Part 4: The Plot
April 7, 2020
President Donald Trump tells the press: “Mail ballots are a very dangerous thing for this country, because they’re cheaters. . . . The mailed ballots are corrupt, in my opinion.” No evidence is provided by Trump, nor does the president act to halt the alleged corruption.
April 11, 2020
President Trump threatens he will not sign the $2.2 trillion stimulus package if it includes funding for the U.S. Postal Service.
The same day, Trump tweets: “Mail in ballots substantially increases the risk of crime and VOTER FRAUD!” No steps are taken by the president to prevent the alleged fraud.
April 13, 2020
At a White House press conference, President Trump says, “When somebody’s the president of the United States, the authority is total. And that’s the way it’s got to be.”
April 16, 2020
Thousands descend on Lansing, Michigan, to protest coronavirus restrictions. Some protesters are armed. Protesters on the steps of the state capitol building hold Trump signs and shout, "Lock her up! Lock her up!"—in reference to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Protesters: "lock up" Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
April 17, 2020
President Trump supports the Michigan protests with the tweet: “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!”
April 30, 2020
Angry protesters break into the Michigan state capitol building and bang on interior doors: “Let us in! Let us in!” Some are dressed in tactical gear and equipped with weapons. Among the crowd (perhaps instigators) are Wolverine Watchmen. (Later arrested for plotting the kidnapping of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.)
Angry mob enters Michigan capitol building
Armed protesters gather on Michigan capitol steps
May 6, 2020
Louis DeJoy, a man with no experience in the U.S. Postal Service, is appointed Postmaster General by a board hand-picked by Trump. DeJoy is a major Republican donor who gave $1.2 million to Trump’s 2020 campaign. He previously served at the state level in Rudy Giuliani’s 2008 campaign for president.
May 20, 2020
Trump tweets: “State of Nevada ‘thinks’ that they can send out illegal vote by mail ballots, creating a great Voter Fraud scenario for the State and the U.S. They can’t! If they do, ‘I think’ I can hold up funds to the State.” The president makes no attempt to withhold funds from Nevada.
May 24, 2020
Jonathan Swan of Axios reports that top Trump advisor (and son-in-law) Jared Kushner has worked six months to revamp the Republican Party platform. The new platform would cut out details and distill everything down to a sort of “mission statement” in place of the 58-page platform approved in 2016. Swan notes Kushner specifically has a problem with the platform’s support of “the right of parents to determine the proper medical treatment and therapy for their minor children.”
May 26, 2020
Trump tweets: “There is NO WAY (ZERO!) that Mail-In Ballots will be anything less than substantially fraudulent. Mail boxes will be robbed, ballots will be forged & even illegally printed out & fraudulently signed.” Trump claims the California governor is involved in mail-in voter fraud, yet the president takes no action.
May 28, 2020
Trump tweets: “So ridiculous to see Twitter trying to make the case that Mail-In Ballots are not subject to FRAUD. How stupid, there are examples, & cases, all over the place. Our election process will become badly tainted & a laughingstock all over the World.” The president takes no action.
June 22, 2020
Trump tweets: “Mail-In Ballots will lead to a RIGGED ELECTION!”
Six minutes later, Trump sends a follow-up tweet: “RIGGED 2020 ELECTION: MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WILL BE PRINTED BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND OTHERS. IT WILL BE THE SCANDAL OF OUR TIMES!” The president takes no action.
Six minutes later, Trump sends a follow-up tweet: “RIGGED 2020 ELECTION: MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WILL BE PRINTED BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND OTHERS. IT WILL BE THE SCANDAL OF OUR TIMES!” The president takes no action.
July 2, 2020
Trump tweets: “Mail-In Ballots will lead to massive electoral fraud and a rigged 2020 Election. Look at all of the cases and examples that are out there right now, with the Patterson, N.J., being the most recent example. Republicans, in particular, cannot let this happen!” No action is taken by the president.
July 9, 2020
Roger Stone is recorded laying out Trump's post-election plan. “What they’re assuming is the election will be normal. The election will not be normal. ’These are the California results.’ Sorry. We’re not accepting them. We’re challenging them in court. If the electors show up at the—at the Electoral College, armed guards will throw them out. ’F*** you. I’m the president. F*** you. You’re not stealing Florida. You’re not stealing. I’m challenging all of it.’ . . . And the judges we're going to. Our judges. ’I appointed you. F*** you. You’re not stealing the election.’ . . . So, you know, if they want to run a bunch of fake ballots, we’ll have an investigation. We’ll say, ’These ballots are fake. Your results are invalidated. Goodbye.’ That’s the way it’s going to have to look. It’s going to be really nasty.” Stone admits Trump is probably "a little behind right now,” but “that doesn’t bother me.” He insists, “Our next election will be decided in the courts.”
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July 19, 2020Chris Wallace interviews Donald Trump on the White House lawn: “Are you a good loser?” Trump: “I’m not a good loser. I don’t like to lose. I don’t lose too often. I don’t like to lose.” Wallace: “But are you gracious?” Trump: “You don’t know until you see. It depends. I think mail-in voting is going to rig the election. I really do.” Wallace: “Are you suggesting that you might not accept the results of the election?” Trump: “I have to see.”
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July 30, 2020
On Twitter, Donald Trump suggests the 2020 election should be postponed because it “will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history,” due to mail-in voting. He writes, “Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???”
July 31, 2020
Kremlin-funded RT (Russia Today) promotes the rumor of “Joe Biden’s cognitive decline”: “he is cognitively not there any longer.”
August 13, 2020
At a time in which pandemic fears means more people would vote by mail-in ballot than ever before, President Trump admits he wishes to withhold U.S. Postal Service funding precisely because of mail-in voting. He says Democrats “want $3.5 billion for something that will turn out to be fraudulent—that’s election money, basically. They want $3.5 billion for the mail-in votes, OK, universal mail-in ballots. . . . Now they need that money in order to have the Post Office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots.”
August 17, 2020
President Donald Trump tells his supporters: “The only way we’re going to lose this election is if the election is rigged. Remember that.”
August 18, 2020
“Team Trump” tweets that Donald Trump “just signed his ABSENTEE BALLOT!” The tweet, sent from Trump’s official campaign account, goes on to say, “This is very different than universal mail-in ballots, which would be a total disaster for our country. REQUEST YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT!”
August 19, 2020
Despite the FBI’s warning that QAnon is a domestic terror threat, Donald Trump defends its adherents as patriots: “I’ve heard that these are people that love our country.” He adds, “they do supposedly like me.”
August 22, 2020
The RNC officially adopts a resolution to reuse the 2016 platform. Although it appears Jared Kushner’s work of over half a year is set aside, the RNC chooses a sort of “mission statement” to “enthusiastically support the President’s America-first agenda,” in whatever form Trump defines it. Also in line with Kushner’s way of thinking, the resolution downplays the importance of party platforms: “All platforms are snapshots of the historical contexts in which they are born, and parties abide by their policy priorities, rather than their political rhetoric.”
Late August, 2020
For his re-election campaign, Donald Trump launches the first Republican gay-pride coalition. Its page (pride.donaldjtrump.com), at the official Trump campaign website, reads: “President Donald J. Trump is the only President to openly support the LGBT community since his first day in office. President Trump stands in solidarity with LGBT citizens by supporting and enacting policies and initiatives that protect the wellbeing and prosperity of all gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans. TRUMP PRIDE is a diverse coalition dedicated to re-electing President Trump, the first President to begin his presidency in support of marriage equality. Through his bold plan to end the HIV epidemic to his global campaign to decriminalize homosexuality in the 69 nations where it is illegal, President Trump has proven himself to be a strong advocate for the LGBT community both at home and abroad.” The coalition is co-chaired by Richard Grenell.
Official campaign logo replaces "Pence" with "Pride"
September 2, 2020
Donald Trump appears to urge his supporters to vote twice, first by mail and then in person: “Let them send it in, and let them go vote, and if their system is as good as they say it is, then obviously they won’t be able to vote.” (The statement is made without a guarantee that all systems would catch a double vote on election day.)
September 3, 2020
Donald Trump again is reported urging his supporters to vote twice: “Send it in early, and then go and vote.”
September 10, 2020
Trump ally Roger Stone tells Alex Jones on InfoWars that Donald Trump has “the ability to impose martial law” and “nationalize the state police” if he loses the election. Stone says, “The ballots on election night in Nevada should be seized by federal marshals and taken from the state.”
Stone predicts: “The Republican structure in the states and nationally is not prepared for the aftermath of this election, legally or politically. They are not prepared. There is going to be widespread, obvious, blatant, flagrant illegality. The authority exists to stop that. It will have to be used, if necessary. I’m not jumping the gun, but I can just tell you right now, the votes from Nevada should not be counted.”
“If Harry Reid is involved, take Harry Reid into custody and charge him,” Stone says, of the cancer-stricken former Senator. Stone calls for Trump to arrest Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, and “the Clintons” for “illegal activity.” He says the “entire staff” of the Daily Beast “can be taken into custody and their office shut down,” because, “they want to play war. This is war.”
Stone emphasizes these radical steps are “perfectly and transparently legal.”
Stone predicts: “The Republican structure in the states and nationally is not prepared for the aftermath of this election, legally or politically. They are not prepared. There is going to be widespread, obvious, blatant, flagrant illegality. The authority exists to stop that. It will have to be used, if necessary. I’m not jumping the gun, but I can just tell you right now, the votes from Nevada should not be counted.”
“If Harry Reid is involved, take Harry Reid into custody and charge him,” Stone says, of the cancer-stricken former Senator. Stone calls for Trump to arrest Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, and “the Clintons” for “illegal activity.” He says the “entire staff” of the Daily Beast “can be taken into custody and their office shut down,” because, “they want to play war. This is war.”
Stone emphasizes these radical steps are “perfectly and transparently legal.”
Roger Stone: Trump can "impose martial law" if he loses the election
September 12, 2020
At a campaign rally in Nevada, President Trump says he’s entitled to an extra term: “We’re going to win four more years in the White House. And then after that, we’ll negotiate, right, because we’re probably—based on the way we were treated, we’re probably entitled to another four after that.” The suggestion is contrary to the U.S. Constitution.
Trump: I'm entitled to a third term
September 21, 2020
The Trump campaign posts a video of Donald Trump, Jr., acknowledging a “red mirage” may give an early appearance of a Trump win on election night before the mail-in votes are counted. He tells viewers to enlist in something called “Army for Trump” to “watch them” and “don’t let them steal it.” He says, “The radical left are laying the groundwork to steal this election from my father, President Donald Trump. They are planting stories that President Trump will have a landslide lead on election night but will lose when they finish counting the mail-in ballots. Their plan is to add millions of fraudulent ballots that can cancel your vote and overturn the election. We cannot let that happen. We need every able-bodied man and woman to join Army for Trump’s election security operation at defendyourballot.com. We need you to help us watch them, not just on Election Day, but also during early voting and at the counting boards. President Trump is going to win. Don’t let them steal it. Go to defendyourballot.com and enlist today.”
September 29, 2020
Donald Trump alleges in a presidential debate: “This is going to be a fraud like you’ve never seen.” He speaks of ballots dumped in rivers. Joe Biden responds, “There is no evidence of that.” Trump assures, “This is not going to end well.”
Asked to condemn militant or white supremacist groups, Trump says, “Who do you want me to condemn? Give me a name. Proud Boys? Stand back and stand by. But I’ll tell you what, somebody’s got to do something about Antifa and the Left.”
Asked to condemn militant or white supremacist groups, Trump says, “Who do you want me to condemn? Give me a name. Proud Boys? Stand back and stand by. But I’ll tell you what, somebody’s got to do something about Antifa and the Left.”
Trump: "Proud Boys? Stand back and stand by, but somebody's got to do something about the Left."
October 8, 2020
The Lansing State Journal reports that several people have been arrested in a plot to kidnap and possibly kill Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. According to the report, the men wanted to “storm the Capitol” of the state with 200 men and go after Whitmer for “treason” before the November election. Detailed plans were underway since at least June.
