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President Donald Trump is once again surrounding himself with ultra-loyalists after holding meetings on Friday and Sunday with Sidney Powell and others to fuel his narrative of voter fraud.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla,), who defended Trump during the impeachment trial, was seen at the White House on Monday, as was Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani, who was also present for a Friday meeting with former Trump attorney Sidney Powell.
Powell and Giuliani have come up with the idea of using federal power to seize voting machines that they claim are part of a plot to divert Trump’s votes, a claim that conservative media outlets have undercut apparent threats of litigation.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) uses a cell phone next to a United States Marine outside the West Wing at the White House in Washington, United States, on December 21, 2020. He and other loyal conservatives Trump were seen at the White House on Monday.
Also seen was a collection of conservative Republicans loyal to Trump, each of whom could play a role when Congress meets in a joint session on January 6 to count the votes presented by the Electoral College.
Powell herself was back in the White House, the New York Times reported, making it his third visit since Friday.
Joe Biden beat Trump in the Electoral College vote 306-232, but that hasn’t stopped Trump or his allies from looking for ways to reverse the election.
In an unusual display, Gaetz exited the west wing just outside the door from where a US Marine stands guard when the president is there. Gaetz was photographed checking his cell phone.
Also seen were conservative Jim Jordan of Ohio, Mo Brooks of Alabama, who has said he will try to block voters in states where Trump alleges fraud, Rep. Louie Goehmert of Texas, and elected Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. who has expressed support for the QAnon conspiracy theory.
They met with the president Politician reported, as did Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry and Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs.
Trump’s attorney, Rudy Giuliani, has denounced electoral fraud and has tried to get the government to take over the voting machines.
Former Trump attorney Sidney Powell is pushing for a special counsel to investigate his fraud allegations, and Trump is considering trying to name her himself.
Trump claims he won, says election is rigged, and follows Joe Biden 306-232 at the Electoral College
Green’s Twitter bio describes her as ‘100% Pro-Life, Pro-Gun, Pro-Trump #MAGA’.
Their meeting came hours after outgoing attorney general Bill Barr dismissed allegations of widespread election fraud.
Barr told reporters that there was fraud in most of the elections, but referenced his earlier claim, saying that he has not seen “systemic or widespread fraud that would affect the outcome of the elections.”
“I agree with that statement,” Barr said, contradicting Trump, who claims he won.
Barr also gave no quarter to the idea of appointing a special prosecutor to investigate voter fraud, despite the president retweeting a series of claims linked to Powell and meeting with her over the weekend about her ideas to revoke the vote.
“If I thought that a special attorney at this stage is the proper and appropriate tool, I would appoint one, but I have not and will not,” Barr said at the Justice Department Monday.
He also failed to support a Hunter Biden special counsel despite pressure from Trump to investigate his rival’s son. Barr also said that it “certainly” appears that Russia was behind an attack on the US government that is still being discovered.
Powell, the former Trump lawyer, has filed ‘Kraken’ lawsuits in states Trump lost and wants the government to seize voting machines for inspection amid her own claims of a conspiracy involving Venezuela, Cuba, China. and machines that allegedly ‘flipped’ Trump’s votes to Biden.
When Congress meets in joint session, if a member of each house opposes a list of voters, it forces both houses to debate the objection and vote to certify the voters.
Trump spoke publicly before the election about the possibility of taking his fight to the House.
Under the procedures for certifying the election, both houses must vote by majority separately to hear an objection from the electors of a state once it is raised. Democrats control the House and could presumably reject it.
Trump’s meeting with members of the House comes after Senator-elect Tommy Tuberville of Alabama has signaled that he will join the likely doomed effort to challenge the election results.
Rep. Brooks told Newsmax on Friday that Republicans had an “absolute right” to question the results.
“I know how some of these creatures in Congress and Senate try to avoid being brave when it comes to what they call tough votes,” Hill reported. But in my opinion, that’s what we were chosen for. I can only control my own vote, how I am going to behave with regard to this electoral fraud and electoral theft. ‘
The joint Jan.6 session comes a day after two Senate second-round elections in Georgia, where some Republicans fear Trump’s conspiracy theories against the results could backfire.
Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani, who was asked if Powell could be appointed as a special counsel, told Newsmax on Monday that he promised to be ‘extremely aggressive’ and ‘fight for our client as hard as we can’ but also ‘but that we will also do it within the limits of rationality, common sense and the law ”.
He asked that the ‘corrupt governors’ ‘allow us access’ to the voting machines.
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