Capitol Insurrection / rebellion thread

[Kaleredar]

Wait, this guy didn’t assault officers or go inside the Capitol and got 7 years? Gotta be some context missing. They don’t even give effing rapists 7 years.

Everyone that entered that capitol building should be thanking their lucky stars they aren't on their way to the gallows to be hanged for treason, let alone this guy only getting 7 years.

[Dead Moose Fandango]

Hang them all. That's what people who do this shit should get. Treason rewarded with the noose.

[Breccia]

Trump-backed Michigan attorney general candidate involved in voting-system breach, documents show

The Republican nominee for Michigan attorney general led a team that gained unauthorized access to voting equipment while hunting for evidence to support former Trump’s false election-fraud claims, according to a Reuters analysis of court filings and public records.

The analysis shows that people working with Matthew DePerno - the Trump-endorsed nominee for the state’s top law-enforcement post - examined a vote tabulator from Richfield Township, a conservative stronghold of 3,600 people in northern Michigan’s Roscommon County.

The Richfield security breach is one of four similar incidents being investigated by Michigan's current attorney general, Democrat Dana Nessel. Under state law, it is a felony to seek or provide unauthorized access to voting equipment.

The involvement of a Republican attorney general nominee in a voting-system breach comes amid a national effort by backers of Trump’s fraud falsehoods to win state offices that could prove critical in deciding any future contested elections.

The Party of Trump is rapidly becoming the Party of Fraud. Seems every week yet another Trumper is caught voting illegally. Now, it's someone running for state AG who would just choose not to investigate their own crimes.

[Edge-]

https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/08/polit...y-6/index.html

Committee has the Alex Jones phone contents, apparently.

[-aiko-]

I wonder what juicy little bits are hiding in the sea of shit that must be Alex Jones' phone contents?

[Edge-]

I wonder what juicy little bits are hiding in the sea of shit that must be Alex Jones' phone contents?

Based on past experience, probably a large browsing history of trans porn. Not that it's illegal, or even really embarrassing - like what you like - but it is embracing given his position on the topic.

- - - Updated - - -

https://www.businessinsider.com/rudy...-county-2022-8

So Giuliani is trying to get out of testifying in Georgia because he recently had an operation that makes it difficult for him to travel.

A week before Rudy Giuliani was set to appear before a grand jury in Georgia, his lawyers contacted local prosecutors to inform them that a recent medical procedure would prevent the former New York City mayor from flying to Atlanta, according to court records.

Problem is...despite his request to the court, he appears just fine to travel.

In a court filing Monday, local prosecutors in Georgia said they had obtained records showing that Giuliani had "purchased multiple airline tickets with cash, including tickets to Rome, Italy, and Zurich, Switzerland," for flights between July 22 and July 29. (Willis' office stopped short of stating that Giuliani took those flights.)

"All of those dates were after the witness's medical procedure," a prosecutor wrote, referring to Giuliani, on the eve of his scheduled grand jury appearance.

Now sure, he may not have flown on those flights, but that's fine. They were even happy to buy him a train/bus ticket -

"Finally," the prosecutor added, "in light of the letter provided to the district attorney suggesting that the witness is not cleared for air travel, the district attorney offered to provide alternative methods of travel for the witness, including bus or train fare." The filing included a screenshot of a August 1 social media post picturing Giuliani in New Hampshire.

Giuliani's team admitted...to at least one instance of travel -

In a separate court filing Monday, Thomas conceded that Giuliani had traveled from New York to New Hampshire following his unspecified medical procedure. But he emphasized, in italics, that Giuliani made the trip "by a private car in which he was the passenger."

Which seems odd, because I'm sure they'd hire a car to drive him to Georgia, they already have. Giuliani's lawyers think he's doing his part -

Pointing to a doctor's note, Thomas said it was "air travel that he was not cleared for." But Willis' office, he wrote, "remained firm in their refusal to agree to a continuance." Thomas added that Giuliani would appear virtually before the grand jury, but Willis' office has demanded in-person testimony.

He should show up. If he can drive to NJ, he can drive a bit further south to GA.

