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| Ali Alexander (Politico/Getty Images) |
Ali Alexander, the right-wing extremist with ties to Alabama, has received a grand-jury subpoena related to a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation of the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol. This could be a major development for at least two reasons: (1) It signals DOJ involvement in a probe that, so far, has focused mainly on the U.S. House select committee; (2) It appears to focus on events leading to the attack on the Capitol by Donald Trump supporters -- and the individuals who organized those events. From a report at Politico:
Ali Alexander, the founder of the Stop the Steal organization that helped promote Donald Trump’s false claims of election fraud, said Friday he received a grand jury subpoena from the Justice Department and intends to cooperate with the investigation.
In a lengthy statement, Alexander denied any wrongdoing and said he is not a target of the investigation, which he said was more clearly aimed at organizers of a Jan. 6 rally near the White House. That event was run by “Women for America First.”
Alexander’s confirmation of a grand jury subpoena is the first public acknowledgment that the Justice Department’s probe of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol has expanded to include organizers of the events that preceded the attack, including some figures adjacent to Trump himself. The issuance of a grand jury subpoena suggests prosecutors believe crimes may have been committed in connection with those events.
Alexander has previously testified to the Jan. 6 select committee, where he talked about his contacts with Republican members of Congress. His cooperation with the Justice Department was first reported by the New York Times.
How strong are Alexander's ties to Jan. 6. In his own words, they are quite strong:
Alexander said in a since-deleted video that he worked with GOP Reps. Paul Gosar, Andy Biggs and Mo Brooks to attempt to use Congress’ Jan. 6 session certifying Joe Biden’s victory as a chance to pressure lawmakers to overturn the electoral results.
“We four schemed up to put maximum pressure on Congress while they were voting,” Alexander said in the video.
Biggs and Brooks have denied any substantive relationship with Alexander. Gosar has declined to address their contacts.
Alexander is also fighting in court to block a subpoena from the select committee for his phone records.
In his lawsuit to block the subpoena, Alexander revealed he had contact on the morning of Jan. 6 with Kimberly Guilfoyle, the fiancée of Donald Trump Jr. who played a role in securing financing for the ellipse rally.
“Ms. Guilfoyle thanked Mr. Alexander for being a leader on voting rights and creating the ‘Stop the Steal’ movement,” Alexander’s lawyers revealed in the filing. “The two spoke about the ongoing Georgia election and the GOP primaries that would take place in 2022. The Select Committee seemed satisfied with Alexander’s explanation of that short call.”
Guilfoyle is still in talks with the select committee about potential testimony.
Alexander's public statement on the subpoena seems designed to minimize his importance to the DOJ investigation. From Politico:
In his statement, Alexander sought to separate himself from the substance of the investigation, saying he did not coordinate with the Proud Boys and suggesting his contact with the Oath Keepers was limited to accepting an offer for them to act as ushers at an event that never took place: his own permitted event near the Capitol, which didn’t occur because of the mob attack on the Capitol. The Oath Keepers are the subject of conspiracy charges for their roles in breaching the Capitol that day.
“I did not finance the Ellipse equipment. I did not ever talk with the White House about security groups. Any militia working security at the Ellipse belonged to “Women for America First,” not us,” Alexander said. “I did not coordinate any movements with the Proud Boys or even see them that day. I did take Oath Keepers offer to act as ushers for the Area 8 event but all of that was lost in the chaos. I wasn’t in communication with any of the aforementioned groups while I was near the Capitol working to get people away from the building. Lastly, I’m not willing to presume anyone’s guilt.”
“I did nothing wrong and I am not in possession of evidence that anyone else had plans to commit unlawful acts,” Alexander said. “I denounce anyone who planned to subvert my permitted event and the other permitted events of that day on Capitol grounds to stage any counterproductive activities.”
Despite his disavowal of other extremist groups that participated in the Jan. 6 attack, CNN previously unearthed video of Alexander saying he intended to reach out to the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers about doing security for his event.
Alexander sure seems to be trying to distance himself from the bad boys. Got to give him credit. Issuing that statement probably was a smart pre-emptive move.
ReplyDeleteUnder the circumstances, it probably was a wise move to make. It's like someone told him, "Imagine what questions you will get and try to answer them before they are asked."
ReplyDeleteOne incongruity: If Alexander's hands are clean, why doesn't he turn over his phone records?
ReplyDeleteHere is URL to a Schnauzer post zbout the CNN report on Ali's ties to Proud Boys and Oath Keepers:
ReplyDeletehttps://legalschnauzer.blogspot.com/2022/01/ali-alexander-communicated-with-members.html
From CNN:
ReplyDeleteAn organizer of the "Stop the Steal" rallies that preceded the attack on the US Capitol a year ago said he would work with two extremist groups, who later had members charged in the attack, about providing security and housing for the January 6, 2021, rally in Washington.
In previously unreported videos from the social media platform Periscope reviewed by CNN's KFile, Ali Alexander, a leader of the "Stop the Steal" rally and a central figure in the House select committee's investigation of January 6, said he would reach out to the right-wing Proud Boys and Oath Keepers on providing security for the event. Both groups later had members charged in the attack on the Capitol, including conspiracy. Last week, the Justice Department charged the Oath Keepers leader and 10 others with seditious conspiracy related to the attack.
More from CNN:
ReplyDeleteAn attorney for Alexander denied that his client worked with the Proud Boys but acknowledged that Alexander did try to help them with housing; the attorney also said the Oath Keepers did provide security for several events.
While some of Alexander's Periscope videos have been previously reported by CNN, these additional videos provide new details of his claims about his contacts with extremist groups and lawmakers in the lead-up to the rally. They also show the heated rhetoric used by Alexander to describe his efforts, including speculating that a civil war could occur if the "Stop the Steal" movement's efforts were successful and that he'd rather see the White House be struck by lightning and "burn down" than have then President-elect Joe Biden enter it.
Why does this matter? CNN explains:
ReplyDeleteDozens of members of the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers have been charged in the attack on the US Capitol. Prosecutors have said members of both groups conspired ahead of time to disrupt the Electoral College proceeding. Both groups have been the subject of subpoenas by the January 6 committee.
No wonder Alexander wants to distance himself from that crowd.
He'll be fundraising off the whole thing soon
ReplyDelete