Legal experts are calling for Donald Trump Jr. to face “treason” charges after newly revealed text messages obtained by the January 6 House committee show he sought to prevent certification of the 2020 election in an effort to illegally keep his father in office.
As reported by CNN, while votes for the 2020 election were being counted, Trump Jr. texted then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows laying out a strategy to keep Donald Trump in power by throwing out election results of key swing states.
“It’s very simple,” Trump Jr. texted to Meadows on November 5. “We have multiple paths We control them all,” he added, according to CNN
The texts between Trump Jr. and Meadows describe a course of action to deny Biden’s electoral victory and keep his father in power: prevent swing states from certifying their results through lawsuits and demanding recounts. After casting doubt on the election’s legitimacy, GOP-controlled Legislatures could assemble pro-Trump slates for the Electoral College to install his father to a second term.
“Republicans control 28 states Democrats 22 states,” Trump Jr. texted, according to CNN. “Once again Trump wins.”
If everything failed, Trump Jr. proposed that the House would vote by state delegation to pick Trump as the winner, the network noted.
The disclosed texts are the most damning revelation on Trump and his inner circle’s efforts to overturn the election results.
Now, legal experts and others are calling for Trump Jr. to be prosecuted for trying to subvert the 2020 election.
Richard Painter, a law professor and former chief ethics lawyer for former President George W. Bush, said on Twitter: “This was an attempted putsch. He belongs in the slammer!”
Former U.S. Army prosecutor Glenn Kirschner wrote: “How long do we have to endure this open, treasonous criminality by Trump and company before someone gets indicted?”
“This sure looks like an illegal conspiracy,” Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu wrote on Twitter.
This was an attempted putsch. He belongs in the slammer!
CNN Exclusive: 'We control them all': Donald Trump Jr. texted Meadows detailed plan for overturning 2020 election before it was called – CNNPolitics https://t.co/UGwDld0tjo
— Richard W. Painter (@RWPUSA) April 8, 2022
The “Subject” line of Don Jr.’s email might as well have been, “I’m a member of my father’s criminal conspiracy to overturn the election.” How long do we have to endure this open, treasonous criminality by Trump and company before someone gets indicted? https://t.co/P3Ubj8p5Ls
— Glenn Kirschner (@glennkirschner2) April 8, 2022
This sure looks like an illegal conspiracy.
(Yes I know that in legal terms a conspiracy is itself already illegal and the word illegal is redundant. But I wanted to say illegal again to emphasize how illegal Donald Trump Jr.’s actions appear to be). https://t.co/HN0yX6RCN1
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) April 8, 2022
— Pr🇺🇦sid🇺🇦nts Are Not Kings & TFG Is A Los🇷🇺r (@OK_Dumbass) April 8, 2022