[postman1782]

So, Brandon Straka, the moronic leader of the fakeass WalkAway Campaign bullshit, is getting in trouble with the Federal Judge he cut a deal with to roll over on other insurrectionists from January 6th with his cosplaying a jailed insurrectionist at CPAC.

https://www.npr.org/2022/08/04/11155...ost-plea-comme

[Edge-]

So, Brandon Straka, the moronic leader of the fakeass WalkAway Campaign bullshit, is getting in trouble with the Federal Judge he cut a deal with to roll over on other insurrectionists from January 6th with his cosplaying a jailed insurrectionist at CPAC.

https://www.npr.org/2022/08/04/11155...ost-plea-comme

Wednesday's hearing was ostensibly focused on an apparent mistake made by the court, in which a clerk accidentally unsealed sensitive records detailing Straka's cooperation with federal investigators. A coalition of media organizations, which includes NPR, had asked the court to unseal documents in the case. The court inadvertently made more available than the judge had intended.

I hope he made some friends at CPAC, because he's glowing brightly.

But Friedrich, who was nominated to the federal bench by former President Trump, grew audibly frustrated when she turned to Straka's recent public comments about both his cooperation and his plea deal.

lol

Though Straka is hilarious - https://twitter.com/BrandonStraka/st...84767337172998

Like...yeah, jury doesn't have to deliberate for long when there's extensive video evidence plus multiple witness testimony to the commission of a crime. It's an "open and shut case" as they say in the biz.

Which makes comments like this from the judge fairly curious -

"Though I do view Mr. Straka's criminal conduct as very serious," Friedrich said back in January, "it's been mitigated somewhat by his early plea and by his willingness to assist the government by providing complete and truthful information."

Because unless he sang a very different story to the feds, he seems to be very publicly defending all the rioters on Jan. 6 who filmed themselves breaking the law and then often bragged about breaking the law to others/online.

[Breccia]

The House Jan. 6 panel is scheduled to interview Pompeo and Mastriano on Tuesday.

"...who?"

The committee is expected to meet with Mike Pompeo, the former secretary of state under Mr. Trump, and Douglas V. Mastriano, the Republican nominee for governor of Pennsylvania who served as a point person in the state for a plan to keep Mr. Trump in power by using slates of “alternative” or “fake” electors.

Mr. Pompeo has been in talks with the committee about his appearance for weeks, according to a person familiar with the matter, and could provide testimony about discussions within Mr. Trump’s cabinet about the possibility of invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Mr. Trump from office after the events of Jan. 6, 2021.

Mr. Pompeo’s discussion regarding the 25th Amendment was reported by Jonathan Karl of ABC News in his book “Betrayal.”

Tuesday’s virtual interview with Mr. Mastriano is expected to be short, because he plans to object to the panel’s rules about video recording. A lawyer for Mr. Mastriano, currently a state senator, said Mr. Mastriano believed the committee would selectively edit his testimony, and planned to insist on making his own video recording of the interview. The committee has rejected that option for other witnesses, including Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer.

“Senator Mastriano has nothing to hide and would be happy to answer their questions. Our only concern is to prevent the committee from releasing misleading and edited portions while keeping the proper context hidden. Either release the entirety or let me make a copy and we have no issue,” Timothy C. Parlatore, Mr. Mastriano’s lawyer, said in a text message. “Unfortunately the committee has refused to discuss any arrangements other than to demand that they be allowed to exclusively control what portions can be released.”

Mr. Mastriano, a former Army officer, was on the Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, though he later explained in a statement that “he followed the directions of the Capitol Police and respected all police lines” that day. The committee has said it wants to interview Mr. Mastriano because he spoke directly with Mr. Trump about his “postelection activities.”

Aww, he's afraid he'll be taken out of context. Well, I guess you'll have to use a FOIA request to get the entire footage aired. Or, you could testify live on TV. Oh, shit, it's classified isn't it? Well, maybe the panel will let him record everything to use as a defense against that. Or, he could just refuse to show up. How's that been working so far? Oh, right. Poorly.

- - - Updated - - -

Representative Scott Perry says the F.B.I. seized his cellphone.

Perry says he was travelling with his family when three FBI agents came up and took it. It might have something to do with the subpoena he's so far ignored. He also claims they never talked to his lawyer, which at first seems like a transparent lie for someone who was served a subpoena by fucking Congress, but I'm also going to say "If they told you they were coming for your phone, you'd have deleted the evidence". Which let's be honest, he should have done Jan 7th anyhow.