October 15, 2020
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer criticizes President Trump for not condemning her near-kidnapping. Trump responds hours later by saying she “wants to be a dictator” and “the people can't stand her.”
October 20, 2020
At a Trump pride event, Tiffany Trump defends her father as always supportive of the gay agenda: “I know what my father believes in. Prior to politics, he supported gays, lesbians, the LGBQIA+ community. My father has always supported all of you.” She says she was worried he would soften his pro-gay stance to cater to Republicans: “But guess what? My dad cannot be bought off. He’s not going to let anyone change his views.” She expresses excitement that Richard Grenell asked her to participate in “the first Republican coalition for pride.”
Tiffany Trump: My dad has always supported LGBQIA+
October 27, 2020
Donald Trump warns his base in West Salem, Wisconsin: “Joe Biden will delay the vaccine, postpone therapies, prolong the pandemic, shutter your schools . . . bankrupt your small businesses, and shut down our country. He will destroy our country.”
October 28, 2020
An April interview surfaces of Jared Kushner telling Bob Woodward his father-in-law has accomplished “a full hostile takeover of the Republican Party.” Kushner, top advisor to the president, had said: “You look at, like, the Republican Party platform—it’s a document meant to, like p*** people off, basically. More—because it’s done by activists. So you have a disproportionality between what issues people are vocal on and what the people, the voters, really care about. And what Trump’s been able to do is—I say he basically did a full hostile takeover of the Republican Party. And I don’t think it’s even as much about the issues. I think it’s about the attitude.”
October 31, 2020
Judicial Watch head Tom Fitton emails Trump assistant Molly Michael and Trump social media director Dan Scavino a draft of Trump’s victory speech. In it, Trump declares, “We had an election today — and I won,” and then plans to say that ballots are only valid if they are “counted by the Election Day deadline,” as if ballots counted after midnight are invalid. (Absentee ballots are often processed after election day.)
CEO of Trump’s 2016 campaign, Steve Bannon, is recorded saying: “And what Trump’s going to do is just, he’s going to declare victory. But that doesn’t mean he’s a winner. He’s just going to say he’s the winner. . . . The Democrats—more of our people vote early that count. Theirs vote by mail. And so, they’re going to have a natural disadvantage, and Trump’s going to take advantage of that. That’s our strategy. He’s going to declare himself a winner. So when you wake up Wednesday morning, it’s going to be a firestorm. You’re gonna have Antifa crazy, the media crazy, the courts are crazy, and Trump’s gonna be sitting there mocking, tweeting s*** out, ‘You lose. I’m the winner. I’m the king.’ And he’ll be going, ‘Where’s Hunter [Biden]? Is Hunter on a crack pipe?’ I mean, no, he’ll be—because then it doesn’t matter. Remember, here’s the thing, after then, Trump never has to go to a voter again. He’s gonna fire Wray, the FBI director, and he’s going to say, ‘F*** you. How about that?’ Because he’s never gonna—he’s done his last election. Oh, he’s gonna be off the chain. It’ll be crazy. . . . Also, if Trump is losing by 10 or 11 o’clock at night, it’s going to be even crazier. No, because he’s gonna sit right there and say, ‘They stole it. I’m directing the Attorney General to shut down all ballot places in all fifty states.’ It’s going to be, no, he’s not going out easy. If Biden is winning, Trump is going to do some crazy s***.”
November 1, 2020
Roger Stone is asked by a documentary crew to forecast election night: “Let’s just hope we’re celebrating. I suspect it will still be up in the air. When that happens, the key thing to do is to claim victory. Possession is nine-tenths of the law. ‘No, we won. F*** you. Sorry. Over. We won. You’re wrong. F*** you.’”
Roger Stone in the documentary "A Storm Foretold"
November 2, 2020
Roger Stone follows up with the documentary crew: “I said, f*** the voting. Let’s go straight to the violence. That’s what I’m f***ing saying.” He adds, “We’ll have to start smashing pumpkins, if you know what I mean.”
Roger Stone in "A Storm Foretold"
November 3, 2020
Election day.
November 4, 2020
Sometime after 1 a.m., while ballots are still being counted, Donald Trump holds a middle-of-the-night press conference: “We were getting ready for a big celebration. We were winning everything, and all of a sudden, it was just called off. We were all set to get outside and celebrate something that was so beautiful, so good, such a vote, such a success." Trump boldly accuses the other side of election theft: “This is a fraud on the American public. This is an embarrassment to our country. We were getting ready to win this election. Frankly, we did win this election. We did win this election.”
Down 213 to 219, Trump says, "Frankly, we did win this election"
Trump then says, “We want all voting to stop.” (Meaning, stop counting absentee ballots.)
November 5, 2020
Roger Stone is filmed laying out a plot for state legislatures to toss out Biden electors in states he won and accept new slates of pro-Trump electors—effectively overturning the will of the people—in the name of “fraud.”
Roger Stone plots a false electors scheme (filmed by Christoffer Guldbrandesen)
Stone dictates to an assistant: “Although state officials in all fifty states must ultimately certify the results of the voting in their state, the final decision as to who the state legislatures authorize be sent to the Electoral College is a decision made solely by the legislature. Any legislative body may decide on the basis of overwhelming evidence of fraud to send electors to the Electoral College who accurately reflect the president’s legitimate victory in their state, which was illegally denied him through fraud. We must be prepared to lobby our Republican legislatures by personal contact and by demonstrating the overwhelming will of the people in their state in each state that this may need to happen.”
November 6, 2020
Outside the Maricopa Elections Department in Arizona, where votes continue to be tallied, Alex Jones leads an angry protest against the preliminary election results. Some in the crowd are armed. Jones says through a megaphone, “This is an epic point of history that you are all involved in!” “If they want a fight, they better believe we'll give one!”
Alex Jones revs angry crowd outside the Maricopa election count
Speaking to supporters in Georgia, Don Trump, Jr., says the old Republican Party “is gone,” and “anyone who doesn’t fight like [Trump] should go with it!” He calls the U.S. a “banana republic.”
Don Trump, Jr.: The old Republican Party is "gone"
November 7, 2020
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) texts a letter to Chief-of-Staff Mark Meadows for President Trump:
“Dear Mr. President, We the undersigned offer our unequivocal support for you to exhaust every legal and constitutional remedy at your disposal to restore Americans faith in our elections. This fight is about much more than just this election. This fight is about the fundamental fairness and integrity of our election system. The nation is depending upon your continued resolve. Stay strong and keep fighting Mr. President.
“Sincerely,
“Senator Mike Lee
Congressman Andy Biggs
Congressman Mike Johnson
Brent Bozell, Founder and President, Media Research Center [his son Brent Bozell IV would participate in the Jan. 6 attack]
Adam Brandon, President, FreedomWorks
Bill Walton, President, Council for National Policy
Marjorie Dannenfelser, President, Susan B. Anthony List
David McIntosh, President, Club for Growth PAC
Matt Schlapp, Chairman, American Conservative Union
Jenny Beth Martin, Chairman, Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund
David Bozell, President, ForAmerica
Tom Fitton, President, Judicial Watch
Seymour Fein M.D., MRC Board of Directors”
Sen. Lee then texts Meadows, “Sydney Powell is saying that she needs to get in to see the president, but she’s being kept away from him. Apparently she has a strategy to keep things alive and put several states back in play. Can you help her get in?” Lee follows up, “It was at the president’s request that Sydney has been working on a strategy and has been trying to get in to see him. But she’s being kept out.” Sen. Lee then sends Meadows the contact information for Powell.
November 7, 2020
Donald Trump tweets: “I WON THIS ELECTION, BY A LOT!” “THE OBSERVERS WERE NOT ALLOWED INTO THE COUNTING ROOMS. I WON THE ELECTION, GOT 71,000,000 LEGAL VOTES. BAD THINGS HAPPENED WHICH OUR OBSERVERS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SEE. NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WERE SENT TO PEOPLE WHO NEVER ASKED FOR THEM!”
November 9, 2020
Transgender Trump supporter and Oath Keepers leader Jessica (Jeremy) Watkins invites fellow members of the Ohio State Regular Militia to basic training in a text: “I need you fighting fit by innaugeration [sic].”
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) briefs Mark Meadows via text: “We had steering executive meeting at CPI tonight, with Sidney Powell as our guest speaker. My purpose in having the meeting was to socialize with Republican senators the fact that POTUS needs to pursue his legal remedies. You have in us a group of ready and loyal advocates who will go to bat for him, but I fear this could prove short-lived unless you hire the right legal team and set them loose immediately.”
Lee continues: “Sidney told us that the campaign lawyers who I do not know are not focused on this and are obstructing progress. I have no way of verifying or refuting that on my own, but I’ve found her to be a straight shooter. In any event, these actions need to be filed and announced in the next 48 hours or the public relations momentum we need to have behind it will start to dissipate.”
Lee continues: “Sidney told us that the campaign lawyers who I do not know are not focused on this and are obstructing progress. I have no way of verifying or refuting that on my own, but I’ve found her to be a straight shooter. In any event, these actions need to be filed and announced in the next 48 hours or the public relations momentum we need to have behind it will start to dissipate.”
November 12, 2020
Several federal agencies, including CISA, release a joint statement: “There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised.”
November 14, 2020
Trump supporters demonstrating in D.C. clash violently with counter-protesters in the streets. Tens of thousands were in town to support Donald Trump’s claims of voter fraud.
November 15, 2020
At a "Stop the Steal" rally in Del Ray Beach, Roger Stone says Trump has two options: overturn the election through the courts, or target the electoral college.
Roger Stone: toss out election through courts or electoral college
November 17, 2020
Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani appears before a federal court in Pennsylvania to ask that mail-in ballots from seven Democrat-dominated counties be disqualified.
November 18, 2020
Attorney Kenneth Chesebro urges Trump to create a new slate of electors in the swing states that went to Biden. State-level deadlines have long passed for submitting electors. By law, the names of eligible electors must be submitted to states, typically weeks or even months in advance of election day. (A false elector slate would later be transmitted to Vice President Mike Pence.)
Brad Raffensperger, Georgia secretary of state, says he and his wife are receiving death threats as the state undergoes an election recount. Among the threats are to “face execution” for “treason” by “firing squad.” Raffensperger says, “What’s really troubling about it is when threats actually came into my wife’s cell phone.”
Alex Jones, Ali Alexander, and Nick Fuentes lead a crowd into the Georgia Capitol Building to occupy the interior steps to “stop the steal.” Jones says, “1776, baby!” The crowd repeats.
Alex Jones, Ali Alexander, and Nick Fuentes protest the election results at the Georgia Capitol
Trump supporters occupy interior Georgia Capitol steps and listen to Alex Jones
November 19, 2020
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) texts Mark Meadows: “I’m worried about the Powell press conference. The potential defamation liability for the president is significant here. For the campaign and for the president personally. Unless Powell can back up everything she said, which I kind of doubt she can.”
Meadows replies: “I agree. Very concerned.”
Sen. Lee continues: “Unless Powell can immediately substantiate what she said today, the president should probably disassociate himself and refute any claims that can’t be substantiated. He’s got deep pockets, and the accusations Powell made are very, very serious. That is an especially bad combination when you consider the damages that could easily be claimed (and indeed proven) and the deep pockets involved.”
Meadows replies: “I agree. Very concerned.”
Sen. Lee continues: “Unless Powell can immediately substantiate what she said today, the president should probably disassociate himself and refute any claims that can’t be substantiated. He’s got deep pockets, and the accusations Powell made are very, very serious. That is an especially bad combination when you consider the damages that could easily be claimed (and indeed proven) and the deep pockets involved.”
Nick Fuentes, Ali Alexander, and Alex Jones hold a "Stop the Steal" rally in Georgia to protest the election results. Fuentes is often labeled a “white supremacist.”
White supremacist Nick Fuentes opposes Biden's win in Georgia
November 20, 2020
Mark Meadows is asked whether Dominion Voting Machines were rigged. He replies: “Dominion, not that confident. Other fraud. Very confident.”
