WASHINGTON – Minutes before Congress set to begin certification of Joe Biden win on January 6, 2021, assistant for This was stated by US Senator Ron Johnson. former Vice President Mike Pence’s staff that Johnson wanted hand over to Pence votes from Republicans in Wisconsin and Michigan who pretended to be fake presidential electors for Donald Trump.
“Johnson needs to deliver something to VPOTUS, please let me know.” – Sean Riley, Johnson’s supervisor. of staff said in text message to Pence staffer Chris Hodgson at 12:37 p.m. that same day, according to evidence presented Tuesday by the House Select Committee on Inquiry attack on US Capitol.
“What is it?” Hodgson, A. former legislative affairs director for Pence replied.
“Alternative Slate of electors for Mi and Wisconsin because the archivist didn’t get them,” Riley wrote. back.
Hodgson then told Riley, “Don’t give it’s for him.”
More: Wisconsin ties since Jan. 6 may become clearer as select committee focuses on attempt to stop certification
The exchange offers new a look at the involvement of an Oshkosh Republican in Trump’s Efforts to Halt Certification of 2020 elections and campaign cancel elections results fueled by Trump false claims of electoral fraud that triggered uprising in the US Capitol.
Evidence presented on Tuesday once again showed that Wisconsin one of seven states Biden won where groups of Republicans gathered as false presidential electors – was in the center of attempts to cancel the elections.
Alexa Henning, Press Secretary for Johnson, claimed that Johnson was “not involved in in creation of alternative tablet of voters and did not know in advance that it would be delivered to our office.”
“It was a personnel exchange,” Henning wrote. in tweet. “His new Main of Employees contacted the vice president office. Vice President office said no give it to him and we didn’t. No further action was taken. End of story.”
However, Johnson planned lead attempt to reject Wisconsin Electors on January 6, but changed Of course, after the cruel crowd looking for the same goal attacked the US Capitol.
Henning and Riley did not respond to questions or interview requests from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat from Madison, said her Republican counterpart’s actions amounted to “a direct support for Trump conspiracy to revoke will of in people in Wisconsin.”
Two days before January 6, 2021, attackJohnson was reportedly among group of Republican Party Senators who attended the meeting with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell stated that featured claims of election fraud.
upcoming of certification voteJohnson planned to file an objection on in floor against Wisconsin Electors. He instead formal objection signed of Arizona, and vote what took place before the attack and then voted in service of the adoption of the Arizona slate in the end after the rebellion.
Then in 2021, Johnson then met with Wisconsin state legislators in State Capitol to discuss the adoption by the Legislature over presidential and federal elections; and the dissolution of the state election commission.
Johnson met confidentially for hour with legislative leaders of the Republican Party in state capitol in early November, a few weeks before he started his re-election campaign and what is the name of the republican base of the state for more examination of elections 2020.
Testimony and evidence presented on Tuesday also proposed GOP state officials were left in darkness on motives or details of scheme to force Congress to pass false slate of presidential electors.
Former Republican Party of Wisconsin State Chairman Andrew Hitt, who submitted voter papers claiming to be a Trump voter, told committee Jan. 6 he only agreed to do so if they were used in in event legal challenges canceled elections result.
“I was told that they would only be taken into account if the court ruled in our mercy. So it would be using our electors. Well would be using our electors in ways that we were not told about and that we would not support,” Hitt said. in testimony submitted on Tuesday in committee hearing.
Text message from state GOP leader director Mark Jefferson also presented on Tuesday pointed Trump campaign team wanted voter papers delivered to Washington, D.C.
“Damn Trump idiots want someone to fly original election papers for the President of the Senate. They are going to call one of us to tell us just what the hell is going on on’ Jefferson wrote.
Revelations of Johnson’s alleged efforts to help deliver another term Trump prompted an immediate backlash from Democrats.
“Ron Johnson actively tried to undermine that democracy. He was literally trying to hand Mike Pence a slate. of fake electors”, Mandela Barnes, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin and leading Democratic nominee for Johnson’s seat in the Senate tweeted.
“I’m calling on him to resign,” Barnes wrote. in another tweet.
Alex Lasry, Tom Nelson and Sarah Godlewski also Democratic candidates for The Senate also criticized Johnson.
“Trump and his MAGA allies planned, promoted and paid for rebel conspiracy to overturn the election they lost,” Lasri wrote. “And Ron Johnson tried to get him to DC. on silver dish.
“It clear Ron Johnson is a threat to our democracy and cannot continue to serve in United States Senate,” Godlewski said. in statement.
Nelson suggested to the Department of Justice investigates Johnson’s case role farther. “Johnson should not only resign and be sworn in, but all signs point to evidence of a crime that the US Department of Justice has an obligation to investigate,” he said.
Contact Lawrence Andrea and Molly Beck at landrea@jrn.com and molly.beck@jrn.com.
