https://www.nysun.com/article/michigan-gop-gubernatorial-hopeful-shoots-to-top-of-polls-since-capitol-riot-arrest excerpt: "Videos from the day appear to show Mr. Kelley standing among the mob on the steps of the Capitol, shouting, “Let’s go. Let’s go. This is war, baby.” Photos entered into evidence apparently show Mr. Kelley climbing over barricades and motioning for other rioters to do the same. Since his arrest, Mr. Kelley has vaulted to the front of the pack running to unseat Ms. Whitmer, and now leads the field by 1.5 percentage points, according to RealClearPolitics. Mr. Kelley enjoys the support of about 15 percent of GOP voters. Mr. Rinke, who has himself questioned the 2020 election results, follows close behind with 13.5 percent support. Behind him with 10 percent is the former host of the conservative talk show “America’s Voice Live,” Tudor Dixon. Ms. Dixon has received endorsements from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the wealthy DeVos family, and the Michigan senate’s majority leader. She has also received praise from President Trump, who stopped short of an official endorsement. A political scientist at the University of Michigan, Ken Kollman, said Mr. Kelley’s rise illustrates the divide between Trump loyalists and mainstream Republicans that is being played out across the country. “Kelley’s surge, even short-lived, can only hurt Dixon and help Riske because he takes votes away from Dixon,” Mr. Kollman said. He is unsure, however, whether that surge can be explained entirely by the January 6 charges. “Certainly, for a slice of the Republican electorate, participation in the January 6 violence at the Capitol will stand as a noteworthy candidate attribute,” Mr. Kollman told the Sun. “But I have to believe that that slice is small.”"
McConnell is still out of touch with reality. Mitch McConnell says the labor shortage will be solved when people run out of stimulus money because Americans are 'flush for the moment' excerpt: "McConnell opposed President Joe Biden's stimulus law, which passed with only Democratic votes in March 2021 after two previous rescue packages approved by the Trump administration. Republicans have long blamed that $1,400 direct payment to Americans for worsening inflation and helping keep people out of the workforce. Economists have identified a multitude of reasons for the labor shortage: People moved away from locations with open positions; parents haven't been able to return to work as they deal with ongoing pandemic uncertainty; and the open roles might not be the right fit — in terms of skills or pay — for people looking to switch jobs. These reasons suggest possible solutions other than McConnell's plan to wait out savings. Businesses could offer higher wages and more flexible workplaces, and even tweak job descriptions and requirements to attract a larger pool of potential employees."
McConnell talks as if Trump's pressure on the Fed to lower interest rates toward zero for his 2020 reelection year had no effect on the current inflation in the virus-recovery era. Trump wanted to go even further and promoted negative interest rates.
Donald Trump boasts 6 Jan boosted his popularity in Truth Social posting frenzy excerpt: "Donald Trump claimed on his social media platform Truth Social that he has become more popular since the 6 January attack on the US Capitol building. He posted the screenshot of an almost month-old analysis by CNN’s Harry Enten titled “Donald Trump has become more popular since the January 6 Capitol attack.” In a posting spree on Tuesday, the former president — who has 3.4 million users on Truth Social — appeared to boast about the popularity he has gained since the deadly riots of 6 January last year."
Lindsey Graham sought "more favorable outcome" for Trump—Georgia subpoena excerpt: "Senator Lindsey Graham is among a number of Donald Trump's inner circle who have been subpoenaed to testify to a special grand jury as part of a criminal investigation into alleged interference around the 2020 election. The South Carolina Republican was issued a subpoena along with several members of Trump's legal team, including Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman and Jenna Ellis over his November 2020 phone calls with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. The subpoena is investigating whether Graham questioning the validity of some absentee ballots in Georgia was an attempt to "explore the possibility of a more favorable outcome" for Trump. The investigation, led by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, is looking into whether Trump committed a crime in his attempts to overturn the state's 2020 election results, focusing on his phone call with Raffensperger in which the former president asked him to "find" 11,780 votes."