Oathkeepers leader Stewart Rhodes says on InfoWars: “We have men already stationed outside D.C. as a nuclear option. In case they attempt to remove Trump illegally, we will step in and stop it. . . . We’ll be inside D.C. We’ll also be on the outside of D.C., armed, prepared to go in, if the president calls us up.” (Rhodes was later convicted of seditious conspiracy for January 6th, and sentenced to eighteen years.)
Rhodes: We have armed men ready to keep Trump in office by force
November 21, 2020
President Donald Trump abruptly directs the Secretary of Defense to immediately withdraw troops from Afghanistan and Somalia: “I hereby direct you to withdraw all U.S. military forces from the Federal Republic of Somalia no later than 31 December 2020; and from the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan no later than 15 January 2021.”
(Gen. Mark Milley would later testify: “[Johnny] McEntee duly types it up, brings it in to the president, the president signs it, and boom, it’s over, faxed over or emailed over, scanned over, and [the acting Defense Secretary’s Chief of Staff] Kash Patel delivers it to me. It is odd. It is non-standard. It is potentially dangerous. I personally thought it was militarily not feasible, nor wise.” Gen. Keith Kellogg would testify: “I proceeded to tell the PPO and proceeded to tell Macgregor that if I ever saw anything like that, I would do something physical, because I thought what that was done [in the directive] was a tremendous disservice to the nation. . . . An immediate departure, that that memo said, would have been catastrophic. It’s the same thing that President Biden went through. It would have been a debacle.”)
(Gen. Mark Milley would later testify: “[Johnny] McEntee duly types it up, brings it in to the president, the president signs it, and boom, it’s over, faxed over or emailed over, scanned over, and [the acting Defense Secretary’s Chief of Staff] Kash Patel delivers it to me. It is odd. It is non-standard. It is potentially dangerous. I personally thought it was militarily not feasible, nor wise.” Gen. Keith Kellogg would testify: “I proceeded to tell the PPO and proceeded to tell Macgregor that if I ever saw anything like that, I would do something physical, because I thought what that was done [in the directive] was a tremendous disservice to the nation. . . . An immediate departure, that that memo said, would have been catastrophic. It’s the same thing that President Biden went through. It would have been a debacle.”)
November 22, 2020
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) texts Mark Meadows: “Please tell me what I should be saying. There are a few of us in the Senate who want to be helpful (although I sense that number might be dwindling).” Meadows replies: “I am working on it. Not sure what to suggest.”
Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani call Arizona House Speaker Russell “Rusty” Bowers, and ask him to replace Biden electors with Trump electors. He is not inclined to do so. “You’re asking me to break my oath. I swore an oath. I’m not going to break it,” he says. He asks for proof, and the names of dead people and illegal aliens who voted: “I want those names.” Trump says, “Rudy, give the man what he wants.” Giuliani promises, but never delivers the names.
November 24, 2020
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) texts Mark Meadows: “If you haven’t yet watched tonight’s episode of Life, Liberty, and Levin, you should do so if you can fit it in. Mark Levin makes a very compelling case for the need for litigation related to this election. Also, I have an additional idea for the campaign. Something is not right in a few states. I think it could be proven or disproven easily with an audit (a physical counting of all ballots cast) in PA, WI, GA, and MI. John Eastman has some really interesting research on this. The good news is is that Eastman is proposing an approach that unlike what Sidney Powell has propose could be examined very quickly. But to do this, you’d have to act very soon. Some believe today might be the deadline for some of this in PA.”
November 24-25, 2020
Over the course of two days, an employee for Dominion Voting Systems receives the following text messages: “Run.” “[W]e are already watching you. Come clean and you will live.” “What is the penalty for TREASON?” “F*** ANTIFA, F*** ANTIFA, F*** ANTIFA, F*** ANTIFA, F*** ANTIFA, F*** ANTIFA. Does that chant sound familiar. PB have you and there is nowhere you can run.” “PB” appears to mean the Proud Boys.
November 25, 2020
Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis appear at a meeting of Pennsylvania lawmakers. Giuliani and Ellis ask the legislators to appoint a new slate of electors for Trump. Donald Trump dials into the meeting and asks legislators to toss out the election results. “This election has to be turned around. We won Pennsylvania by a lot, and we won all of these swing states by a lot,” the president says by phone.
Donald Trump grants his former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn a “full and unconditional pardon” for perjury and “any and all possible offenses . . . that might arise” in connection with the Russian investigation. Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to “making false statements to Federal investigators” during the Robert Mueller probe into Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election. In addition to clearing the perjury conviction, the pardon attempts to shield Flynn from “any possible future perjury or contempt charge in connection with General Flynn’s sworn statements and any other possible future charge that this Court or the court-appointed amicus has suggested might somehow keep this criminal case alive over the government’s objection[.]”
November 29, 2020
Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis place one of many calls to Pennsylvania House Speaker Bryan Cutler to “bring some facts to your attention.” (Cutler testified they called every day for a week, even after he told them it was inappropriate to communicate.)
December 1, 2020
Bill Barr tells the press he sees no evidence of “fraud on a scale that could have affected a different outcome in the election.”
Georgia voting systems manager Gabriel Sterling, a Republican, holds a press conference excoriating Trump for countenancing threats against election officials. “It has to stop! Mr. President, you have not condemned this language or these actions. This has to stop!” He states, “Mr. President, it looks like you likely lost the state of Georgia. We’re investigating. There’s always a possibility. I get it. You have the right to go to the courts. What you don’t have the ability to do, and you need to step up and say this, is stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of violence.”
Sterling urges Trump to condemn violent threats. Trump ignores
Sterling predicts, “Someone’s going to get hurt! Someone’s going to get shot! Someone’s going to get killed!” Sterling calls on the president, “Be the bigger man here. Step in, tell your supporters, ‘Don’t be violent. Don’t intimidate.’ All of that’s wrong. It’s un-American.” Trump ignores.
Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn tweets an Ohio group’s press release calling upon Trump to “immediately declare a limited form of Martial Law, and temporarily suspend the Constitution and civilian control of these federal elections, for the sole purpose of having the military oversee a re-vote,” because, said the group, “Martial Law is better than Civil War!” Continuing, “Unfortunately, we are at the point where we can only trust our military to do this[.]”
December 2, 2020
President Trump speaks at the White House: “We have a company that’s very suspect. Its name is Dominion. At the turn of a dial, or the change of a chip, you can press a button for Trump and the vote goes to Biden. What kind of a system is this? . . . There were more votes than there were voters. Think of that. You had more votes than you had voters. That’s an easy one to figure. And it’s by the thousands.” He alleges a “vote dump” in Michigan. (Attorney General Bill Barr would later testify: “I specifically raised Dominion voting machines, which I found to be among the most disturbing allegations—disturbing in the sense that I saw absolutely zero basis for the [president’s] allegations. I told them that it was crazy stuff, and they were wasting their time on that. And it was doing great, grave disservice to the country. . . . I went into this [meeting] and would tell them how crazy some of these allegations were, and how ridiculous some of them were. I’m talking about some of the ones, like, you know, more absentee votes were cast in Pennsylvania than there were absentee ballots requested. You know, stuff like that, it was just easy to blow up. There was never, there was never an indication of interest in what the actual facts were.” Barr and Richard Donoghue testified they explained to Trump that the alleged “vote dump” in Michigan was not suspicious, because that state counts votes in bulk at a centralized location, not at the precincts.)
December 4, 2020
Jared Kushner forwards Mark Meadows an article debunking the claims from the Epoch Times that Georgia poll workers produced suitcases of illegal ballots.
December 5, 2020
Protesters arrive at the home of Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson at night, shouting, “Stop the steal!” “You’re a threat to democracy!” “You’re a threat to free and honest elections!” “This is America, and we love our rights and freedoms!” Someone with a megaphone harshly yells: “You are a tyrant! You are a felon, and you must turn yourself in to the authorities immediately!”
Trump supporters yell outside the home of Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson
December 6, 2020
Mark Meadows forwards Kenneth Chesebro’s November 18th memo to Jason Miller, with the note: “Let’s have a discussion about this tomorrow.”
December 8, 2020
Although Donald Trump previous to his presidency had questioned the safety of vaccines, today he announces what he believes to be good news: he is “pushing” the FDA to approve the first COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. at “breakneck speed.”
“We raced into action to develop a safe and effective vaccine at breakneck speed. It would normally take five years, six years, seven years, or even more. In order to achieve this goal, we harnessed the full power of government, the genius of American scientists, and the might of American industry to save millions and millions of lives all over the world. We’re just days away from authorization from the FDA, and we’re pushing them hard, at which point we will immediately begin mass distribution. Before Operation Warp Speed, the typical timeframe for development and approval, as you know, could be infinity. And we were very, very happy that we were able to get things done at a level that nobody has ever seen before. The gold standard vaccine has been done in less than nine months.”
“We raced into action to develop a safe and effective vaccine at breakneck speed. It would normally take five years, six years, seven years, or even more. In order to achieve this goal, we harnessed the full power of government, the genius of American scientists, and the might of American industry to save millions and millions of lives all over the world. We’re just days away from authorization from the FDA, and we’re pushing them hard, at which point we will immediately begin mass distribution. Before Operation Warp Speed, the typical timeframe for development and approval, as you know, could be infinity. And we were very, very happy that we were able to get things done at a level that nobody has ever seen before. The gold standard vaccine has been done in less than nine months.”
Donald Trump and attorney John Eastman place a call to RNC chair Ronna McDaniel allegedly to ask for help organizing electors in battleground states that went to Biden. (See the August 14, 2023, Georgia indictment.)
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) texts Mark Meadows: “If a very small handful of states were to have their legislatures appoint alternative slates of delegates, there could be a path.” Meadows replies: “I am working on that as of yesterday.”
December 11, 2020
At Trump’s behest, Mark Meadows tells FDA commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn to approve the Pfizer vaccine by the end of the day, or resign. Hahn complies, but he denies to the press there was any political pressure. (Trump would say in his 2021 CPAC speech that to get the vaccine approved he “pushed the FDA like they have never been pushed before . . . far beyond what the bureaucrats wanted to do.”)
December 12, 2020
In the morning, President Trump tweets: “WE HAVE JUST BEGUN TO FIGHT!!!”
Trump supporters gather in D.C. to protest the meeting of the Electoral College.
Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, Trump’s former National Security Advisor, and former Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne are pictured marching with Roberto Minuta, Stewart Rhodes, and other Oath Keepers, past the Capitol Building. (Byrne resigned as CEO of Overstock in 2019, after announcing a romantic relationship with convicted Russian agent Maria Butina.)
Donald Trump flies over his supporters in a presidential helicopter.
At night, Roger Stone speaks to a pro-Trump event alongside Proud Boys: “We will fight to the bitter end for an honest count of the 2020 election!” Infowars host Owen Shroyer speaks over a megaphone: “This is our revolution!” Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes promises violence: “He needs to know that you are with him, that if he does not do it now, while he is commander-in-chief, we’re going to have to do it ourselves later, in a much more desperate, much more bloody war. Let’s get it on now, while he is still commander-in-chief. Hoo-ya!”
Metropolitan Police arrest thirty-three individuals in violent clashes between Trump supporters and leftist groups such as Antifa and Black Lives Matter, at demonstrations blocks away from the White House. Ten officers are injured, and at least four people stabbed. Proud Boys burn a Black Lives Matter flag stolen from one of the oldest black churches in D.C., and reportedly surround a black man outside a bar, who slashes them with a knife.
Trump supporters gather in D.C. to protest the meeting of the Electoral College.
Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, Trump’s former National Security Advisor, and former Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne are pictured marching with Roberto Minuta, Stewart Rhodes, and other Oath Keepers, past the Capitol Building. (Byrne resigned as CEO of Overstock in 2019, after announcing a romantic relationship with convicted Russian agent Maria Butina.)
Donald Trump flies over his supporters in a presidential helicopter.
