‘Sick puppy’: Trump furious as judge releases 2,000 pages of evidence
A massive trove of documents in a 2020 election subversion case has been released just 17 days before American voters decide between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
US Election
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A massive, nearly 2000-page trove of evidence in the 2020 election subversion case against Donald Trump has been unsealed less than three weeks before voters decide whether to send him back to the White House.
Mr Trump railed against “election interference” as the bombshell release threatens to up-end the presidential race in its final 17 days.
US District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan first released a 165-page filing two weeks ago, but unsealed the full appendix saying that withholding it from the public until after polls close would be as much election interference as releasing them.
Special counsel Jack Smith filed the evidence in a bid to bring new charges against Mr Trump after a Supreme Court ruled former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution for official acts.
In the new filing, Mr Smith said Trump launched a “private criminal effort” to subvert the 2020 election and should not be shielded by presidential immunity.
“The judge is allowing him to do it. And it’s not even believable,” Trump on “The Dan Bongino Show” shortly before the documents were made public. “This guy is a sick puppy. And they’re going to release something else. And always before the election.”
Among the new pieces of evidence in the 1,889-page dossier is a handwritten note from a meeting on January 5, 2021 – a day before the election results were certified on January 6.
“Requesting VP reject,” the first bullet point says, followed by: “Were the procedures, followed that led to the certification?”
Mr Trump is accused of pressuring then Vice President Mike Pence to block the certification of Joe Biden’s victory.
A text message sent on January 6, from a redacted sender and receiver, says: “ “We need to get a document on the Wisconsin electors to you for the VP immediately. Is there a staff person I can talk to immediately. Thanks”
Wisconsin was one of the key swing states that decided the 2020 election when it flipped from Mr Trump to Mr Biden.
The new documents include transcripts of court hearings, interviews and source material related to the date. Much had already been known, including public statements, speeches and Tweets from Mr Trump and how his public statements contrasted with his private communications.
It included a transcript of Mr Trump’s call with Georgia’s secretary of state to “find” fraudulent votes, as well as photos of the 2020 “fake elector” certificates.
Plans were allegedly discussed among Mr Trump’s inner circle to provide alternative certificates to Mr Pence to certify in place of the authentic certificates.
The first of four volumes of evidence are excerpts from the House January 6 committee’s interviews from its investigation into the Capitol riot.
The second volume contains public posts, statements and speeches from Mr Trump and his allies.
The third volume contains primary source materials like photos and conversation transcripts.
The fourth volume largely consists of notes from Mr Trump’s lawyer John Eastman over the alleged plot to have Mr Pence overturn the election.
Originally published as ‘Sick puppy’: Trump furious as judge releases 2,000 pages of evidence