Special Counsel Jack Smith's Team uncovered details about Trump's Refusal to Help Stop the Violent Attack on the U.S. Capitol, as He watched TV inside the White House.
Many of the Details come from the questioning of Trump's former Deputy Chief-of-Sstaff, Dan Scavino, now a paid Senior Adviser to Trump's Re-Election campaign. Scavino, after a Judge overruled Claims of Executive Privilege, did speak with Smith's team. New details also come from the Smith Team's Interviews with other White House Advisers and Top Lawyers
Scavino told Smith's Investigators that as the Violence began to escalate that day, Trump "was just not interested" in doing more to Stop it.
Former Trump Aide Nick Luna, told Federal Investigators that when Trump was informed that former Vice President Pence, had to be rushed to a Secure Location, Trump responded, "So what?", which sources said Luna saw as an unexpected willingness by Trump, to let potential Harm to Pence.
Along with Scavino and Luna, that small group included then-Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, then-White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, and Cipollone's former Deputy, Pat Philbin. When speaking with Smith's team, Scavino recalled telling Trump in a Phone Call the night of Jan. 6: "This is all your legacy here, and there's smoke coming out of the Capitol." Scavino hoped Trump would finally help facilitate a Peaceful Transfer of Power.
In His wide-ranging Indictment of Trump, Smith accuses Trump of trying to Unlawfully retain Power by, among other things, "spread[ing] lies" about the 2020 election and pressuring Pence to block Congress from certifying the results when it convened on Jan. 6.
After Trump finished His Remarks at the "Save America" Rally early on Jan. 6, and Protesters began making their way to the Capitol, Trump was returned to the White House, He and Meadows settled into chairs around a table in the Oval Office dining room, to watch TV coverage of the Event.
When Scavino and other White House Officials learned that Rioters had Violently stormed the Capitol, they rushed into the Dining room to urge Trump to help Calm the situation. Still, Trump didn't do anything.
Trump was "very angry" that day, not angry at what His Supporters were doing to a Pillar of American Democracy, but steaming that the Election was allegedly Stolen from Him and His Supporters, who were "angry on his behalf." Scavino described it all as "very unsettling," At times, Trump just sat silently at the Head of the Table, with his arms folded and His eyes locked on the TV, Scavino recounted.
After unsuccessfully trying for up to 20 minutes to persuade Trump to Release some sort of calming Statement, Scavino and others walked out of the dining room, leaving Trump alone. That's when Trump posted a Message on His Twitter Account, saying that Pence "didn't have the courage to do what should have been done."
Trump's Aides were Shocked by the Post. Aside from Trump, Scavino was the only other Person with access to Trump's Twitter Account, and He was often the One actually posting Messages to it, so when the Message about Pence popped up, Cipollone and another White House Attorney raced to find Scavino, demanding to know why He would Post that in the midst of such a Precarious situation. Scavino said He was as Blindsided by the Post as they were, insisting to them, "I didn't do it,".
Some of Trump's Aides then returned to the Dining Room, to explain to Trump that a Public Attack on Pence was "not what we need,". "But it's true," Trump responded. Trump has publicly echoed that Sentiment since then. Then a White House Security Official heard Reports over Police Radio that indicated Pence's Security Detail believed "this was about to get very ugly".
As Trump Aide Luna recalled, Trump didn't seem to care that Pence had to be moved to a Secure Location. Trump showed He was "capable of allowing harm to come to one of his closest allies" at the time. With the Chaos inside the Capitol continuing, Trump's Aides believed Trump still needed to do more. Sources said Cipollone recalled telling Trump that He needed to explicitly instruct Rioters to Leave the Capitol.
Scavino printed out proposed Messages to post on Twitter, hoping that Trump would approve them, despite His reluctance to write such Posts himself. The Congressional Probe found that even Trump's daughter, Ivanka, "rushed down to the Oval Office dining room" to convince Her Father that issuing a Public Message could "discourage violence,".
More than a half-hour after Trump was First pressed to take some sort of Action, Trump finally let Scavino post a Message on Trump's Twitter account, telling Supporters to support Law Enforcement and "stay peaceful." It was 2:38 p.m. Minutes later, Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt was Fatally Shot, when she tried to break through a barricaded Entrance near the House Chamber. And the Violence at the Capitol continued to Escalate.
