Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Right-wing activist Ali Alexander, without the funds to fight a subpoena, is set to testify privately in December before the U.S. House Select Committee on Jan. 6

Ali Alexander
 

An Alabama-connected extremist, a self-described organizer of a rally that turned into an assault on the U.S. Capitol, will testify in December before the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection, according to a report at Raw Story

Ali (Akbar) Alexander, whose attorney is Baron Coleman of Montgomery, says he does not have the financial assets to fight a House subpoena and "I don't want to go to jail." Alexander once had the support of GOP money men Robert Mercer and the late Foster Friess, but apparently his coffers aren't so full at this point. Have Mercer and the Friess family closed their checkbooks over concerns they could be seen as funders of a deadly event like Jan. 6, which could spell "liability" for their fortunes? That remains unclear, but Alexander clearly does not intend to play a Steve Bannon fight-the-subpoena game. From Raw Story

Jan. 6 organizer Ali Alexander, who calls himself the "founder" of former president Donald Trump's "Stop the Steal" movement, announced Saturday that he will comply with a subpoena from the House Select Committee investigating the Capitol insurrection.

"You may have missed the news that I've been subpoenaed by the Democrats' partisan Jan. 6 committee," Alexander said in a video posted to the right-wing social-media platform Telegram. "This is a midterm issue that they want to run on, and what they want to do is paint me as the Black face for a white supremacy movement that doesn't actually exist."

Speaking in front of a poster of singer Johnny Cash flashing the middle finger, Alexander added that he respects his "fellow patriots" who are defying the committee, but called it "an expensive right" — claiming that it would cost between $250,000 and $500,000 to fight the subpoena. (See video at the end of this post.)

Does that mean Alexander no longer can dial up deep pockets on the right and scrape up that kind of dough? Isn't this the same guy who bragged online that he could "come to Alabama, dine with the governor (Robert Bentley,at the time), and spend the afternoon cashing in favors with Alabama lawyers"?

Have the mighty fallen? Given that Alexander and Coleman already are defendants (along with Donald Trump and Roger Stone) in a U.S. Capitol Police lawsuit over Jan. 6, perhaps they can't handle more legal entanglements. Also, the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Alexander as a possible influencer on the Proud Boys extremist group, and that could lead to criminal issues. From Raw Story:

"I frankly don't have that money to spend on legal bills, so for this unselect committee, I will actually be privately deposed in December," Alexander said. "I've asked to make it public testimony. They won't cooperate with that request."

"The only reason I'm going is that I don't want to go to jail," he added. "So under the threat of imprisonment and spending tens and tens and tens of thousands of dollars on lawyers, I will be privately deposed before this committee in December, and I will make public whatever I can."

Alexander seems to be in a bit of a snit about the private nature of his testimony. But if it's in the form of a deposition, our understanding is that such proceedings generally are not public:

In a post accompanying the video, Alexander wrote that he plans to submit to the committee "photographic and video evidence of agitators sabotaging his January 6th peaceful protests."

Referring to himself in the third person, Alexander wrote: "He will also present evidence to the Committee that President Trump was betrayed by someone in his inner circle. Someone made the decision to take instructions for patriots out of the Ellipse Rally. Ali says he's not backing down and the Democrat Committee has already threatened to imprison him."

A February 2021 Washington Post article suggests Alexander's legal problems related to Jan. 6 might just be getting started:

U.S. investigating possible ties between Roger Stone, Alex Jones and Capitol rioters

The Justice Department and the FBI are investigating whether high-profile right-wing figures — including Roger Stone and Alex Jones — may have played a role in the Jan. 6 Capitol breach as part of a broader look into the mind-set of those who committed violence and their apparent paths to radicalization, according to people familiar with the investigation.

The investigation into potential ties between key figures in the riot and those who promoted former president Donald Trump’s false assertions that the election was stolen from him does not mean those who may have influenced rioters will face criminal charges, particularly given U.S. case law surrounding incitement and free speech, the people said. Officials at this stage said they are principally seeking to understand what the rioters were thinking — and who may have influenced beliefs — which could be critical to showing their intentions at trial.

However, investigators also want to determine whether anyone who influenced them bears enough responsibility to justify potential criminal charges, such as conspiracy or aiding the effort, the officials said. That prospect is still distant and uncertain, they emphasized. . . .

Nevertheless, while Trump’s impeachment trial focused on the degree of his culpability for the violence, this facet of the case shows investigators’ ongoing interest in other individuals who never set foot in the Capitol but may have played an outsized role in what happened there through their influence, networks or action.

“We are investigating potential ties between those physically involved in the attack on the Capitol and individuals who may have influenced them, such as Roger Stone, Alex Jones and [Stop the Steal organizer] Ali Alexander,” said a U.S. official, who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the pending investigation.