At night, Roger Stone speaks to a pro-Trump event alongside Proud Boys: “We will fight to the bitter end for an honest count of the 2020 election!” Infowars host Owen Shroyer speaks over a megaphone: “This is our revolution!” Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes promises violence: “He needs to know that you are with him, that if he does not do it now, while he is commander-in-chief, we’re going to have to do it ourselves later, in a much more desperate, much more bloody war. Let’s get it on now, while he is still commander-in-chief. Hoo-ya!”
Metropolitan Police arrest thirty-three individuals in violent clashes between Trump supporters and leftist groups such as Antifa and Black Lives Matter, at demonstrations blocks away from the White House. Ten officers are injured, and at least four people stabbed. Proud Boys burn a Black Lives Matter flag stolen from one of the oldest black churches in D.C., and reportedly surround a black man outside a bar, who slashes them with a knife.
December 13, 2020
Proud Boys and other “Stop the Steal” demonstrators in D.C. again participate in violence with counter-protesters and clash with Metropolitan Police.
December 14, 2020
As required by law, the Electoral College meets in every state to formally cast votes for U.S. president and vice president.
Secretary of Labor Gene Scalia, son of the late Antonin Scalia, tells President Trump it is time to concede. Trump refuses.
Phony electors for Trump meet secretly in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Nevada, and Wisconsin. These electoral slates were not submitted to state governments, in accordance with law, but were organized in private fashion weeks after the election.
Phony electors meet at the Arizona Republican Party headquarters with Chairwoman Kelli Ward
December 16, 2020
A proposed executive order is drafted by several of Donald Trump’s outside advisors, over a meeting at Trump International Hotel: “Effective immediately, the Secretary of Defense shall seize, collect, retain and analyze all [voting] machines.”
The order would create a “Special Counsel to oversee this operation and institute all criminal and civil proceedings as appropriate.” Inserted is the line that the “Special Counsel” would be “provided all resources necessary to carry out her duties.” The plan was to name Sidney Powell to this position. It cited “probable cause” that Dominion Voting Systems bore “features” and “defects” that enabled “forein interference in the 2020 election in the United States.”
The order would create a “Special Counsel to oversee this operation and institute all criminal and civil proceedings as appropriate.” Inserted is the line that the “Special Counsel” would be “provided all resources necessary to carry out her duties.” The plan was to name Sidney Powell to this position. It cited “probable cause” that Dominion Voting Systems bore “features” and “defects” that enabled “forein interference in the 2020 election in the United States.”
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) texts Mark Meadows: “Also, if you want senators to object, we need to hear from you on that ideally getting some guidance on what arguments to raise. I think we’re now passed the point where we can expect anyone will do it without some direction and a strong evidentiary argument.”
Roger Stone associate Ali Alexander tweets dates for upcoming “StopTheSteal protests” and “deployments.”
December 18, 2020
In the evening, Sidney Powell, Michael Flynn, former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne, Rudy Giuliani, and others meet with Donald Trump in the “Yellow Oval” and other places in the White House. White House lawyers learn of the meeting approximately ten minutes after it was underway, and a clash ensues. For several hours, Trump observes a very unhappy White House counsel Pat Cipollone and others vehemently challenge the outside group’s advice and voter fraud claims. Eric Herschmann, White House senior advisor, mocks the group’s assertion that the voting machines were being manipulated by the (late) Hugo Chavez and Venezuelans.
Powell says they lost all of their court cases because the judges were corrupt. Herschmann replies, “Every one? Every single case in the country that you guys lost, every one of [the judges] is corrupt? Even the ones we’ve appointed?”
The heated meeting nearly turns violent.
Powell says they lost all of their court cases because the judges were corrupt. Herschmann replies, “Every one? Every single case in the country that you guys lost, every one of [the judges] is corrupt? Even the ones we’ve appointed?”
The heated meeting nearly turns violent.
December 19, 2020
At 1:42 a.m., shortly after the heated meeting, Donald Trump tweets: “Statistically impossible to have lost the 2020 Election. Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!”
At 10:22 a.m., Oath Keepers leader Kelly Meggs private messages on Facebook, “Well we are ready for the rioters, this week I organized an alliance between Oath Keepers, Florida 3%ers, and Proud Boys. We have decided to work together and shut this s*** down.”
After reading the president’s tweet, Cindy Chafian of Women for America First applies to change her D.C. rally permit from January 22-23rd to January 6th. (This permit would provide the venue for Trump to speak on that day.)
Alex Jones broadcasts this message: “It’s Saturday. December 19th. The year is 2020. One of the most historic events in American history has just taken place: President Trump in the early morning hours today tweeted that he wants the American people to march on Washington, D.C., on January 6, 2021. He is now calling on We the People to take action and show our numbers. The time for games is over. The time for action is now. Where were you when history called? Where were you when you and your children’s destiny and future was on the line?”
At Arizona’s state capitol, Ali Alexander tells the “Stop the Steal” crowd: “One of our organizers in one state said, ‘We’re nice patriots, we don’t throw bricks.’ I leaned over and I said, ‘Not yet. Not yet!’ Haven’t you read about a little tar-and-feathering? Those were second-degree burns!’” Alexander goes on, “We’re going to convince them to not certify the vote on January 6th by marching hundreds of thousands, if not millions of patriots, to sit their butts in D.C. and close that city down, right? And if we have to explore options after that—‘yet.’ Yet!” Some in the crowd yell “noose!”
December 20, 2020
A day after the president’s tweet, Proud Boy leader Enrique Tarrio creates what he calls a “national rally planning committee” and a private group chat titled “Ministry of Self Defense” (MOSD), with Ethan Nordean, Zachary Rehl, and former InfoWars employee Joseph Biggs.
Ali Alexander registers wildprotest.com.
Mike Lindell texts Mark Meadows: “Everything Sidney has said is true! We have to get the machines and everything we already have proves the President won by millions of votes!” And, “This is the biggest cover up of one of the worst crimes in history! I have spent over a million$ to help uncover this fraud and used my platform so people can get the word not to give up!” Meadows replies: “Thanks brother. Pray for a miracle.”
December 21, 2020
At 2 p.m., Donald Trump hosts a private meeting with Republican members of Congress and Marjorie Taylor Greene in the Oval Office. Mike Pence, Mark Meadows, and Rudy Giuliani are in attendance. Rep. Mo Brooks initiated the meeting with an email with the subject line: “White House meeting, December 21, regarding January 6.” Brooks writes that “only citizens can exert the necessary influence on Senators and Congressmen to join this fight against massive voter fraud and election theft.”
Protesters illegally enter the Oregon state capitol building to disrupt a special session. A glass door is broken. Protesters chant, “USA!” “enemies of the state,” and “arrest Kate Brown.” Some attack police with bear spray. Republican state Rep. Mike Nearman is under suspicion for opening the door that led to the breach. Confederate flags and military gear are among the intruders. Joey Gibson, of Patriot Prayer, is identified in the crowd. (Patriot Prayer has a loose association with the Proud Boys.)
December 22, 2020
Oath Keeper leader Kelly Meggs posts a private message on Facebook, “Trump said It’s gonna be wild!!!!!! It’s gonna be wild!!!!!!! He wants us to make it WILD that’s what he’s saying. He called us all to the Capitol and wants us to make it wild!!! Sir Yes Sir!!! Gentlemen we are heading to DC pack your sh**!” Four hours later, Meggs posts of working with the Proud Boys (PB): “Contact with PB and they always have a big group. Force multiplier. I figure we could splinter off the main group of PB and come up behind them. F***ing crush them for good.” (Meggs and his wife would later be charged with conspiracy to disrupt Congress.)
Donald Trump pardons his former campaign advisor George Papadopoulos for making false statements in the Russia investigation.
December 23, 2020
Trump attorney John Eastman sends Kenneth Chesebro and another recipient an email with the attachment, “PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL -- Dec 23 memo on Jan 6 scenario.docx.” Eastman writes that the goal of the additional, false electoral slates is to create “uncertainty”: “As for hearings, I think both are unnecessary. The fact that we have multiple slates of electors demonstrates the uncertainty of either. That should be enough. And I agree with Ken that Judiciary Committee hearings on the constitutionality of the Electoral Count Act could invite counter views that we do not believe should constrain Pence (or Grassley) in the exercise of power they have under the 12th Amendment. Better for them just to act boldly and be challenged, since the challenge would likely lead to the Court denying review on nonjusticiable political question grounds.”
Donald Trump pardons Roger Stone for making false statements to Congress, tampering with a witness, and obstructing Congress’ Russia investigation.
Trump also pardons his former advisor Paul Manafort for eight counts of bank fraud and conspiracy. (Seven months before the pardon, Manafort had been moved from prison to home confinement, due to COVID-19. During this time, Manafort was secretly “advising” friends “who were very involved” in Trump’s re-election campaign. He did not want word of his interaction to get to the press and potentially jeopardize “a potential pardon.”)
Among other controversial pardons for the day are Charles Kushner, father of Jared Kushner.
Trump also pardons his former advisor Paul Manafort for eight counts of bank fraud and conspiracy. (Seven months before the pardon, Manafort had been moved from prison to home confinement, due to COVID-19. During this time, Manafort was secretly “advising” friends “who were very involved” in Trump’s re-election campaign. He did not want word of his interaction to get to the press and potentially jeopardize “a potential pardon.”)
Among other controversial pardons for the day are Charles Kushner, father of Jared Kushner.
A one-page website for wildprotest.com is quickly built with an RSVP for a protest in D.C. The website headlines the statement, “PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTS YOU IN DC JANUARY 6.” Next to the RSVP is President Trump’s December 19th tweet, “Protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!” A map is displayed with the text “MEET HERE,” to the east side of the U.S. Capitol Building. The site identifies itself as part of StopTheSteal.us—a website owned by Ali Alexander and his “Vice and Victory.” Wildprotest.com makes clear its purpose: “We the People must take to the US Capitol lawn and steps and tell Congress #DoNotCertify on #JAN6!” (Alexander would later boast he “came up with the January 6th idea with Representatives Paul Gosar, Mo Brooks, and Andy Biggs.” Alexander has been known to work with Trump associate Roger Stone.)
Ali Alexander appears on the Pro America Report with Ed Martin: “Really, the base, and the homemaker, the small business owner who’s too busy to participate in politics—you’re more powerful than you realize, because everyone who works in this business, either as an activist or a professional consultant, is watching their metrics. And so, if you will only have the courage to unsubscribe from people you like that aren’t fighting, and then strive for fighters that you may not like their personality, you will change the incentive, because what we need more than anything right now is, we need fighters. We absolutely need fighters. We need to tool the government against the institutions that are leading to our persecution, and they hope to have gulags for us. I mean, this is no exaggeration. The hour is now. So I would say, encourage the fighters, support the fighters, become a fighter yourself by taking time off of work or giving paid time off to your employees to participate in these acts of protest. We don’t do events with Stop the Steal. We do protests. We’re petitioning our government to do certain actions that we expect of them. It’s in our social contract. We should have trust in a legitimate government—and our government’s not acting legitimate. So I would say the thing for me is to fight, you know, and when you get exhausted to get up again and keep fighting. You know, that’s the only way that we teach the other side. You know, you teach a bully to stop hitting you by punching him in the nose. We’ve got to punch the left in the nose, and we’ve got to stop being nice about it.”
Ali Alexander appears on the Pro America Report with Ed Martin: “Really, the base, and the homemaker, the small business owner who’s too busy to participate in politics—you’re more powerful than you realize, because everyone who works in this business, either as an activist or a professional consultant, is watching their metrics. And so, if you will only have the courage to unsubscribe from people you like that aren’t fighting, and then strive for fighters that you may not like their personality, you will change the incentive, because what we need more than anything right now is, we need fighters. We absolutely need fighters. We need to tool the government against the institutions that are leading to our persecution, and they hope to have gulags for us. I mean, this is no exaggeration. The hour is now. So I would say, encourage the fighters, support the fighters, become a fighter yourself by taking time off of work or giving paid time off to your employees to participate in these acts of protest. We don’t do events with Stop the Steal. We do protests. We’re petitioning our government to do certain actions that we expect of them. It’s in our social contract. We should have trust in a legitimate government—and our government’s not acting legitimate. So I would say the thing for me is to fight, you know, and when you get exhausted to get up again and keep fighting. You know, that’s the only way that we teach the other side. You know, you teach a bully to stop hitting you by punching him in the nose. We’ve got to punch the left in the nose, and we’ve got to stop being nice about it.”