At least Six of Trump's closest Aides continued to push Trump to do something more Forceful than Posting what they saw as a Weak Message on Twitter. Trump listened to the Pleas, "but he was just not interested at that moment to put anything out," Scavino said. Instead, Trump was focused on watching TV and taking in the Chaotic Scenes, Scavino said.
Testifying before the House Committee, an Aide to Meadows similarly said She heard Meadows say of Trump that day, "He doesn't want to do anything."
Then-House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, other Members of Congress, Members of Trump's Family, and even Fox News Personalities, tried to push Trump to take further Action. But in response, Trump repeated to many of them that His Supporters were simply Angry about the Election being Stolen.
In His own closed-door Interviews with Federal Investigators, Meadows Confirmed that when a desperate McCarthy called Trump, He said: "Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are." Instead of taking Aaction at that point, Trump continued to watch Fox News on TV.
During this time, Law Enforcement Agents were Attacked and seriously Injured, the Capitol was Invaded, the Electoral Count was Halted, and the Lives of those in the Capitol were put at risk. the House committee said in its Report.
Eventually, at the urging of Ivanka's husband, Jared Kushner, Trump agreed to Record a Video for release. The Video, more than a minute long, was posted to Twitter at about 4:15 p.m. "This was a fraudulent election," Trump said. "[But] we have to have peace. So go home. We love you. You're very special."
When Investigators questioned Him, Scavino told them He has yet to be shown any Evidence of Fraud, that would have Changed the Outcome of the Election. Other Loyal Aides to Trump, including Meadows, provided similar Statements about the 2020 Election, when Speaking to Smith's Team.
According to the House Panel's Report on Jan. 6, the Video Trump released, several hours after the Attack on the Capitol began, "immediately had the expected effect; the rioters began to disperse immediately and leave the Capitol." But the National Guard had to remove the remaining Rioters.
Trump, after the Video was Released, returned to watching TV Coverage of the Day with Philbin and others. And when Clips of the Riot were splashed across the screen, Trump declared something to the effect of, "This is what happens when they try to steal an election," Philbin recalled to Investigators. Philbin said He responded: "Mr. President, it doesn't justify this."
it was a Tense, uncomfortable evening for Trump. One close Aide told Smith's Team, that Trump was in "disbelief" that Night, even as He showed No Remorse. None of the Trump Aides, who spoke with Investigators said they heard Trump Concede even in Private, that He Lost the Election, at this time.
Shortly before 6 p.m. on Jan. 6, Trump showed Luna a draft of a Twitter Message He was thinking about posting: "These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously and viciously stripped away from great patriots. Remember this day for forever!". The Message echoed what Trump had allegedly been saying Privately all day.
Luna told Trump that it made him sound "Culpable" for the Violence, perhaps even as if he may have somehow been involved in "Directing" It. At 6:01 p.m., Trump posted the Message. About an hour later, Twitter Suspended Trump's Account.
After that, but before Congress reconvened to Finish its Vote Certifying the 2020 Election, won by Biden. Cipollone called Trump, relaying what a "horrible day" it had been and urging Trump to tell Republican Allies in Congress that they should Withdraw any Objections to the Certification so the Country could move on. Instead, Trump again Declined to Act, telling Cipollone, "I don't want to do that,"
Trump then had another strained Phone Conversation, when He called Scavino to ask for His take on how the Public was digesting the day's Events. "Not good," Scavino told Trump. Scavino had hoped Trump's Presidency would end on a Better note, and He told Investigators His Conversation with Trump was Not "comfortable,".
But Scavino also essentially told Trump that, despite how the Media might Portray Jan. 6, his "legacy" could remain Intact if he took the Right steps moving forward.
In April 2022, the House held Scavino in Contempt of Congress, for Refusing to comply with a Subpoena seeking Testimony in the Congressional Investigation, after Scavino cited Executive Privilege. The Justice Department (DOJ) ultimately declined to Charge him in that matter, but last year, after a monthslong Court battle, a Federal Judge ruled that Scavino had to Comply with a Grand Jury Subpoena from Smith's Team.
A Federal Judge similarly ruled that, despite any Claims related to Executive Privilege, Meadows, Cipollone, Philbin, and Luna, also had to comply with Smith's Subpoenas for Testimony.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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