 

 

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Baron Coleman was all hot to incorporate Stop the Steal in Alabama. Where is he now? Has he left Ali at the altar? C'mon Baron, take on Ali as a pro bono case.

legalschnauzer said...

It's possible Baron doesn't have the resources to take on a pro bono case like this, especially when it involves a fight with Congress. It's also possible neither Baron nor Ali anticipated the kind of stink Stop the Steal would lead to.

Anonymous said...

I find it interesting that Twitter's CEO is stepping down as the Jan. 6 investigation is heating up.

legalschnauzer said...

That is interesting. I think Ali said something to the effect that Stop the Steal couldn't have happened without Twitter. Jack Dorsey probably wasn't thrilled to hear that comment.

legalschnauzer said...

I believe Dorsey tried to play nice with Ali at one point, suggesting he had something worthwhile to say, made some good points, etc. Not sure that was a great idea on Dorsey's part.

legalschnauzer said...

This headline suggests Ali might be taking a page from the Steve Bannon playbook . . .
From WaPo: Stephen K. Bannon files motion to request all documents in court case be made public

Stephen K. Bannon, the former Trump White House adviser, has filed an opposition to the U.S. district court’s standard protective order for discovery, which prohibits either side from releasing documents or evidence publicly.

Bannon, 67, pleaded not guilty last week to contempt-of-Congress charges, and his legal team previously argued that the case would be more complicated by agreeing to the prosecution’s protective order for discovery.

“Members of the public should make their own independent judgment as to whether the U.S. Department of Justice is committed to a just result based upon all the facts,” said a statement provided to The Washington Post on behalf of Bannon. “In the opposition filed today, Mr. Bannon asked the judge to follow the normal process and allow unfettered access to and use of the documents.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda R. Vaughn has said that there are “less than 20 documents” to be provided, but Bannon attorney Evan Corcoran told reporters that there was probably going to be a need for the defense to locate more documents and witnesses.

Bannon’s legal team argued that the government offered little reason the documents should be withheld from public view, adding that many of the documents that would be restricted by the proposed protective order in this case are already public.

“The Government offered no reason why it wanted to limit Mr. Bannon’s attorneys in their use of the documents to prepare a defense,” Bannon’s statement said.

Bannon has refused to comply with an order from the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol to provide records and testimony about his actions leading up to the attack. The committee is interested in questioning Bannon about activities at the Willard hotel in the week leading up to Jan. 6.

legalschnauzer said...

Another intriguing headline (and more) from WaPo . . .

U.S. investigating possible ties between Roger Stone, Alex Jones and Capitol rioters

The Justice Department and the FBI are investigating whether high-profile right-wing figures — including Roger Stone and Alex Jones — may have played a role in the Jan. 6 Capitol breach as part of a broader look into the mind-set of those who committed violence and their apparent paths to radicalization, according to people familiar with the investigation.

The investigation into potential ties between key figures in the riot and those who promoted former president Donald Trump’s false assertions that the election was stolen from him does not mean those who may have influenced rioters will face criminal charges, particularly given U.S. case law surrounding incitement and free speech, the people said. Officials at this stage said they are principally seeking to understand what the rioters were thinking — and who may have influenced beliefs — which could be critical to showing their intentions at trial.

However, investigators also want to determine whether anyone who influenced them bears enough responsibility to justify potential criminal charges, such as conspiracy or aiding the effort, the officials said. That prospect is still distant and uncertain, they emphasized. . . .

Nevertheless, while Trump’s impeachment trial focused on the degree of his culpability for the violence, this facet of the case shows investigators’ ongoing interest in other individuals who never set foot in the Capitol but may have played an outsized role in what happened there through their influence, networks or action.

“We are investigating potential ties between those physically involved in the attack on the Capitol and individuals who may have influenced them, such as Roger Stone, Alex Jones and [Stop the Steal organizer] Ali Alexander,” said a U.S. official, who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the pending investigation.

Anonymous said...

It sounds to me like Alexander is begging for cash without specifically begging for cash.

legalschnauzer said...