Naturally, he's upset that he's being treated as a criminal, just because he acted like one.

My phone contains info about my legislative and political activities, and personal/private discussions with my wife, family, constituents and friends. None of this is the government’s business

"When he says 'private discussions'..."

No no, this isn't naked Alex Jones wife pictures here. It's him trying to get sympathy. Like, for example, being caught deleting a bunch of really important text messages then saying your dog just died. The funny part is claiming his legislative activies aren't the government's business. Um...you do know what your job is, right?

In the weeks after the 2020 election, Mr. Perry was among at least 11 members of Congress who were involved in discussions with White House officials about overturning the election, including plans to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to throw out electoral votes from states won by President Biden, according to the committee. Mr. Perry also endorsed the idea of encouraging supporters to march to the Capitol, the committee has said.

Mr. Perry has refused to appear before the Jan. 6 committee, and his lawyer has argued that there was “nothing improper” about his actions during the buildup to the attack on the Capitol.

Perry was Trump's front man in Pennsylvania, to the point of trying to get the AG replaced with Jeffrey Clark. Funny story, the FBI also paid a nice little visit to Jeffrey Clark, who is being investigated for "conspiracy to obstruct the certification of the presidential election" Clark, and Eastman, had their electronic devices legally siezed in June. The fact that they're now going after Perry suggests, but doesn't prove of course, that Clark and/or Eastman texted Perry while conspiring to overthrow the government.

Perry doesn't strike me as dumb enough to commit treason and walk around with the evidence. I'd be surprised if he neither deleted the messages when things failed, or just shattered it and replaced it.

[postman1782]

The House Jan. 6 panel is scheduled to interview Pompeo and Mastriano on Tuesday.

"...who?"



Aww, he's afraid he'll be taken out of context. Well, I guess you'll have to use a FOIA request to get the entire footage aired. Or, you could testify live on TV. Oh, shit, it's classified isn't it? Well, maybe the panel will let him record everything to use as a defense against that. Or, he could just refuse to show up. How's that been working so far? Oh, right. Poorly.

- - - Updated - - -

Representative Scott Perry says the F.B.I. seized his cellphone.

Perry says he was travelling with his family when three FBI agents came up and took it. It might have something to do with the subpoena he's so far ignored. He also claims they never talked to his lawyer, which at first seems like a transparent lie for someone who was served a subpoena by fucking Congress, but I'm also going to say "If they told you they were coming for your phone, you'd have deleted the evidence". Which let's be honest, he should have done Jan 7th anyhow.

Naturally, he's upset that he's being treated as a criminal, just because he acted like one.



"When he says 'private discussions'..."

No no, this isn't naked Alex Jones wife pictures here. It's him trying to get sympathy. Like, for example, being caught deleting a bunch of really important text messages then saying your dog just died. The funny part is claiming his legislative activies aren't the government's business. Um...you do know what your job is, right?



Perry was Trump's front man in Pennsylvania, to the point of trying to get the AG replaced with Jeffrey Clark. Funny story, the FBI also paid a nice little visit to Jeffrey Clark, who is being investigated for "conspiracy to obstruct the certification of the presidential election" Clark, and Eastman, had their electronic devices legally siezed in June. The fact that they're now going after Perry suggests, but doesn't prove of course, that Clark and/or Eastman texted Perry while conspiring to overthrow the government.

Perry doesn't strike me as dumb enough to commit treason and walk around with the evidence. I'd be surprised if he neither deleted the messages when things failed, or just shattered it and replaced it.

So, from what I understand Mastriano only sat down for 15 minutes. He was afraid that clips of his testimony would be used against his campaign. You know, like him storming the capitol to try to steal the election? https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pe...-20220809.html

[Breccia]

So, from what I understand Mastriano only sat down for 15 minutes.

As predicted by "Tuesday’s virtual interview with Mr. Mastriano is expected to be short, because he plans to object to the panel’s rules about video recording", he made a stupid request he knew the Jan 6th panel would refuse, and is using it as an excuse to challenge the subpoena.

It'll fail. You don't get to ignore subpoenas just because you don't want your interrogation taped. This might buy him some time, or it might buy him a contempt ruling.