Ali Alexander: "We've got to punch the left in the nose"
The same day, Alexander says on a livestream he’s calling up Oath Keepers and Proud Boys to “patrol” D.C. “for hours” on January 6th.
Ali Alexander: We need Oath Keepers and Proud Boys to patrol D.C. on Jan. 6
December 24, 2020
The website wildprotest.com has added a list of twenty-two invited speakers and guests, with top billing going to Rep. Paul Gosar, Ali Alexander, Roger Stone, and Scott Presler (Gays for Trump).
December 25, 2020
On Christmas Day, Donald Trump places another call to Arizona speaker Rusty Bowers to urge the selection of new presidential electors. Bowers tells the president, “I voted for you. I worked for you. I campaigned for you. I just won’t do anything illegal for you.” (Bowers is unaware that a phony slate of Trump electors held an illegitimate electoral vote on December 12th.)
Oath Keepers leader Kelly Meggs private-messages a new recruit: “We are all staying in DC near the Capitol we are at the Hilton garden inn but I think it’s full.” He continues, “You can hang with us we will probably be guarding ____ [redacted] or someone during the day but then at night we have orchestrated a plan with the proud boys. I’ve been communicating with _____ [redacted] the leader. We are gonna March with them for a while then fall back to the back of the crowd and turn off. Then we will have the proud boys get in front of them the cops will get between antifa and proud boys. We will come in behind antifa and beat the h*** out of them.”
(Oath Keepers would be seen early on January 6th guarding longtime Trump associate Roger Stone outside his hotel. Both Oath Keepers and Proud Boys would guard Stone the day before.)
(Oath Keepers would be seen early on January 6th guarding longtime Trump associate Roger Stone outside his hotel. Both Oath Keepers and Proud Boys would guard Stone the day before.)
December 26, 2020
Oath Keepers leader Kelly Meggs posts a message to fellow Oath Keepers: “Trumps staying in, he’s Gonna use the emergency broadcast system on cell phone to broadcast to the American people. Then he will claim the insurrection act.” Member replies, “That’s awesome. Any idea when?” Meggs: “Next week. Then wait for the 6th when we are all in DC to insurrection.”
Donald Trump tweets: “A young military man working in Afghanistan told me that elections in Afghanistan are far more secure and much better run than the USA’s 2020 Election. Ours, with its millions and millions of corrupt Mail-In Ballots, was the election of a third world country. Fake President!
December 27, 2020
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) and eleven others ask a judge to ignore the Electoral Count Act of 1887 and grant the vice president “exclusive authority and sole discretion” to determine the outcome of the election.
Bernard Kerik emails Mark Meadows: “We can do all the investigations we want later, but if the president plans on winning, it’s the legislators that have to be moved and this will do just that.” (Kerik is former NYPD commissioner and a close associate of Rudy Giuliani. He headed security for Giuliani’s campaign for NYC mayor in the nineties. Prior to that, Kerik worked for the royal family of Saudi Arabia. His lawyer would write to the January 6th Select Committee that “it was impossible for Mr. Kerik and his team to determine conclusively whether there was wide-spread fraud or whether that wide-spread fraud would have altered the outcome of the election.”)
The website wildprotest.com lists thirty invited speakers, with top billing going to Gateway Pundit founder Jim Hoft. Homosexual activist John Schlafly completes the list.
Donald Trump tweets: “See you in Washington, DC, on January 6th. Don’t miss it. Information to follow!”
December 28, 2020
Roger Stone states on the social network Parler that he is advising Trump: “I also told the president exactly how he can appoint a special counsel with full subpoena power to ensure those who are attempting to steal the 2020 election through voter fraud are charged and convicted and to ensure Donald Trump continues as our president.”
Steve Bannon instructs his listeners to be ready to fight like George Washington, or like it’s D-Day: “That’s our DNA. That’s where we come from.”
The website wildprotest.com updates its map to direct people to a smaller area. An arrow points to the Northeast Drive of Capitol Hill, with the words, “Come here.” However, a click of the map enlarges to the previous larger location.
December 29, 2020
District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine anticipates the upcoming protests will lead to a clash between the Proud Boys and the black community, as had happened weeks earlier: “My level of anxiety is high. My preparation is even more intense than that.” He says he is working with the FBI and the Metro Police, “and we are also working with not-for-profit organizations that have a lot of data on hate groups like the Proud Boys, and others, who appear to want to listen to the president, come down to the District of Columbia, and do what they did just a few weeks ago: pick fights, create damage, damage property, and then act in a very threatening way right in front of two of the most historic African American churches in the District of Columbia.”
Proud Boys Chairman Enrique Tarrio announces to his group that the Proud Boys will “turn out in record numbers on Jan 6th but this time with a twist. . . . We will not be wearing our traditional Black and Yellow. We will be incognito and we will be spread across downtown DC in smaller teams. And who knows . . . we might dress in all BLACK for the occasion.”
December 30, 2020
Donald Trump tweets: “JANUARY SIXTH, SEE YOU IN DC!”
Ali Alexander publicly threatens to attack the U.S. Capitol. In a reply to Marjorie Taylor Greene’s tweet about leaders planning to block objections to the electoral count on January 6th, Alexander writes: “If they do this, everyone can guess what me and 500,000 others will do to that building. 1776 is *always* an option.”
December 31, 2020
Trump supporter Matt Bracken, attired in an InfoWars shirt, posts a video: “We are going to only be saved by millions of Americans moving to Washington, occupying the entire area, if necessary, storming right into the Capitol. We know the rules of engagement. If you have enough people, you can push down any kind of a fence or a wall.”
InfoWars host: Occupy D.C., storm the Capitol
Rep. Chip Roy (TX) texts Mark Meadows: “The President should call everyone off. It’s the only path. If we substitute the will of states through electors with a vote by Congress every 4 years... we have destroyed the electoral college... Respectfully. Give a statesman speech. End strong.”
The Metropolitan Police Department issues a public notice of “parking restrictions and potential street closures” expected from January 5, 2021 through January 7, 2021, for “multiple First Amendment demonstrations.”
MPD expects to close parts of Constitution Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue, and streets K, G, F, E, D, C, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and many others, on January 5th and 6th from “approximately 6:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.” The notice includes a reminder that D.C. law prohibits firearms “within 1,000 feet of any First Amendment activity.”
MPD expects to close parts of Constitution Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue, and streets K, G, F, E, D, C, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and many others, on January 5th and 6th from “approximately 6:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.” The notice includes a reminder that D.C. law prohibits firearms “within 1,000 feet of any First Amendment activity.”
The Washington Post publishes a notice about several upcoming pro-Trump events. James Epley requested a permit to march from the Mall to the Capitol on January 6th. The Post notes the “Wild Protest” is scheduled for the northeast quadrant of the Capitol lawn.
The website wildprotest.com now lists forty invited speakers, with top billing going to Rep. Paul Gosar, Ali Alexander, Roger Stone, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
January 1, 2021
11:53 a.m. Donald Trump tweets, “The BIG Protest Rally in Washington, D.C., will take place at 11.00 A.M. on January 6th. Locational details to follow. StopTheSteal!” He receives 31,216 retweets and 118,630 likes.
January 1, 2021
Rep. Chip Roy (TX) texts Mark Meadows: “If POTUS allows this to occur... we’re driving a stake in the heart of the federal republic.”
January 1, 2021
Rep. Chip Roy (TX) texts Mark Meadows: “If POTUS allows this to occur... we’re driving a stake in the heart of the federal republic.”
Alex Jones announces to his viewers that “Roger Stone spent some substantial time with Trump in Florida just a few days ago, and I’m told big things are afoot and Trump’s got major actions up his sleeve.”
On his radio show, Alex Jones tells his audience he “got asked by one of the Trump sons about a week into the election, when I was out there in Arizona, they said, ‘I want you to talk to this guy.’ This guy calls up, and he works for a big company, and he says, ‘We want you to look into where they get the money for Staple Street and for Dominion, its subcompany.’ And so I went and hired a company, took them three weeks, and they found the L.L.C.s in Switzerland and the 400,000,000 on October 7th of this year, 2020, being sent to Dominion by the Communist Party. And it was even like the federal government sent part of it, and then a local government, they paid a local government to make the other part of the 400,000,000. I mean, it says the Chinese government, brother.” He says, “So, it’s not like the White House doesn’t know. I guess, if they’ve got classified info, the president can declassify however he wants. I don’t get why they called me to look into it.”
Jones talks about the upcoming event on January 6th: “No one was going to end up paying for the event Trump’s at. Because it has to be privately put on, if Trump does an event, donors have to do it. Everybody deserted Trump. Nobody was going to pay for the event on the 5th either. I went ahead and paid the down payments. And then, biblically, like the widow’s mite, my phone rings and this big donor reimburses me the money, literally offers me the amount of money I just paid. She’s a great lady.” He continues, “Women for America First are doing a great job. They are putting on the deal on the Ellipse on the 6th that I’ll also be at with Roger Stone.”
Jones talks about the upcoming event on January 6th: “No one was going to end up paying for the event Trump’s at. Because it has to be privately put on, if Trump does an event, donors have to do it. Everybody deserted Trump. Nobody was going to pay for the event on the 5th either. I went ahead and paid the down payments. And then, biblically, like the widow’s mite, my phone rings and this big donor reimburses me the money, literally offers me the amount of money I just paid. She’s a great lady.” He continues, “Women for America First are doing a great job. They are putting on the deal on the Ellipse on the 6th that I’ll also be at with Roger Stone.”
A judge dismisses Rep. Louie Gohmert’s attempt to grant Vice President Mike Pence “exclusive authority” and “sole discretion” over the electoral count.
January 2, 2021
U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund contacts Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee to be on alert for possible assistance on January 6th. January 2nd is Contee’s first day as acting chief.
Katrina Pierson texts White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows at 5:16 p.m.: “Good afternoon, would you mind giving me a call re: this Jan 6th event. Things have gotten crazy and I desperately need some direction. Please.” Meadows calls eight minutes later. Pierson tells him that she was concerned about Alex Jones and Ali Alexander, because both men had led Trump supporters into the Georgia capitol building a month prior to protest the 2020 election. After her call, Pierson emails the rally organizers: “POTUS expectations are to have something intimate at the ellipse, and call on everyone to march to the capitol.”
Mark Meadows tells his aide Cassidy Hutchinson that “things might get real, real bad” on January 6th.
A tweet is drafted (unknown date), with the message: “I will be making a Big Speech at 10AM on January 6th at the Ellipse (South of the White House). Please arrive early, massive crowds expected. March to the Capitol after. Stop the Steal!!” Although the draft is stamped, PRESIDENT HAS SEEN, the tweet is unsent.
Mark Meadows tells his aide Cassidy Hutchinson that “things might get real, real bad” on January 6th.
A tweet is drafted (unknown date), with the message: “I will be making a Big Speech at 10AM on January 6th at the Ellipse (South of the White House). Please arrive early, massive crowds expected. March to the Capitol after. Stop the Steal!!” Although the draft is stamped, PRESIDENT HAS SEEN, the tweet is unsent.
January 3, 2021
President Donald Trump publicly tweets the private phone numbers of Michigan’s House Speaker Lee Chatfield and Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey. The president tells his supporters to contact the men to “[d]emand vote on decertification,” to toss out Joe Biden’s win in the state.
Sen. Shirkey immediately receives thousands of text messages telling him to get a new slate of electors. (Shirkey would testify: “They were believing things that were untrue.”)
Sen. Shirkey immediately receives thousands of text messages telling him to get a new slate of electors. (Shirkey would testify: “They were believing things that were untrue.”)
