors to block the January 6 Commission, despite last minute pleas from mother of slain Capitol Police Office Brian Sicknick. The GOP is raising millions on the Big Lie of election fraud and McConnell has made a political calculation that a bipartisan January 6 Commission will hurt Republicans in the 2022 midterm elections.
Trump May Be First President Charged with a Crime
A Manhattan grand jury will decide if evidence is sufficient to charge Trump and his associates with criminal indictments for bank, tax or insurance fraud. It will not be a surprise if Trump becomes the first former president to be charged with a crime. Trump has a long history of over 4,000 lawsuits as a defendant or plaintiff. Lawyer and author James D. Zirin wrote in Plaintiff In Chief that Trump “sued as a means of destroying or silencing those who crossed him.”
Republican Leaders Oppose January 6 Commission
After 4 months of bipartisan negotiations that gave into every Republican demand, Trump and Republican Congressional leaders are now opposing an independent January 6 Commission. The bill passed the house with only 35 Republicans. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell officially announced his opposition setting up a challenging uphill vote in the Senate where 60 Senators are needed to overcome an expected Filibuster.