[gondrin]

As predicted by "Tuesday’s virtual interview with Mr. Mastriano is expected to be short, because he plans to object to the panel’s rules about video recording", he made a stupid request he knew the Jan 6th panel would refuse, and is using it as an excuse to challenge the subpoena.

It'll fail. You don't get to ignore subpoenas just because you don't want your interrogation taped. This might buy him some time, or it might buy him a contempt ruling.

You know, instead of doing that, he could literally do what every other person did that didn't want to talk and invoke his 5th amendment rights. I mean they even gave Alex Jones that option for his civil case. It is a shitty tactic but it is still a valid one at that.

But much like Jones, they want to dig the hole so deep it goes to an alternate dimension.

- - - Updated - - -

Ok, Giuliani stated he couldn't fly to Georgia for his subpoena due to health reasons, Judge tells him to take an Uber because John Madden took a bus everywhere.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...e95ae7a7505060

Giuliani Told to Come to Georgia by Train, Bus or Uber

Rudolph W. Giuliani, the lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump and a central figure in the investigation into election interference in Georgia, has been telling prosecutors that he cannot travel to the state to appear before a special grand jury because he is not healthy enough to fly.

But on Tuesday, a judge in Fulton County, Ga., said that Mr. Giuliani, who had two coronary heart stents implanted in early July, could travel from New York to Atlanta some other way, and tentatively ordered him to show up to deliver in-person testimony on Aug. 17.

“Mr. Giuliani is not cleared for air travel, A-I-R,” Judge Robert C.I. McBurney of Fulton County Superior Court said. “John Madden drove all over the country in his big bus, from stadium to stadium. So one thing we need to explore is whether Mr. Giuliani could get here without jeopardizing his recovery and his health. On a train, on a bus or Uber, or whatever it would be,” he said, adding, “New York is not close to Atlanta, but it’s not traveling from Fairbanks.”

In a hearing on Tuesday afternoon, the judge also told prosecutors they should let Mr. Giuliani, 78, know whether he was a target of the criminal probe. The office of Fani T. Willis, the Atlanta-area district attorney, has already told at least 17 other people, including a pair of state senators and the head of the state Republican Party, that they are targets.

If Mr. Giuliani is considered to be a target, that could prompt him to invoke his Fifth Amendment right and decline to give testimony after potentially making a lengthy road trip. Letting Mr. Giuliani know in advance, the judge said, would give some clarity on “what impact that has on the extent of his time in front of the grand jury.”

The judge also said he could reconsider the Aug. 17 date if Mr. Giuliani’s doctor produced a sufficiently compelling medical excuse.

William H. Thomas Jr., a lawyer for Mr. Giuliani, said in the hearing that his client would be open to a remote interview via Zoom. Nathan Wade, a special prosecutor working for the district attorney, said the office was not interested and preferred that Mr. Giuliani appear in person.

Mr. Giuliani’s role in the effort to reverse Mr. Trump’s 2020 election loss in Georgia is of interest to Fulton County prosecutors for a number of reasons. As part of the closed-door grand jury proceedings, they have questioned multiple witnesses about Mr. Giuliani’s appearances before a pair of state legislative panels after the 2020 vote, in which he made a number of false allegations of election fraud. Mr. Giuliani, the former New York mayor, also participated in a scheme to create slates of fake, pro-Trump presidential electors in a number of swing states. The convening of these electors in Georgia is another subject of Ms. Willis’s investigation.

Mr. Giuliani’s lawyers had sought to delay any in-person appearance in Atlanta and produced a doctor’s note this week advising him not to fly anywhere because of the stent procedure. Ms. Willis countered that Mr. Giuliani had recently traveled out of state to New Hampshire and had also purchased plane tickets to Europe.

Mr. Giuliani’s lawyers said that he had traveled out of state by car and that the plane tickets were purchased by the planners of a conference that was ultimately canceled. (“No such travel ever occurred,” Mr. Giuliani’s lawyers said in court documents.)

Judge McBurney said Mr. Giuliani had plenty of time to get from New York to Atlanta, suggesting that he could break up a 13-hour road trip into segments. “Maybe he goes down to Washington, as the first part, and reconnects with people there, and then travels another few hours.”

