Saturday, April 22, 2023

Jan 6 investigation side investigation

In my mind, this is as important an aspect of Jack Smith's investigation as any.
The Justice Department is looking into Donald Trump's main fundraising arm, Save America, with a federal grand jury doling a fresh set of subpoenas this week to aides who worked in the Trump administration and the former president's election campaign, according to multiple reports.

[...]

The interest in Trump's Save America PAC is a new development in the DOJ's probe, although it's unclear what particular actions the fundraising vehicle is being investigated for or how it relates to the inquiry into the January 6, 2021, attack.

  Business Insider
Well, maybe it doesn't relate. But I can come up with a link: A big reason Trump needed to stay in office (have people believe the big lie) was so he could continue his grift, siphoning as much money from the pockets of his duped supporters as possible.
Federal prosecutors are interested in the formation of the PAC and its spending practices [...] . A source familiar with the subpoenas' language told CNN that the department may be investigating whether those associated with the PAC employed baseless claims about the 2020 election to defraud people.
And, then there's this...
Investigators have focused these questions toward a group of witnesses who either work for Trump or are represented by lawyers provided by him. In some instances, prosecutors have asked how witnesses found their lawyers and if they know how they were compensated during grand jury sessions.

The line of questioning about Trump-provided attorneys suggests prosecutors are looking at any efforts by the former president to keep control over more than two dozen Mar-a-Lago staffers and political aides who have become central witnesses in recent months, and whose legal bills are paid by Trump.

[...]

Prosecutors asked witnesses questions like “‘Did they tell you what to say? Did they get you to alter your testimony?’” The source said. “Even if it were true, would anybody admit it?”

  CNN
They might if they were under oath.
Many of the defense lawyers representing these Trump-aligned witnesses have been paid by Trump’s Save America PAC.

[...]

The PAC, which was set up days after the 2020 election and solicited millions in donations with baseless claims of election fraud, also keeps a handful of Trump staffers on its payroll, too. Several of Trump’s closest aides who are also now witnesses remain on his payroll and also receive hefty consulting fees through Save America PAC.

[...]

Attorneys for several of the Trump witnesses have maintained that no matter where their funding comes from, the advice they provide to their clients is to protect them individually.
...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

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