Recently-fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper joins Dick Cheney and all other living former defense secretaries to urge the peaceful transfer of office. Their letter implicitly condemns former Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn’s advice that Trump should declare martial law to change the election.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) texts Mark Meadows: “I have grave concerns with the way my friend Ted is going about this effort. This will not inure to the benefit of the president. Everything changes, of course, if the swing states submit competing slates of electors pursuant to state law. But if not, this could help people like Ted and Josh to the detriment of DJT.” References to “Ted and Josh” appear to be Senators Cruz (TX) and Hawley (MO).
Lee continues: “I don’t think the president is grasping the distinction between what we can do and what he would like us to do. Nor do I think he’s grasping the distinction between what certain members are saying that sound like they could help him, but would really hurt him. He’s got a very real opportunity for a win in 2024. That opportunity could be harmed in multiple ways this effort. Again, all of this could change if the states in question certified Trump electors pursuant to state law. But in the absence of that, this effort is destined not only to fail, but to hurt DJT in the process.”
Lee warns, “Between you and me, I fear that for some this could be a feature, not a bug.” “There are plenty of others, perhaps, who are advocating this strategy with the best of intentions, but without fully understanding the ramifications,” Lee writes. “I don’t purport to know who fits into which category. I know only that this will end badly for the president unless we have the Constitution on our side. And unless these states submit new slates of Trump electors pursuant to state law, we do not.”
Lee continues: “We should chat then. I’d love to be proven wrong about my concerns. But I really think this could all backfire badly unless we have legislatures submitting trump slates (based on a conclusion that this was the proper result under state law). Even setting aside constitutional concerns, this will be harmful to the president if we don’t channel this effort properly. We simply have no authority to reject a state’s certified electoral votes in the absence of a dueling slates, with the Trump slate coming from a state legislative determination.”
After a back-and-forth exchange, Meadows writes: “He thinks the legislatures have the power but that the Vp has power too,” referring to the viewpoint of the president.
“VP but not the House and Senate?” asks Sen. Lee.
“I am not sure,” Meadows replies.
Lee continues: “I don’t think the president is grasping the distinction between what we can do and what he would like us to do. Nor do I think he’s grasping the distinction between what certain members are saying that sound like they could help him, but would really hurt him. He’s got a very real opportunity for a win in 2024. That opportunity could be harmed in multiple ways this effort. Again, all of this could change if the states in question certified Trump electors pursuant to state law. But in the absence of that, this effort is destined not only to fail, but to hurt DJT in the process.”
Lee warns, “Between you and me, I fear that for some this could be a feature, not a bug.” “There are plenty of others, perhaps, who are advocating this strategy with the best of intentions, but without fully understanding the ramifications,” Lee writes. “I don’t purport to know who fits into which category. I know only that this will end badly for the president unless we have the Constitution on our side. And unless these states submit new slates of Trump electors pursuant to state law, we do not.”
Lee continues: “We should chat then. I’d love to be proven wrong about my concerns. But I really think this could all backfire badly unless we have legislatures submitting trump slates (based on a conclusion that this was the proper result under state law). Even setting aside constitutional concerns, this will be harmful to the president if we don’t channel this effort properly. We simply have no authority to reject a state’s certified electoral votes in the absence of a dueling slates, with the Trump slate coming from a state legislative determination.”
After a back-and-forth exchange, Meadows writes: “He thinks the legislatures have the power but that the Vp has power too,” referring to the viewpoint of the president.
“VP but not the House and Senate?” asks Sen. Lee.
“I am not sure,” Meadows replies.
Donald Trump re-tweets a message from Ron Watkins (CodeMonkeyZ), administrator of 8kun and 8chan: “If you are planning to attend peaceful protests in DC on the 6th, i recommend wearing a body camera. The more video angles of that day the better.” Trump re-tweets a total of four messages from Watkins on this day. One suggests the inauguration can be rescheduled by Mike Pence.
(Ron Watkins and his father, Jim Watkins, are on the list of suspected actors behind QAnon, an anonymous poster on their 8kun and 8chan websites.)
(Ron Watkins and his father, Jim Watkins, are on the list of suspected actors behind QAnon, an anonymous poster on their 8kun and 8chan websites.)
The U.S. Capitol Police Intelligence and Intelligence and Inter-Agency Coordination Division (IICD) holds the last of several internal briefings in preparation for a possible January 6th pro-Trump protest, the third demonstration in recent months.
Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund would later write: “As we prepared for the third protest, we understood that the focus of the protests would be the Capitol itself, not the Supreme Court as in the previous two demonstrations, and that we could expect the crowd to be somewhat different in size and risk.” Nonetheless, the IICD considers the protests/rallies “to be similar to the previous Million MAGA March rallies in November and December 2020, which drew tens of thousands of participants.” The IICD anticipates a possible violent clash between Proud Boys and Antifa, or other extremist groups, and assesses the risk of “civil disobedience/arrests” to be “remote” to “improbable.” The briefing relies on the Daily Intelligence report that “The Secretary of Homeland Security has not issued an elevated or imminent alert at this time.”
Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund would later write: “As we prepared for the third protest, we understood that the focus of the protests would be the Capitol itself, not the Supreme Court as in the previous two demonstrations, and that we could expect the crowd to be somewhat different in size and risk.” Nonetheless, the IICD considers the protests/rallies “to be similar to the previous Million MAGA March rallies in November and December 2020, which drew tens of thousands of participants.” The IICD anticipates a possible violent clash between Proud Boys and Antifa, or other extremist groups, and assesses the risk of “civil disobedience/arrests” to be “remote” to “improbable.” The briefing relies on the Daily Intelligence report that “The Secretary of Homeland Security has not issued an elevated or imminent alert at this time.”
A meeting occurs between Donald Trump, acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley. Trump reportedly approves a limited activation of the D.C. National Guard. Miller the next day issues a memorandum to disarm the National Guard for the January 5-6 events and to authorize deployment for traffic control alone.
January 4, 2021
At 9:32 a.m., rally organizer Kylie Kremer writes to MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell: “This stays only between us, we are having a second stage at the Supreme Court again after the ellipse. POTUS is going to have us march there/the Capitol. It cannot get out about the second stage because people will try and set up another and Sabotage it. It can also not get out about the march because I will be in trouble with the national park service and all the agencies but POTUS is going to just call for it ‘unexpectedly’[.]”
Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio texts MOSD the plan for January 6th is to “storm the Capitol.”
Nick Fuentes says on his vlog: “What are we going to do to them? What can you and I do to a state legislator besides kill him? Although, we should not do that. I’m not advising that, but what else can you do, right?”
Due to “heightened tensions related to the certification of the vote,” Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund requests National Guard assistance for January 6th. The request is made within the chain of command to the two Sergeants at Arms at the Capitol. House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving objects due to the “optics” of National Guard troops at the Capitol. Senate Sergeant at Arms Michael Stenger favors inquiring with the Pentagon to see whether troops would be available if necessary.
(Both Irving and Stenger were Republican picks. Irving was nominated by former House Speaker John Boehner in 2012, and Stenger was nominated by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in 2018.)
At Stenger’s direction, Sund calls D.C. National Guard General William Walker to ask how many troops would be available for the events and how quickly they could respond. Walker replies that 125 DCNG troops could move fairly quickly when requested. Sund lacks authority to go further without an Emergency Declaration from the Capitol Police Board, of which Stenger is chair.
(Both Irving and Stenger were Republican picks. Irving was nominated by former House Speaker John Boehner in 2012, and Stenger was nominated by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in 2018.)
At Stenger’s direction, Sund calls D.C. National Guard General William Walker to ask how many troops would be available for the events and how quickly they could respond. Walker replies that 125 DCNG troops could move fairly quickly when requested. Sund lacks authority to go further without an Emergency Declaration from the Capitol Police Board, of which Stenger is chair.
Acting Defense Secretary Christopher C. Miller issues a memorandum withholding from the D.C. National Guard “weapons, ammunition, bayonets, batons, or ballistic protection equipment such as helmets and body armor” or any kind of “riot control agents” for the “planned demonstrations from January 5-6, 2021.”
Miller further forbids the DCNG from sharing any equipment with law enforcement agencies, seeking support from other NG units, using intelligence assets, and conducting arrests.
(Miller is a temporary defense secretary hired by Donald Trump after he abruptly fired Mark Esper six days following the November 2020 election. Miller’s memo creates unnecessary red tape that hinders prompt military response to the planned demonstrations.)
Miller further forbids the DCNG from sharing any equipment with law enforcement agencies, seeking support from other NG units, using intelligence assets, and conducting arrests.
(Miller is a temporary defense secretary hired by Donald Trump after he abruptly fired Mark Esper six days following the November 2020 election. Miller’s memo creates unnecessary red tape that hinders prompt military response to the planned demonstrations.)
Mark Meadows texts Sen. Mike Lee: “Apparently, he was told that you came out with a letter against the electoral objections. I told him that you were being very helpful. Bad intel.”
Sen. Lee replies: “I’ve been spending 14 hours a day for the last week trying to unravel this for him. To have him take a shot at me like that in such a public setting without even asking me about it is pretty discouraging.”
Meadows writes: “I pushed back. It wasn’t in the prepared remarks. So sorry. He will call.”
Sen. Lee responds: “It’s not your fault. But I’ve been calling state legislators for hours today, and am going to spend hours doing the same tomorrow. I’m trying to figure out a path that I can persuasively defend, and this won’t make it any easier, especially if others now think I’m doing this because he went after me. This just makes it a lot more complicated. And it was complicated already. We need something from state legislatures to make this legitimate and to have any hope of winning. Even if they can’t convene, it might be enough if a majority of them are willing to sign a statement indicating how they would vote. And I’ve been working on doing that all day today. But now, my ability to do that with credibility is impaired.”
Meadows writes: “So very sorry. I told him that you and I have been working it hard on his behalf.”
Sen. Lee replies: “I’ve been spending 14 hours a day for the last week trying to unravel this for him. To have him take a shot at me like that in such a public setting without even asking me about it is pretty discouraging.”
Meadows writes: “I pushed back. It wasn’t in the prepared remarks. So sorry. He will call.”
Sen. Lee responds: “It’s not your fault. But I’ve been calling state legislators for hours today, and am going to spend hours doing the same tomorrow. I’m trying to figure out a path that I can persuasively defend, and this won’t make it any easier, especially if others now think I’m doing this because he went after me. This just makes it a lot more complicated. And it was complicated already. We need something from state legislatures to make this legitimate and to have any hope of winning. Even if they can’t convene, it might be enough if a majority of them are willing to sign a statement indicating how they would vote. And I’ve been working on doing that all day today. But now, my ability to do that with credibility is impaired.”
Meadows writes: “So very sorry. I told him that you and I have been working it hard on his behalf.”
Trump supporter and "Silent Majority" founder James Epley secures a permit (#21-0271) from the National Park Service to allow up to 500 people on the National Mall east-west walkway from 10 a.m.-7:p.m on January 5-6. Epley’s permit stipulates: “This is a static rally not involving any marches.” Epley had previously applied for a permit to allow 100 people to march to the Capitol. The permit states Epley is financially liable for any damages resulting from his rally.
At 3 p.m., Georgia elections official Gabriel Sterling, a Republican, holds a press conference debunking voter fraud claims made by Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump. “Everybody’s vote did count. I want to make that abundantly clear.” “There is no shredding of ballots. That’s not real. That’s not happening.” “No one is changing parts or pieces out of Dominion voting machines, That is not a real thing. That is not happening. The president mentioned that in the call the other day.” “Secretary [Brad] Raffensperger does not have a brother named Ron Raffensperger. That is also not real. The president tweeted that out, as well.”
Alt-right propagandist Jack Posobiec, an associate of Roger Stone and the Oath Keepers, tweets at 3:33 p.m.: “Trump talking about firing everyone right now. Wray, Gina, etc. And wants to declassify everything - UFOs, JFK, all of it.” (Posobiec, suspected of being connected to white supremacists, often serves as a vector for conspiracy theories and Russian propaganda.)
