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| Ali Alexander (front, left) on Jan. 6 |
In conversations with members of the House January 6 Committee, Alabama-connected extremist Ali Alexander is pointing fingers at three GOP U.S. Congressmen, according to a report over the weekend at Salon. The revelations are part of Alexander's efforts to keep his cell-phone records under wraps. Writes reporter Brett Bachman:
One of the principal organizers of the Jan. 6 "Stop the Steal" rally that preceded a deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol disclosed names of several Republican lawmakers who he was in communication with prior to the attempted insurrection, according to a new report.
Lawyers for Ali Alexander, who played a key role in founding the "Stop the Steal" movement which sought to use false claims of election fraud to overturn the 2020 election results, confirmed in a new court filing that he spoke with GOP Reps. Paul Gosar, Mo Brooks and Andy Biggs in the days leading up to Jan. 6.
Alexander's accounting of his communications is the most detailed look yet at the Republican lawmakers' role in encouraging and planning for the events of Jan. 6, and gives the committee new ammunition in seeking information from Republican colleagues who embraced fringe right-wing figures in their unsuccessful attempt to keep then-President Donald Trump in power. The details were included in a lawsuit Alexander filed Friday, in an attempt to stop the Jan. 6 committee from pulling his phone records from cellular service provider Verizon.
Alexander has spoken online about his associations with Gosar, Brooks, and Biggs regarding Jan. 6. But this time, he apparently did it under oath, before a Congressional committee. Writes Bachman:
During his appearance before the committee, Alexander apparently "testified that he had phone conversations with Rep. Brooks' staff about a 'Dear Colleague' letter and how his activists could be helpful," according to POLITICO. He also reported speaking with Gosar over the phone several times, as well as a few in person meetings with Biggs.
At one point, Alexander even briefly posted a video online — which has since been deleted — claiming the original idea to stop Congress' Jan. 6 certification session was his alone, and that he worked with Gosar, Biggs and Brooks to try and make it happen.
"We four schemed up to put maximum pressure on Congress while they were voting," Alexander says.
Both Biggs and Brooks denied to POLITICO that they ever met with Alexander, while Gosar has openly appeared at events with him but refused to comment on their relationship.
12 comments:
Methinks something explosive must be on Mr. Alexander's phone.
Methinks you are right. Seems that Mr. Akbar is trying to protect someone. Wonder who that could be.
I seem to recall reading recently that Alexander did not have the funds to pay lawyers, but now he seems to have them crawling out of the woodwork.
Funny how that happens, isn't it?
Not an expert on the law of congressional investigations, but I can't believe they don't have a right to Alexander's phone records. He's admitting to being part of the planning for what turned into an attack on Congress.
I'm not an expert either, but it seems a subpoena for phone records would be the normal course for such an investigation. I do know it's common in discovery disputes for attorneys to argue a request is "overly broad," and that seems to be part of what Alexander's lawyers are arguing -- along with the subpoena violates his First Amendment rights, I guess the right to free association over the phone.
Not sure if either of those arguments will fly.
I believe Mark Meadows and John Eastman have filed similar lawsuits. Looks like Alexander isn't the only one concerned about phone records.
Ali Alexander is a spiritual counselor, a minister, according to his brief. Who knew? I guess that is an attempt to claim some kind of clergy privilege.
The clergy thing makes Alexander's attorneys seem a tad desperate.
From the Daily Beast re: Alexander court filing:
The 25-page filing entered into the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. lists defendants including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the Jan. 6 House select committee, and Verizon Wireless—while seeking an injunction on Alexander’s phone records. “The data sought is not pertinent to the investigation and sweeps up privileged communications between Alexander and clergy, Alexander and people he spiritually counsels, and Alexander and his respective attorneys,” the lawsuit states. “Mr. Alexander reasonably fears this is payback for his beliefs and lawful campaign activity that is being lumped in with illegal acts; and before a body that is not permitted to do either such thing.”
Jonathan A. Mosely, one of the two lawyers representing Alexander in the legal matter, told The Daily Beast late Friday night that “suing Congress is not that easy,” while claiming his client has grown frustrated with the committee, after giving “up thousands and thousands of pages and it’s never enough.” Alexander's other lawyer, Paul D. Kamenar, told The Daily Beast he hopes to see the American Civil Liberties Union come to Alexander’s aid. “We expect the ACLU to come in and join us,” he added, “and hopefully get both ends of the political spectrum to agree the January 6 committee is overreaching.”
I love how people, especially in Alabama, find "behind the cross" a prominent hiding place when being called out for their own behavior. It seems "but, I'm a Christian" is supposed to shield one from being accountable for one's ugly involvement. I AM a Christian but I prefer the doing unto others action over doing TO others and claiming religious exemption when caught. It's a novel concept...behaving in a manner that reveals my faith as opposed to declaring my faith when my behavior is questionable. Makes us all look bad in the long run. It's sad... really really sad.
Alex Jones joins the parade, suing Jan. 6 committee, per Politico.
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