Alabama activist Jill Simpson, who testified before Congress in the Don Sieggelman matter has insights about the Alexander story today at her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/dana.j.simpson/posts/10220777967499128

It appears Roger Shuler and Raw Story have up posts about the statements I put up Ali was making in last couple of days on my Facebook. I find it interesting Ali is standing in front of Johnny Cash shooting a bird with the words Cash written on the poster . . Ali is notorious for doing these kinds of things and the way I read it is "FU I need Cash." I'm guessing, but this is probably aimed at Republicans not supporting him now. I might add Shuler uses the threat Ali made directly to me and my Husband in a post on October 23rd, 2013, at the Stacy McCain blog, saying basically he was coming to get me when he dined with the Governor and important lawyers. And he did really screw up my life for a while with his tricks. I, as most y'all know, went to the FBI, but they did nothing to him or Baron Coleman and let them basically grow the Proud Boy organization, which I helped document with Roger Shuler over the years and actually warned folks in the days leading up to events on January 6th what Ali and Coleman were up to, as we, my husband and me, with Roger's help, outed their Stop the Steal LLC, along with Southern Poverty Group outing it. We all in Alabama knew Ali.was up to an Insurrection because we all have been dealing with this jerk for years. He was assigned to harass me by John McCain and Karl Rove bunch starting in 2007. I have been complaining to Siegelman lawyers and to Cliff for years. This nut case even had my Husband threatened about marrying me. It has been ongoing ever since. He worked directly for Karl and Grover running their Republican blogger club that was funded by their donors. The day Ali was leading this deal in DC he was captured on tape saying he does not disavowed what was happening. At the very same time, Karl Rove was on Amelia Island saying he was taking back over the Republican Party. (to be coninued)

legalschnauzer said...

Jill Simpson (cont.)

As most y'all know, I believe but much of what has happened to me is the direct result of Karl Rove's operative Ali Akbar Alexander. I believe he is the one behind setting up this while entire deal. I might add I think he may skate, as it has long time believed he informs to Rove's friend, FBI director Christopher Wray. I think from all I have seen out of Ali, he is the elitist Republicans number 1 operative. I still remember watching him when he was against Donald Trump in the primary in 2016. All that said to me, watch Ali Akbar Alexander as he will attempt to send folks down the river for Rove's bunch of corporate fat cat Republicans.

He has already made statements to try to hurt Mo Brooks' run for senator for the Rove Business Council/Chambwr of Commerce crowd, who are always giving Alabama land to foreign Corporations and our jobs to China. All that said, it looks like from this picture Ali is saying, "FU with Cash ." Go figure. This Dude is the ring leader of the events you saw. Even though the FBI has not let you know Anonymous outed the 122 of those blogs recruiting folks. He is who had the crowd shouting victory or death and he was one of the two planners of the In God We Trust rally at the Capitol Building. Did he do it or Trump or Rove is the question, and all I am going to say is the Rove bunch, on the day of the Ali-planned event, was watching and Karl was drinking Mai Tais and cheering Ali on and announcing he was back in charge of the party, and Trump would be going to jail.

Ali is the guy who is going to put Trump in jail for Rove if the Republicans allow it. After all, Ali planned it all. Don't let Ali fool you; I have been dealing with that black jerk since 2007 when Rove and the McCain bunch put him to harassing me. If you doubt me, call any reporter and any Siegelman or Scrushy lawyer and Tommy Gallion and Cliff Arnebeck, and Roger Shuler. They will tell you Karl's top operative harassing me was Ali. I have complained endlessly about his criminal actions and threats he did to me. As for the FBI, if they had stopped it years ago, this would not have happened. Ali and his little gang in Alabama is well known and now they are nationally known. If you want to end all the ugly shit in the Republican Party of the elitist Karl Rove side, then you need to be pushing for Ali to be locked up.

Ali is going for the cash in this matter and my bet is if the religious right Republicans don't take him to the mat, he will walk scot free, and that will be the end of their bunch. His message could be standing in front of this sign "FU or cash or Cash" makes me say, "FU what do you think?" All that said I told you all Ali was yapping months ago as it showed up when Democrats started saying as did Rove Republicans what Ali was saying about Mo Brooks.

taint in the air said...

Anyone else think this annoucement could be nothing more than a desperate appeal for a right wing sugar daddy to coe rescue him from his impending cooperation?

Anonymous said...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/11/30/sidney-powell-defend-the-republic-criminal-probe/

legalschnauzer said...

Jill Simpson seems to think that's exactly what it is. She even suggests that the Johnny Cash middle-finger poster is a not-so-subtle way of saying, "FU, I need cash."

In wonder what the Cash family thinks about such use of Johnny's image.

Anonymous said...

In his defense; hiding from witchcraft is expensive

https://www.wonkette.com/stop-the-steal-organizer-needs-2k-a-day-to-hide-from-witches

legalschnauzer said...

@1:27 --

Thanks for sharing. This Wonkette article is a classic, and folks need to read it to get a glimpse at the real Ali Akbar.

Anonymous said...

What's this? Some kind of parody? https://twitter.com/alicockbar

legalschnauzer said...

Yes, I believe it is a parody, and it made me guffaw, although it's not PG-13. Hope folks will check it out for a good belly laugh.