On his radio show, Alex Jones laughs at reports that D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser plans to have National Guard troops ready for the pro-Trump events coming up. “National Guard telling us we’re bad.” Jones chuckles, then taunts, “If you idiots are dumb enough to start a fight with us, you deserve what you get. You know, I believe you walk softly and carry a big stick. We’re not looking for any violence—we’re intellectually winning—but this is just the next level. I’m sure millions of people that weren’t going to go now, now hear the communists are calling out their own special, little National Guard unit, everybody’s going to be there. Oh, we’re so scared. Five hundred million of us.”
Jones continues, “They are so panicked, folks. You have got to go. The 5th, we’ve got a big event going on from noon to like 8:30 at night that I’m live-showing in Freedom Square there, and then the big Trump event in the morning where I’m also at. Folks, this is so huge. We just need to see D.C. just crawling.” He encourages attendees to film the crowd to show its numbers. He says, “This is a war.” “They think we’re the Left, that’s, like, scared of the National Guard.”
Jones continues, “They are so panicked, folks. You have got to go. The 5th, we’ve got a big event going on from noon to like 8:30 at night that I’m live-showing in Freedom Square there, and then the big Trump event in the morning where I’m also at. Folks, this is so huge. We just need to see D.C. just crawling.” He encourages attendees to film the crowd to show its numbers. He says, “This is a war.” “They think we’re the Left, that’s, like, scared of the National Guard.”
John Eastman meets with Donald Trump and Mike Pence at the White House. Pat Cipollone attempts to attend, but is sent away. Cipollone believes Trump did not have the legal authority to follow Eastman’s proposal. Eastman tells Pence he can send the electoral count back to the battleground states, and give them “a week to try and sort out the impact” of the election. (Eastman later said he told Pence he would be “foolish” to reject the plan.)
Oath Keepers founder and former congressional staffer Stewart Rhodes posts an appeal on the group’s website calling for “all patriots” to perform a “security mission” for Donald Trump in D.C. that week, to “defeat the enemies foreign and domestic.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene mentions QAnon to President Trump and assures him that her constituents and QAnon adherents will be in D.C. on January 6th.
January 5, 2021
At 7:19 a.m., Ali Alexander texts a conservative journalist: “Tomorrow: Ellipse then US capitol. Trump is supposed to order us to capitol at the end of his speech but we will see[.]”
At 2:30 p.m., Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene texts Mark Meadows: “Last night Sen Graham told me that if I found 100 names of dead voters in GA that he would object. I have 100 dead voters names!! Tell President Trump!”
Meadows replies: “Send them to him. Do you have senator Graham’s contact.”
Meadows replies: “Send them to him. Do you have senator Graham’s contact.”
January 5, 2021 — continued
Roger Stone is seen early in the day and afternoon near the Supreme Court building, protected by Oath Keepers.(Six of these individuals would be spotted the next day participating in the Capitol riot.)
At Trump’s request, Mark Meadows calls both Roger Stone and Michael Flynn. Meadows speaks to his aide Cassidy Hutchinson about getting Secret Service detail to accompany him to the Willard Hotel to meet with Rudy Giuliani and his associates. She advises against the meeting. (According to sworn testimony from Hutchinson.)
January 5, 2021 — continued
Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund approves a January 6th permit for “demonstration activities on United States Capitol grounds,” sponsored by a group calling itself “One Nation Under God.” The event is approved for fifty attendees. The group is permitted to set up a 12’ x 12’ stage at “Senate East Front, Grassy Area 8.” A Capitol Police endorsement sheet confirms Rep. Mo Brooks and Rep. Andy Biggs will participate, and lists other events approved for the Capitol that day: Virginia Freedom Keepers, Area 7 (fifty attendees); Bryan Lewis, Area 9 (fifty attendees); Women for a Great America, Area 10 (fifty attendees); and Rock Ministries Church, Area 11 (fifty attendees). All but the latter are considered “possibl[y] . . . associated w/each other & w/Ali Alexander.” Each group is listed for fifty attendees, with a note of “potential for >50 ppl.” However, approval is “based on applications & lack of evidence that they’ll be >50 ppl.”
Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund hosts a virtual meeting with his team, the Capitol Police Board, officials from the FBI, Secret Service, and the National Guard. No one provides intelligence to indicate an imminent attack.
The National Park Service updates allowed attendance from 5,000 to 30,000 on permit #21-0278, belonging to “Women for America First,” for a “First Amendment Rally” at the Ellipse to hear Diamond & Silk, Roger Stone, Rudy Giuliani, Julio Gonzalez, and possible members of Congress. No mention is made of an address from the President or his family. The speeches are slated to last from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. the following day.
The amended permit allows 30,000 people to assemble at the Ellipse, Southwest and Southwest Quadrants. Demonstrations outside the Ellipse are not included in the permit.
In seeking the permit, the group notifies the NPS that “some participants may leave to attend rallies at the United States Capitol to hear the results of Congressional certification of the Electoral College count.” However, the NPS informs the organizers that additional permits would be required from the Metro Police for demonstrations or marches outside the event location. The NPS permit states: “This permit does not authorize a march from the Ellipse.”
Despite the lack of permits for any march, “Women for America First” calls its rally the “March for Trump” in its NPS paperwork.
(Originally, the event was scheduled to occur three days after the inauguration, January 23rd, for a much smaller crowd.)
The amended permit allows 30,000 people to assemble at the Ellipse, Southwest and Southwest Quadrants. Demonstrations outside the Ellipse are not included in the permit.
In seeking the permit, the group notifies the NPS that “some participants may leave to attend rallies at the United States Capitol to hear the results of Congressional certification of the Electoral College count.” However, the NPS informs the organizers that additional permits would be required from the Metro Police for demonstrations or marches outside the event location. The NPS permit states: “This permit does not authorize a march from the Ellipse.”
Despite the lack of permits for any march, “Women for America First” calls its rally the “March for Trump” in its NPS paperwork.
(Originally, the event was scheduled to occur three days after the inauguration, January 23rd, for a much smaller crowd.)
January 5, 2021 — continued
The site wildprotest.com features a graphic urging Trump supporters to attend three events: Freedom Plaza (Jan. 5th, 1 p.m.), the Ellipse (Jan. 6th, 9 a.m.), and the Capitol Building (Jan. 6th, 1 p.m., North East Dr.).
For its purported event at the Capitol, wildprotest.com lists forty-seven speakers, including Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Ali Alexander, Roger Stone, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), homosexual activist Scott Presler (Gays for Trump), Jenny Beth Martin (Tea Party Patriots), Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones, C.J. Pearson, Arizona state Rep. Mark Finchem, Pennsylvania state Rep. Doug Mastriano, Arizona state Rep. Anthony Kern, homosexual activist Brandon Straka, Shemeka Michelle (thenakedgirlz, author of “Keep it Naked”), Kimberly Fletcher (Moms for America), homosexual activist John Schlafly, lawyer Rogan O’Handley, homosexual activist/writer Lucian Wintrich (Gateway Pundit), Jim Hoft (Gateway Pundit), Michael Coudrey, Rev. Darrell C. Scott (Trump executive transition team), Abby Johnson, Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC), former pastor Lance Wallnau, bisexual singer Ricky Rebel, and dozens more.
Although the website lists four members of Congress, the event is expected to occur during the electoral count, while those members would presumably be occupied in the building.
Proof of permit is not provided on the website.
The event’s fundraising page boasts $183,777.82 from 2,172 donors.
For its purported event at the Capitol, wildprotest.com lists forty-seven speakers, including Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Ali Alexander, Roger Stone, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), homosexual activist Scott Presler (Gays for Trump), Jenny Beth Martin (Tea Party Patriots), Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones, C.J. Pearson, Arizona state Rep. Mark Finchem, Pennsylvania state Rep. Doug Mastriano, Arizona state Rep. Anthony Kern, homosexual activist Brandon Straka, Shemeka Michelle (thenakedgirlz, author of “Keep it Naked”), Kimberly Fletcher (Moms for America), homosexual activist John Schlafly, lawyer Rogan O’Handley, homosexual activist/writer Lucian Wintrich (Gateway Pundit), Jim Hoft (Gateway Pundit), Michael Coudrey, Rev. Darrell C. Scott (Trump executive transition team), Abby Johnson, Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC), former pastor Lance Wallnau, bisexual singer Ricky Rebel, and dozens more.
Although the website lists four members of Congress, the event is expected to occur during the electoral count, while those members would presumably be occupied in the building.
Proof of permit is not provided on the website.
The event’s fundraising page boasts $183,777.82 from 2,172 donors.
January 5, 2021 — continued
At 5:05 p.m., Donald Trump tweets: “Washington is being inundated with people who don’t want to see an election victory stolen by emboldened Radical Left Democrats. Our Country has had enough, they won’t take it anymore! We hear you (and love you) from the Oval Office. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Roger Stone is interviewed by David Brody of CBN for Just the News: “I do think he [Trump] has options. . . . The courts have not been willing to hear you. So, you are in a situation now in which you cannot have an honest, fair, transparent election. You cannot have a fair judicial proceeding. And our legislative process is constipated by either fear or special interest influence. Therefore, the three major peaceful ways to bring reform are blocked. You can see why the American people are so frustrated.”
Ali Alexander gives the Breitbart News Daily podcast an insider’s report: “The president’s mood is, he’s in fighter mode. And today will determine which Republicans are going to suffer his wrath going forward. That’s the mood that he’s in. In fact, I got a call last night from [Don Jr.’s girlfriend,] Kimberly Guilfoyle, and none of us are stopping. I know you’re not stopping, Ed. I’m not stopping. Stopthesteal.us is not stopping. The family is not stopping. This is the party of Trump, and the rest of the Republican establishment can get on board with the party of Trump . . . or they can accept their fate as the dead party. And so, I think that the president has a fighting spirit, and I think his speech is going to reflect that right before Congress goes in that joint session.”
U.S. intelligence receives a threat: “We are going to fly a plane into the Capitol on Wednesday to avenge Soleimani’s death.” Trump does nothing apparent to secure the Capitol.
At 6:34 p.m., Trump supporter William “Robbie” Norwood informs family and friends in a group chat that he will disguise himself in D.C.: “I’m dressing in all black. I’ll look just like ANTIFA. I’ll get away with anything.” (After participating in the attack, he would text: “It worked... I got away with things that others were shot or arrested for.”)
At 6:56 p.m. (EST), Steve Bannon tells his AmericasVoice.news: “All hell is going to break loose tomorrow. It’s all converging, and now we are on, as I say, the point of attack. Right? The point of attack, tomorrow.” Bannon smiles. “I’ll tell you this: it’s not going to happen like you think it’s going to happen. OK? It’s going to be quite extraordinarily different. And all I can say is, strap in.”
[unknown time] At the Oval Office, Donald Trump has his assistant Nicholas Luna open the door to the Rose Garden, so he can hear the noise from his supporters up the street at the Freedom Plaza. It’s so loud, that White House Press Secretary Sarah Matthews feels “shaking in the Oval.” She sees Trump’s mood change from bad to “fantastic.” The president starts talking about the rally the next day. Trump asks Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere if members of Congress would be with him the next day, to not certify the election. Trump asks for ideas to “make the RINOs do the right thing.” White House photographer Shealah Craighead hears Trump ask for the best route to go to the Capitol the next day. Trump says he can hear his supporters are “fired up” because the election was rigged.
Cindy Chafian, of “Eighty Percent Coalition,” hosts a pro-Trump rally at the Freedom Plaza (NPS permit #21-0274). Speakers include longtime Trump associate Roger Stone, Ali Alexander of Stop the Steal, former Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, former Trump adviser George Papadopoulos, Jack Posobiec of OANN, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, Planned Parenthood defector Abby Johnson, former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne, and Alex Jones of Infowars. Proud Boys are in attendance. Speaker tells crowd to join the Proud Boys. Crowd chants, “Four more years!”
Roger Stone tells the crowd, “This is nothing less than an epic struggle for the future of this country, between dark and light, between the godly and the godless, between good and evil. And we will win this fight, or America will step off into a thousand years of darkness.”
