Amidst the aftermath of Donald Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election, a newly unveiled indictment sheds light on his efforts to hold onto power.
As the clock ticked towards January 20, 2021, when Joe Biden’s victory was set to be certified by Congress, a deputy White House counsel raised a red flag during a conversation on January 3, 2021. The warning was clear: if Trump persisted in retaining office, it could lead to widespread riots across major U.S. cities.
However, Jeffrey Clark, a high-ranking lawyer associated with Trump, proposed an alternative solution: invoking the Insurrection Act and deploying military forces to address the potential turmoil. The indictment alleges that Clark was a co-conspirator in Trump’s plans.
The Insurrection Act, rarely invoked, empowers the president to use the military to quell domestic unrest. The indictment, which brought four criminal charges against Trump, contends that his actions aimed at obstructing Congress from certifying the 2020 election results.
While Trump is the primary defendant, the indictment identifies six co-conspirators who allegedly aided his scheme. One individual, referred to as co-conspirator 4, is described as a Justice Department official involved in initiating baseless election crime investigations. This appears to allude to Clark’s role within the Justice Department during the Trump administration.
The indictment also details Clark’s attempts to position himself as acting Attorney General and the subsequent pushback from acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen. Trump eventually abandoned the plan, as he was informed that it could lead to mass resignations within the Justice Department and his own counsel.
The document also points out that the DC Bar might revoke Clark’s law license due to his involvement in attempts to overturn the election outcome.
The indictment’s allegations closely align with prior media reports and the House Select Committee’s investigation into the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.
Notably, Trump’s potential use of the Insurrection Act has sparked discussions, with some lawmakers considering changes to the Act. The indictment was filed by Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is also overseeing federal charges against Trump for retaining government documents.
Smith emphasized the unprecedented nature of the January 6 attack on the nation’s capital, stating that it was fueled by lies aimed at obstructing a core function of the U.S. government.
As Trump eyes a potential return to the presidency in the 2024 election, concerns persist about his possible invocation of the Insurrection Act. A viral pre-inauguration rumor suggested secret activation of the Act, while figures like Michael Flynn encouraged its use to seize voting machines.
In light of this, the indictment sheds light on Trump’s previous threats to invoke the Insurrection Act during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, a proclamation that was never realized.
Even as Trump contemplated naming Clark as head of the Justice Department, the indictment reveals that he recognized his election loss. In a conversation with Gen. Mark Milley, Trump acknowledged the impending transfer of power to Biden.
Source: Insider
