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catbyte

(34,174 posts)
Mon Sep 26, 2022, 07:31 AM Sep 2022

Meadows texts reveal direct WH communications with pro-Trump operative behind plans to seize

Meadows texts reveal direct White House communications with pro-Trump operative behind plans to seize voting machines

By Zachary Cohen, CNN

Updated 6:04 AM ET, Mon September 26, 2022



Washington (CNN) As allies of then-President Donald Trump made a final push to overturn the election in late-December 2020, one of the key operatives behind the effort briefed then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows about his attempts to gain access to voting systems in key battleground states, starting with Arizona and Georgia, according to text messages obtained by CNN.

Phil Waldron, an early proponent of various election-related conspiracy theories, texted Meadows on December 23 that an Arizona judge had dismissed a lawsuit filed by friendly GOP lawmakers there. The suit demanded state election officials hand over voting machines and other election equipment, as part of the hunt for evidence to support Trump's baseless claims of voter fraud.

In relaying the news to Meadows, Waldron said the decision would allow opponents to engage in "delay tactics" preventing Waldron and his associates from immediately accessing machines. Waldron also characterized Arizona as "our lead domino we were counting on to start the cascade," referring to similar efforts in other states like Georgia. "Pathetic," Meadows responded.

The messages, which have not been previously reported, shed new light on how Waldron's reach extended into the highest levels of the White House and the extent to which Meadows was kept abreast of plans for accessing voting machines, a topic sources tell CNN, and court documents suggest, is of particular interest to state and federal prosecutors probing efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

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gab13by13

(20,880 posts)
1. Meadows is the key to indicting Trump,
Mon Sep 26, 2022, 07:45 AM
Sep 2022

the J6 committee knew this 6 months ago that's why he was one of the first people it subpoenaed. The thing is, DOJ could have forced Meadows to testify 6 months ago. This is why Adam Schiff said last night that DOJ has been slow to act. Meadows was the guy who kept Trump's hands clean, he was the go between the Willard hotel and Trump, he was involved in stealing the classified documents.

When we hear about Meadows going before a grand jury then I will know that Garland has made up his mind about indicting Trump. Until Meadows is forced to testify under oath nothing will be done to Trump by the DOJ.

The pyramid strategy was a huge blunder by DOJ, time matters tremendously in the ability to hold Trump accountable.

Go Letitia, Go Fani.

agingdem

(7,759 posts)
6. How do you know Meadows hasn't
Mon Sep 26, 2022, 09:05 AM
Sep 2022

Last edited Mon Sep 26, 2022, 10:50 PM - Edit history (1)

testified before a grand jury?...grand jury testimony is done in secret...and a grand jury subpoena demands a witness appear but does not prevent the witness from taking the Fifth..I suspect the reason the DOJ declined to charge Meadows with contempt of Congress is because Meadows is Coup Central, thereby facing federal charges of sedition and obstruction...Meadows is the conduit, the guy that can tie all facets of the coup attempt to Trump ..Meadows knows he's facing serious prison time, at 63 that could be a life sentence, and that's Garland's leverage..a plea deal with Meadows directly implicating Trump...and we're not going to know what's what or who's who until Garland has the testimony he needs to charge Trump...I understand Adam Schiff's frustration...charge those seditious sonsofbitches right now..but like us, poking Garland, demanding he do something, is an act of futility...

agingdem

(7,759 posts)
11. Ok..Schiff and Raskin are right in their frustrating inability
Mon Sep 26, 2022, 09:47 AM
Sep 2022

to move the DOJ, but the J6 committee and DOJ aren't big on sharing...and to be honest the committee's lengthy hiatus, with an occasional tantalizing leak, is as frustrating as the DOJ's shroud of secrecy...I get that more witnesses have come forward but OMG how many months were they in talks with Ginni Thomas before she "agreed" to testify??..and what about the Trump's uncooperative Secret Service and the DHS Inspector General?..the committee has reams of receipts, how much more do they need to slap Ornato and Cuffari with subpoenas and a contempt of Congress charge??...and how long after the last J6 hearing (confusion as to the possibility of more hearings) will the committee issue it's final report??...we need a reckoning, Trump diminished and charged with sedition/insurrection/espionage/obstruction of justice, his coup enablers charged and in serious talks with the DOJ...and we need that reckoning now??...my opinion for what it's worth...

gab13by13

(20,880 posts)
5. Garland is an institutionalist
Mon Sep 26, 2022, 08:44 AM
Sep 2022

he may feel that conversations between a president and his Chief of Staff are privileged.

The problem has been the pyramid strategy because time matters tremendously if we are going to indict Trump.

Aam Schiff said last night that DOJ has been slow to act. The J6 committee, Letitia James, Fani Willis are eating DOJ's lunch.

If there ever is a Trump trial when would it happen? 2024? 2025?

Lonestarblue

(9,881 posts)
13. Conversations between a president and his chief of staff are only privileged when no crime
Mon Sep 26, 2022, 12:30 PM
Sep 2022

has been committed. It has been obvious since January 6 that crimes have been committed. Yes, indicting Meadows and Trump will be a political nightmare. Not indicting them will not only be a different political nightmare but also an enormous detriment to the fairness of our criminal justice system. It will be an open declaration by the DOJ that any President, current or former, is completely above the law.

MOMFUDSKI

(5,206 posts)
15. Garland is still playing by the "rules"
Mon Sep 26, 2022, 06:06 PM
Sep 2022

while the other side has no rules at all. It is a free-for-all and rule of law is getting its ass kicked. Don't want the history books to report this time period and have future citizens learn that it could have been handled at the critical time.

 

Alexander Of Assyria

(7,839 posts)
9. That's what suspects at all times say just before they are arrested...when? Soon..later?
Mon Sep 26, 2022, 09:43 AM
Sep 2022

Let them squirm some more!

lindysalsagal

(20,444 posts)
10. "plan for overturning the election, later used to brief GOP lawmakers, titled, 1/6 options."
Mon Sep 26, 2022, 09:43 AM
Sep 2022
That includes sending Meadows a PowerPoint presentation outlining a plan for overturning the election, which was later used to brief Republican lawmakers, titled, in part: “Options for 6 Jan.”

THE ENTIRE GOP is complicit. Judiciary MUST open these files and they must all be replaced.

Frustratedlady

(16,254 posts)
14. Whatever happened to the double voting by Meadows and his wife?
Mon Sep 26, 2022, 01:40 PM
Sep 2022

Didn't they claim a mobile home/trailer somewhere as their home?

Linda Ed

(492 posts)
16. Well, he keeps getting away with the not showing up when subpoenaed
Tue Sep 27, 2022, 08:22 AM
Sep 2022

Thanks to Garland, he was not charged with violating the Congressional subpoena, and he can get away not obey the one in Georgia. Like Governor Newsom said, "Democrats should stop playing defense with the Republicans, and be more aggressive!"

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