[Breccia]

invoke his 5th amendment rights

Giuliani stated he couldn't fly to Georgia for his subpoena due to health reasons

Taking the 5th is what you do when you're out of options. Yes, technically, it's not an admission of guilt, but it's not like it's trendy to take the 5th to stick it to the man. You do it when you're worried you're about to be caught lying on the stand, or admitting to a crime. You don't drink your only healing potion 30 seconds into the fight because you're down to 90% health. You save that till "If I don't, I'll die and the raid wipes". That's the 5th.

Mastriano and Giuliani both know this, especially Giuliani. Both of them are, therefore, saving the 5th for when they really need it. They're stalling by using other tactics to stop them from even taking the stand in the first place, because they both know, when they're under oath, they're fucked. So they invent these reasons why they shouldn't take the stand, which translate to "I just don't want to".

The "too sick to fly" thing is new, I'll admit that. I wonder how long it'll take before people point out Giuliani flew earlier this year?

(literally 15 seconds later)

Two days ago.

A week before Rudy Giuliani was set to appear before a grand jury in Georgia, his lawyers contacted local prosecutors to inform them that a recent medical procedure would prevent the former New York City mayor from flying to Atlanta, according to court records.

But his request to delay the Tuesday grand-jury appearance was met with little sympathy from the office of Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney investigating former President Donald Trump's efforts to flip his 2020 election loss in Georgia. Willis' office responded instead with receipts — and a tweet from New Hampshire — suggesting that Giuliani was, in fact, having no trouble traveling.

In a court filing Monday, local prosecutors in Georgia said they had obtained records showing Giuliani had "purchased multiple airline tickets with cash, including tickets to Rome, Italy, and Zurich, Switzerland," for flights between July 22 and July 29. (Willis' office stopped short of saying Giuliani took those flights.)

"But if he didn't get on the plane--"

Why would you buy international plane tickets for yourself if you knew you were too sick to fly from NY to GA? Leaving aside the whole "bought tickets out of the country for cash while being investigated by law enforcement" issue. Also, Giuliani's lawyers refused to say what Giuliani's health issue was, only that he went by car from NY to NH for...whatever it was. Related question, and no offence intended to NH, wait no, offence intended, what procedure could NH have that NYC doesn't have for its former mayor and millionaire? I would say "these excuses are too strange for fiction" but we already passed that kidney stone. Seriously, is the world's top expert in XXX in New Hampshire for some reason?

Let's see what would be required for all of this to be true. Giuliani waved a doctor's note dated Aug 2 that says he can't fly for four weeks. Okay, fine, that would explain the tickets for late July he might not even have taken. If you're using a doctor's note, I think you probably have to explain why you can't attend a mandatory court date. Doctor/patient is important, but it's just like Executive Time here, it's not a one-size-fucks-all "I win" button. If you use a health condition as a reason to defy a subpoena, I think you should have to say what it is you got. The note said "invasive procedure" so...something was shoved up his ass? Is he just embarrassed? He had no problem leaking motor oil from his skull but he's afraid to say an old man got colon or prostate cancer?

So I think we all know what Giuliani had: a doctor in NH willing to sign a note. Not a medical condition, but a doctor willing to risk their career for him.

"That sounds like a conspiracy theory."

Giuliani can disprove it any time he wants. Considering he's under subpoena, you'd think he'd have to anyhow. Just like taking the 5th, I'm assuming his refusal to explain why he doesn't want to testify is because he doesn't actually have a valid reason.

- - - Updated - - -

Shortly after Rep. Perry's phone is seized by the FBI, the FBI subpoena's a bunch of Pennsylvania cultists. So far, it appears to be lower-tier members of the Party of Trump, most likely those prepared to be fake electors in the attempt to overthrow democracy and act as traitors to this country.

At least some of the individuals receiving subpoenas were told they were not targets of an investigation, according to at least six sources reached by PennLive, but that they may have information of interest to the FBI. All of the sources had been briefed on the investigative moves in some way, but demanded anonymity in order to discuss them.

The information being requested centered around U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., and the effort to seek alternate electors as part of former President Donald Trump’s efforts to remain in office after the 2020 election, several sources said.

