Read Trump’s unreleased order to take over the voting machines

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It is not clear who wrote any of the documents. But the draft executive order is dated Dec. 16, 2020, and is in line with proposals made by attorney Sidney Powell to the then president. On December 18, 2020, Powell, former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn, former Trump administration lawyer Emily Newman, and former Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne met with Trump at the Oval Office.

At that meeting, Powell urged Trump to take over the voting machines and appoint a special adviser to investigate the election, according to Axios.

A spokesman for the House’s Jan. 6 select committee on Friday confirmed that the panel received the final documents that Trump’s lawyers tried to hide and later declined to comment for this story on these two documents.

The draft executive order

The draft executive order shows that the weeks between Election Day and the Capitol attack could have been more chaotic than they were. It is believed to have cited conspiracy theories about election fraud in Georgia and Michigan, as well as refuted notions about Dominion voting machines.

The law empowers the secretary of defense to “seize, collect, maintain and analyze all machines, equipment, electronically stored information, and material records necessary for maintenance under” the law of US associated with the preservation of election records. It also cited a lawsuit filed in 2017 against Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

In addition, the draft law would give the secretary of defense 60 days to write an analysis of the 2020 election. That suggests it could be a gamble to keep Trump in power until at least mid -February of 2021.

The full text of the unissued executive order can be read here.

It opens by citing a host of presidential authorities to authorize the measures Trump will take, including Constitution and Executive Order 12333, a well -known mandate governing the intelligence community. But the draft executive order also mentioned two classified documents: National Security Presidential Memoranda 13 and 21.

The existence of the first of the memoranda is publicly known, but the existence of the second has not been reported previously. NSPM 13 manages the Pentagon’s offensive cyber operations. According to someone knowledgeable in the memorandum, 21 makes small adjustments to 13, and the two documents are viewed within the executive branch as a pair.

The fact that the author of the draft executive order knew about the existence of Memorandum 21 indicates that they have access to information about sensitive government secrets, the man told POLITICO.

The draft order also clarifies the “appointment of a Special Adviser to oversee this operation and establish all criminal and civil proceedings as appropriate based on the evidence collected and provided all resources necessary to carry out his or her duties. duties in accordance with federal laws and the Constitution. “

To strengthen its provisions, the draft order cites the “forensic report of the voting machines of Antrim County, Michigan.” That report was made by Russ Ramsland, who confused Minnesota precincts for those in Michigan, according to the Washington Post. The Michigan secretary of state, meanwhile, has released a comprehensive report refuting election conspiracy theories and concluding that none of the “known anomalies” in the November 2020 Antrim County election were the result of any security breach.

“This draft order represents not only an abuse of emergency powers, but a total misunderstanding of them,” said Liza Goitein, co-director of the nonprofit’s independence and national security program. Brennan Center for Justice. “The mandate does not even make a primary finding of an‘ unusual and extraordinary threat ’that would be needed to trigger any action under [federal emergency powers law]. It’s the legal equivalent of a child drawing on a wall with crayons. “

The draft remarks

The document labeled “Remarks on National Healing,” which is now also held by a select panel, describes its own alternative path that was never taken after the attack. Its tone is the opposite of the rhetoric used by Trump at the time and continues to be used when discussing the insurrection.

“I want to start today by responding to the heinous attack that took place yesterday on the United States Capitol,” it opens. “Like all Americans, I was outraged and hurt by the violence, lawlessness and chaos. I immediately assigned the National Guard and federal law enforcement to secure the building and evict the intruders. America was, and should always be, a nation of law and order. ”

The claim that Trump immediately ordered the National Guard to head to the Capitol may be wrong. The select committee on Jan. 6 sent a letter on Thursday saying Trump’s defense secretary at the time of the unrest, Chris Miller, had “testified under oath that the President had never contacted him in any way. time on the 6th of January, and never, at any time, issued to him any order to appoint a National Guard. ”

The draft “national cure” document went on to sharply criticize the attack.

“Demonstrators who entered the Capitol desecrated the seat of American Democracy,” the statements said. “I order the Department of Justice to ensure that all violators of the law are prosecuted to the fullest extent” of the law. ”

The document follows a direct communication with the rioters: “We must send a message – not with mercy but with justice. To those who have committed violence and vandalism, I want to be very clear: you do not represent me. You do not represent our movement. You do not represent our country. And if you break the law, you go to jail. “

Such outright condemnation, if Trump delivered it, would have significantly left the way he described the rioters after the siege. In a video released during the attack, Trump had a tone of empathy with the mob.

“We need to have peace,” Trump said then. “So go home. We love you. You are very special. You’ve seen what happened, you see the way others are treated so badly and so badly. I know how you feel. “

A few days after the attack, however, Trump delivered an Oval Office address with themes similar to the statements outlined for delivery in January. 7, 2021. In that address, Trump condemned the violence in the Capitol and called for the perpetrators to be held accountable.

A Trump spokesman declined to comment for this story.

Draft vs. reality

The draft statements go on to describe the emotions running after an intense election. “But now, the temper must cool and calm be restored.”

Trump has “vigorously pursued every legal means to challenge the election results,” the statements added, and is still urging “electoral reform” to make voters confident about future contests.

“But for THIS election, Congress has now confirmed the results,” the statements said. “The election fight is over. A new administration will be inaugurated on January 20th. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transfer of power. This moment needs healing and reconciliation. ”

In fact, Trump’s recent description of the attack deviated sharply from that sentiment in the draft remarks. The former president described the 2020 election as “the insurrection” and Jan. 6, 2021, as “the Protest.” He also praised Ashli ​​Babbitt, a rioter who entered the Capitol and was there shot and killed by a police officer.

The draft statements continue to coordinate the tone in discussing the coronavirus which was also different from Trump’s strategy at the time.

“The pandemic has displaced millions from their homes, damaged the economy, and claimed countless victims,” the document continues. “Ending the pandemic and rebuilding the economy,” it added, “will require all of us to work together,” along with a renewed emphasis on patriotism, faith and community.

“We must renew the sacred bond of love and loyalty that binds us as a national family,” he added.

Although Trump courted the disapproval of some of his own base by publicly sharing that he received a booster shot against Covid, he primarily emphasized the success of vaccines against the virus as his own personal success.

“I had one vaccine, with three vaccines,” Trump told conservative pundit Candace Owens last month. “Everything is very, very good.”

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