At 6:42 p.m. (EST), Michael Flynn delivers his speech: “Tomorrow, trust me, the American people that are standing on the soil that we are standing on tonight, this is soil that we have fought for, and will fight for in the future. The members of Congress, members of the House of Representatives, members of the Senate, those of you that do not have the moral fiber in your body, get some tonight, because tomorrow We the People are going to be here, and we want you to know that we will not stand for a lie! We will not stand for a lie!”
“Stop the Steal” organizer Ali Alexander says, “I want them to know that 1776 is always an option!” The crowd cheers. He continues, “These degenerates to the Deep State are going to give us what we want, or we are going to shut this country down!!”
In rabid fashion, Alex Jones tells the crowd they are fighting the “new world order.” He claims “globalists” are “trying to steal the election in front of everyone.” He continues, with gestures to the crowd: “And as I told them twenty years ago, I’ll tell them again. I don’t know how all of this is going to end, but if they want a fight, they’ve got one!” He then says Apple, Inc., “runs the death camps” in China. Jones says Hitler was a “monster,” but not as bad as the Communist Chinese, who commit “crimes against us! Against humanity!” Jones says, “When you see Nancy Pelosi, or you see Barack Obama, or you see that slave of Satan Joe Biden, they want to bankrupt you, they want to dumb you down, they want to hurt your children.” He continues, “We renounce Satan! We renounce the Democratic Party!” He appeals to “strength.” Jones says, “God rises [sic] up men who are real . . . not men that are perfect, not men that are above reproach, but real men like President Trump!” He crescendos: “And because he has represented us, he is under attack. So we hold up President Trump before the Creator of the Universe!!” Dramatically, Jones’ raised arms appeal to the sky: “And we say, ‘Thank You for trying to send us a deliverer! Though he is imperfect, as we are, but we pray for him, and we pray for America, and we hold him up in this hour of peril!'” Jones speaks of the upcoming Trump event: “Tomorrow is a great day. We don’t quietly take the election fraud. We don’t quietly take the scam, and believe their B.S. We’ve seen the evidence. The system has had to desperately engage in this gambit to maintain control, but this will be their Waterloo. This will be their destruction!” Crowd cheers wildly. Jones continues: “Regardless of what happens to President Trump in fifteen days, he is still the elected president of this republic, and we do not recognize the Communist Chinese agent Joe Biden, or his controllers!” Jones roars: “World government, foretold for thousands of years, is now upon us. And it’s pathetic! And it will be defeated!” “We must now pray for President Trump . . . bring down the new world order!” Jones roughly paraphrases Churchill: “All I could promise you is blood, and pain, fear, and suffering. But the alternative is even worse: total slavery!” Crowd cheers, “Freedom!” Jones commits to “war against the globalists.” Jones distorts the audio by holding his microphone too close: “THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS WITH US!!” “I TRUST IN THE PLAN OF GOD . . . I TRUST IN MY FOREBEARERS. AND I TRUST IN YOU!” Jones booms into the microphone: “THE GLOBALISTS ARE IN FEAR! THE GLOBALISTS WANT TO PLAY GOD! THEY ARE NOT GOD, AND THE ANSWER TO THEIR 1984 TYRANNY IS 1776! 1776! 1776!” Jones pumps his fist. The crowd chants along, “1776! 1776! 1776!”
(The next day, this chant would be echoed by rioters during the Capitol siege.)
Roger Stone tells the crowd, “This is nothing less than an epic struggle for the future of this country, between dark and light, between the godly and the godless, between good and evil. And we will win this fight, or America will step off into a thousand years of darkness.”
At 6:42 p.m. (EST), Michael Flynn delivers his speech: “Tomorrow, trust me, the American people that are standing on the soil that we are standing on tonight, this is soil that we have fought for, and will fight for in the future. The members of Congress, members of the House of Representatives, members of the Senate, those of you that do not have the moral fiber in your body, get some tonight, because tomorrow We the People are going to be here, and we want you to know that we will not stand for a lie! We will not stand for a lie!”
“Stop the Steal” organizer Ali Alexander says, “I want them to know that 1776 is always an option!” The crowd cheers. He continues, “These degenerates to the Deep State are going to give us what we want, or we are going to shut this country down!!”
In rabid fashion, Alex Jones tells the crowd they are fighting the “new world order.” He claims “globalists” are “trying to steal the election in front of everyone.” He continues, with gestures to the crowd: “And as I told them twenty years ago, I’ll tell them again. I don’t know how all of this is going to end, but if they want a fight, they’ve got one!” He then says Apple, Inc., “runs the death camps” in China. Jones says Hitler was a “monster,” but not as bad as the Communist Chinese, who commit “crimes against us! Against humanity!” Jones says, “When you see Nancy Pelosi, or you see Barack Obama, or you see that slave of Satan Joe Biden, they want to bankrupt you, they want to dumb you down, they want to hurt your children.” He continues, “We renounce Satan! We renounce the Democratic Party!” He appeals to “strength.” Jones says, “God rises [sic] up men who are real . . . not men that are perfect, not men that are above reproach, but real men like President Trump!” He crescendos: “And because he has represented us, he is under attack. So we hold up President Trump before the Creator of the Universe!!” Dramatically, Jones’ raised arms appeal to the sky: “And we say, ‘Thank You for trying to send us a deliverer! Though he is imperfect, as we are, but we pray for him, and we pray for America, and we hold him up in this hour of peril!'” Jones speaks of the upcoming Trump event: “Tomorrow is a great day. We don’t quietly take the election fraud. We don’t quietly take the scam, and believe their B.S. We’ve seen the evidence. The system has had to desperately engage in this gambit to maintain control, but this will be their Waterloo. This will be their destruction!” Crowd cheers wildly. Jones continues: “Regardless of what happens to President Trump in fifteen days, he is still the elected president of this republic, and we do not recognize the Communist Chinese agent Joe Biden, or his controllers!” Jones roars: “World government, foretold for thousands of years, is now upon us. And it’s pathetic! And it will be defeated!” “We must now pray for President Trump . . . bring down the new world order!” Jones roughly paraphrases Churchill: “All I could promise you is blood, and pain, fear, and suffering. But the alternative is even worse: total slavery!” Crowd cheers, “Freedom!” Jones commits to “war against the globalists.” Jones distorts the audio by holding his microphone too close: “THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS WITH US!!” “I TRUST IN THE PLAN OF GOD . . . I TRUST IN MY FOREBEARERS. AND I TRUST IN YOU!” Jones booms into the microphone: “THE GLOBALISTS ARE IN FEAR! THE GLOBALISTS WANT TO PLAY GOD! THEY ARE NOT GOD, AND THE ANSWER TO THEIR 1984 TYRANNY IS 1776! 1776! 1776!” Jones pumps his fist. The crowd chants along, “1776! 1776! 1776!”
(The next day, this chant would be echoed by rioters during the Capitol siege.)
January 5, 2021 — continued
An intimate meeting is reportedly held at Donald Trump’s private residence in D.C., Trump International Hotel, with Donald Trump, Jr., Eric Trump, Michael Flynn, Peter Nararro, Corey Lewandowski, David Bossie, Adam Piper, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Charles Herbster, Rudy Giuliani, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Mike Lindell, Daniel Beck, and two unnamed Senators. Beck, a little-known CEO of an Idaho text-messaging company, described the meeting as planning for “tomorrow” and “through the inauguration.”
Georgia Congressman Barry Loudermilk takes citizens, some in red hats, for a private tour of the Capitol. Surveillance shows one man with the group studiously taking photos of staircases, hallways, tunnels, and entrances. (The same man would record his march to the Capitol the next day, with threats against Democrat leaders: “We are basically at the Capitol. It’s probably close to 2 million American patriots. They are swarming and converging, mainly from Constitution Avenue. Get all them routes in. There’s no escape, Pelosi, Schumer, Nadler! We’re coming for you. We’re coming in like white on rice for Pelosi, Nadler, Schumer—even you, AOC. We’re coming to take you out! We’ll pull you out by your hairs! How about that, Pelosi? Might as well make yourself another appointment. When I get done with you, you’re going to need a shine up top of that bald head.” The day before the attack, the same man broadcast on Facebook a video of his friend demonstrating a flag pole he sharpened at the tip for, as the broadcaster put it, “somebody special.”)
An unidentified person in a light grey hoodie plants pipe bombs at the RNC and DNC headquarters, south of the Capitol Building. Surveillance cameras capture the person walking in an alley at the area at 8:15 p.m.
Pipe bombs are planted at the RNC and DNC headquarters before 9 p.m.
At 9:17 p.m., Proud Boys leader Joe Biggs posts a message to his group: “We just had a meeting with a lot of guys. Info should be coming out.” Biggs then follows up: “Just spoke with [Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio],” who was arrested the day before. Minutes later, Biggs posts, “We have a plan. I’m with rufio.” “Rufio” is the nickname of Proud Boy Ethan Nordean. Biggs says both he and Tarrio have a plan.
From 9:46 p.m. to 9:52 p.m., Trump takes his second call with Steve Bannon.
At 10:29 p.m., Sean Hannity texts Mark Meadows: “Im very worried about the next 48 hours.” And, “Pence pressure. WH counsel will leave.”
At 11:18 p.m., Sean Hannity again texts Mark Meadows: “Sorry, I can’t talk right now.” And, “On with boss.”
At 11:27 p.m., Rep. Jim Jordan texts Mark Meadows a plan to replace the electoral vote: “On January 6, 2021, Vice President Mike Pence, as President of the Senate, should call out all electoral votes that he believes are unconstitutional as no electoral votes at all – in accordance with guidance from founding father Alexander Hamilton and judicial precedence. ‘No legislative act,’ wrote Alexander Hamilton in Federalist No. 78, ‘contrary to the Constitution, can be valid.’ ‘The court in Hubbard v. Lowe reinforced this truth: “That an unconstitutional statute is not a law at all is a proposition no longer open to discussion.” 226 F. 135, 137 (SDNY 1915), appeal dismissed, 242 U.S. 654 (1916).’ Following this rationale, an unconstitutionally appointed elector, like an unconstitutionally enacted statute, is no elector at all.”
Late evening (unknown time), Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund emails the assistant and deputy chiefs of the Capitol Police to prepare officers for “a long day, large groups, and clashes that could possibly include violence.”
In the evening (unknown time), the FBI issues a warning to the Law Enforcement Enterprise Portal warning of social media threats against the Capitol. (Top Capitol officials would later testify before Congress that they did not see the warning. FBI Director Christopher Wray would also testify he also did not see the message.)
From 9:46 p.m. to 9:52 p.m., Trump takes his second call with Steve Bannon.
At 10:29 p.m., Sean Hannity texts Mark Meadows: “Im very worried about the next 48 hours.” And, “Pence pressure. WH counsel will leave.”
At 11:18 p.m., Sean Hannity again texts Mark Meadows: “Sorry, I can’t talk right now.” And, “On with boss.”
At 11:27 p.m., Rep. Jim Jordan texts Mark Meadows a plan to replace the electoral vote: “On January 6, 2021, Vice President Mike Pence, as President of the Senate, should call out all electoral votes that he believes are unconstitutional as no electoral votes at all – in accordance with guidance from founding father Alexander Hamilton and judicial precedence. ‘No legislative act,’ wrote Alexander Hamilton in Federalist No. 78, ‘contrary to the Constitution, can be valid.’ ‘The court in Hubbard v. Lowe reinforced this truth: “That an unconstitutional statute is not a law at all is a proposition no longer open to discussion.” 226 F. 135, 137 (SDNY 1915), appeal dismissed, 242 U.S. 654 (1916).’ Following this rationale, an unconstitutionally appointed elector, like an unconstitutionally enacted statute, is no elector at all.”
Late evening (unknown time), Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund emails the assistant and deputy chiefs of the Capitol Police to prepare officers for “a long day, large groups, and clashes that could possibly include violence.”
In the evening (unknown time), the FBI issues a warning to the Law Enforcement Enterprise Portal warning of social media threats against the Capitol. (Top Capitol officials would later testify before Congress that they did not see the warning. FBI Director Christopher Wray would also testify he also did not see the message.)