The subpoenas issued this week in Harrisburg are essentially official requests for information or documents from federal prosecutors who believe that the information they seek will be helpful to an ongoing grand jury investigation, said David Freed, the former U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

It is different from a warrant in the sense that there is no requirement to show probable cause of a crime that’s been independently reviewed by a judge, but — absent a legal challenge that results in the subpoena being quashed — it does require the recipient’s compliance, Freed noted.

A spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland County, referred questions to the office of Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Centre County.

Jason Thompson, a spokesman for Mr. Corman, issued a statement, saying, “Federal subpoenas typically request confidentiality from the witnesses being subpoenaed in order to avoid impediment to the ongoing investigation, so it would be inappropriate to comment on whether members have received subpoenas or not. If subpoenaed as witnesses, our members will certainly comply with requests for documents or information not covered by an applicable privilege.”

It's 2022 and an election year for a lot of people, especially the state level. Naturally, the criminal traitors who are the target of a lawful investigation are already claiming they're being targeted for their political beliefs. Naturally, they're lying, but what choice do they have? Over the last year and a half, we've seen that most of these people are too, erm, inexperienced to clear their email and texts after conspiring towards a coup. Once the objective evidence of their guilt is in the hands of law enforcement, it boils down to "how DARE you find out that I'm a criminal!"

- - - Updated - - -

As posted by @Edge- and others, Ricky Shiffer, Trump cultist, likely insurrectionist (he was in DC at least Jan 5) and man who brought body armor and an assault rifle (thanks, FOX News!) attacked an FBI office -- most likely in response to the FBI's legal and valid warrant, as a CyberTrump 2077 account claimed to be his says -- was shot and killed in the standoff that followed. He was 42.

He allowed Trump's lies to become his life to the point that he intentionally engaged in a suicide by cop mission. He was a cultist, became a terrorist, and now he's dead.

It's not hanging, but it'll do.

[jonnysensible]

T

As posted by @Edge- and others, Ricky Shiffer, Trump cultist, likely insurrectionist (he was in DC at least Jan 5) and man who brought body armor and an assault rifle (thanks, FOX News!) attacked an FBI office -- most likely in response to the FBI's legal and valid warrant, as a CyberTrump 2077 account claimed to be his says -- was shot and killed in the standoff that followed. He was 42.

He allowed Trump's lies to become his life to the point that he intentionally engaged in a suicide by cop mission. He was a cultist, became a terrorist, and now he's dead.

It's not hanging, but it'll do.

really looks like he is just a regular MAGA republican. No real links to hate groups that ive seen. Which is probably bad.

[Drutt]

really looks like he is just a regular MAGA republican. No real links to hate groups that ive seen. Which is probably bad.

MAGA Republican has plenty of crossover with hate group nowadays.

I'm in some non-political special interest groups where some of these "normal" people vent their opinions for time to time, and it's honestly shocking what they consider normal.

[Breccia]

What do Glen Simon, Thomas Robertson, and Ricky Shiffer all have in common?

They were all murderous insurrectionists, and have all fougth the law, and lost.

1) Glen Simon plead out and got 8 months.

2) Thomas Robertson got seven years.

3) and we now know Ohio shooter Ricky Shiffer was at the insurrection, rather than just the day before.

[gondrin]

What do Glen Simon, Thomas Robertson, and Ricky Shiffer all have in common?

They were all murderous insurrectionists, and have all fougth the law, and lost.

1) Glen Simon plead out and got 8 months.

2) Thomas Robertson got seven years.

3) and we now know Ohio shooter Ricky Shiffer was at the insurrection, rather than just the day before.

Well, they fought the law and the law won, they fought the law and the, law won.
They might be breaking rocks in the hot sun because,
they fought the law and the law won.

[gondrin]

So, the supposed "evidence" that 2000 Mules shown turned out to be less then a Nothingburger. A website that you have to sign up for that then leads to a broken website.

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/w...ce-is-nonsense

The Moment When The ‘2,000 Mules’ Folks Admit Their Supposed Evidence Is Nonsense

True believers in Donald Trump’s lies about the 2020 election gathered in Arizona this weekend to examine what was promised to be a mountain of evidence showing a sophisticated, elaborate, and successful plot to steal the presidency.

What they got was: A mostly empty website.