Followup. Klein's trial is set for September 26, 2022. He rejected a plea deal. Klein is a former State Department official appointed by Trump who participated in the riot at the Capitol.. Article from December 2021. Former Trump State Department appointee due to stand trial for role in Capitol riot excerpt: "The judge said in light of the video evidence available against Mr Klein, he has an "uphill battle" ahead of him. His case, as well as those of several co-defendants, has been set for 26 September, 2022. More than 700 people have been charged in connection to the Capitol riot. Earlier this month, a Robert Palmer, 54, of Largo, Florida, received the harshest sentence yet of any January 6 defendants. He was charged to 63 months in prison after pleading guilty to spraying a fire extinguisher at police and then throwing the empty canister at police."
Could be but it was only recently that Trump declared himself the 45th and the 47th President of the United States,
Cipollone to appear before Jan. 6 committee. Trump White House counsel Pat Cipollone to appear before Jan. 6 committee on Friday
Graham to fight Georgia subpoena. Sen. Lindsey Graham plans to fight Georgia subpoena - Roll Call excerpt: “Should it stand, the subpoena issued today would erode the constitutional balance of power and the ability of a Member of Congress to do their job.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham plans to fight Georgia subpoena - Roll Call excerpt: "It also said Graham has knowledge about any coordination of the calls with the Trump campaign and “other known and unknown individuals involved in the multi-state, coordinated efforts to influence the results of the November 2020 election in Georgia and elsewhere.” Graham was one of seven individuals the grand jury issued subpoenas for on Tuesday, including attorneys Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Cleta Mitchell, Kenneth Chesebro, Jenna Ellis and Jacki Pick Deason."
Graham appears to be arguing that he was acting in his official capacity as a member of Congress..... to overthrow a fair election in his spare time. Mo Brooks made a similar argument and lost when he wanted the DOJ to defend him against suits stemming from his 'kicking asses' speech for Trump at the Ellipse just before the riot, which Brooks thought was an official act of him as a member of Congress. The DOJ rejected his request.
Republicans who backed Trump Jan. 6 probe face fierce backlash at the polls excerpt: "Never in nearly 42 years in Congress has Rep. Chris Smith had a primary quite like his last — when he spent the final weeks getting bombarded by angry constituents who felt he crossed President Donald Trump. The New Jersey Republican won renomination with his lowest primary vote share ever, after he voted to create a bipartisan commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. And his opponent seized on it, stoking an angry and anti-incumbent mood sweeping through Republican primaries around the country. Republican members from Utah to Texas to South Dakota who also voted for the Jan. 6 commission have had a similar experience, marking an especially intense primary season for the GOP. The bottom has dropped out for the Republicans who did support a Jan. 6 investigation: They are running 13 points weaker than their average colleague in their primaries, according to a POLITICO analysis of 2022 primary results so far. But even Republicans who didn’t take that vote are running into stronger primary opposition than in the last midterm, the analysis shows. The average incumbent House Republican pulled 88 percent support in party primaries four years ago. That’s dropped this year to 75 percent for GOP members who didn’t vote for the Jan. 6 commission — and cratered to 62 percent for the incumbents who did back it. Altogether, the numbers paint a portrait of an angry base sending a message to its ambassadors in Washington: Don’t step out of line, or else."
Justice Department subpoenas emails and texts from Arizona lawmakers in January 6 investigation - CNNPolitics excerpt: "Two Republican state senators in Arizona received subpoenas from the FBI in late June for text messages and emails as the Justice Department investigation into the events of January 6, 2021, has expanded to examine efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Arizona Senate President Karen Fann, who led the partisan audit of ballots cast in Maricopa County, and state Sen. Kelly Townsend will comply with the subpoenas, according to Arizona Senate communications director Kim Quintero. “We have no reason to believe they will be called to testify in Washington D.C.,” Quintero added. Neither Fann nor Townsend responded to requests for comment. The subpoenas were first reported by media outlets in Arizona. The Justice Department has issued a number of subpoenas to people who served on fake slates of electors in seven battleground states that former President Donald Trump lost in 2020. Arizona Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward, along with her husband, Michael Ward, also received subpoenas in June from the Justice Department, CNN has reported. Both acted as so-called alternative electors in the state."