Some context: The event, dubbed “The Pit” by its organizers, was headlined by the stars of this year’s break-out conspiracy theory hit, “2,000 Mules.” The Dinesh D’Souza film chronicles the efforts of True The Vote, the right-wing organization that has asserted, falsely, that a network of “mules” deposited fraudulent ballots for Joe Biden in drop boxes across the country.

D’Souza’s film infamously… didn’t actually show this. Despite promising incontrovertible evidence that drop box surveillance videos and cell phone tracking data would prove the existence of this extensive mule network, the film itself showed just a few isolated videos of people dropping regular-degular ballots off at drop boxes: Nothing illegal. Even a snazzy graphic of a map included in the film — which internet sleuths identified as, apparently, a map of Moscow — didn’t prove anything.

Cue Saturday’s event. The movie’s stars — True the Vote founder Catherine Engelbrecht and Gregg Phillips, who pushed the lie that millions of undocumented people voted in 2016 — have hyped the gathering for months. It would be the moment when, finally, they would reveal the raw data purportedly behind their claims. Or, as a promotional video in May put it, the moment they would “pull the ripcord” and share their evidence.

“The part that was left out of the movie, we have available,” Phillips told Right Side Broadcasting Network ahead of the event. The media, he added, was afraid of the summit because “they have no idea how devastating some of these stories actually are.”

Yet when the big reveal came Saturday, it was a flop.

The Washington Post first noted the awkward course events: The ripcord, as it turns out, is actually an apparently unfinished website called “open.ink.” The site was said to have all of the footage D’Souza and True The Vote cited in “2000 Mules,” as well as related documentation and other evidence.

But, rather than having all of the evidence easily available for “2,000 Mules” heads to peruse, visitors to the site are prompted to sign up to be approved as users.

Only once they are approved by the site’s organizers can they sift through the supposed evidence.

What’s more, Phillips on Saturday had an unfortunate disclaimer about what those lucky individuals would find: “It is junk. It is trash. They didn’t do a good job,” he said of the footage, adding later: “Once you get into that video, it’s nonsense, complete nonsense.”

https://twitter.com/mattshuham/statu...30360115298308

So what happened? Phillips and Engelbrecht had a few excuses: The video is obscured or chopped up, they said. Also, when they attempted to launch their online repository of evidence, something “basically wiped it clean” — the work, they assumed, of Chinese hackers.

“We had to make a decision,” he said. “The volume of bandwidth was so significant here that if we just published this thing, the bad guys are going to take it down.”

So instead, they showed the crowd a sampling of what they claimed their new website did contain, namely public documents related to consent decrees between various states and plaintiffs, as well as documentation describing states’ relationship with ERIC, the voter registration and anti-fraud tool used by dozens of states across the country, which has become a right-wing bugaboo of late.

Engelbrecht claimed “every single last frame of drop box video” had been loaded onto the site, but on Tuesday, it appeared the site contained just a couple functioning pages and no new information: Visitors are prompted to submit their email addresses to sign up, and “we will let you know whenever we make additions to the repository.” Under a heading called “Latest Documents,” there is simply the notice, “No posts were found.” Under “Repository”: “No knowledge base categories to display.”

“And that really, I think, is the end of Mules!” she said after the excuse parade Saturday. “We’re done,” Phillips added. “End scene,” Engelbrecht said.

Cue near silence from the audience at The Pit.

“Hold your applause for one more second,” Engelbrecht urged the crowd, before admonishing them about the upcoming midterm elections.

“Hold your applause for one more second,” Engelbrecht urged the crowd, before admonishing them about the upcoming midterm elections.

“It’s time to move on,” she said. “Not to move on to what happened in 2020, because we still have to understand what happened. That is critical. We have to understand that. But we are 88 days out from midterms.”

“We have to find that balance,” Engelbrecht added. “You have to understand the past is prologue, we have to understand what happened. But we also have to be positioned to move forward.”

[Edge-]

So, the supposed "evidence" that 2000 Mules shown turned out to be less then a Nothingburger. A website that you have to sign up for that then leads to a broken website.

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/w...ce-is-nonsense

Fuckin lol, and they're still sticking to their guns with conspiracy theories about Chinese hackers.

[Ivanstone]

Fuckin lol, and they're still sticking to their guns with conspiracy theories about Chinese hackers.

I imagine the Chinese did meddle in the election.

Which candidate had a Chinese bank account and numerous business dealings with them?