Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) attempted to provide false election paperwork to then-Vice President Mike Pence simply earlier than he qualified the result of the 2020 presidential election, in keeping with textual content messages that congressional investigators launched right through a Tuesday listening to.
Johnson’s leader of body of workers, Sean Riley, contacted Pence staffer Chris Hodgson to mention the senator sought after “at hand one thing” to Pence. When Hodgson requested what it used to be, Riley replied: “Exchange slate of electors for [Michigan] and [Wisconsin] as a result of archivist didn’t obtain them.”
“Don’t give that to him,” Hodgson replied.
As then-President Donald Trump sought to disclaim Joe Biden’s election win, his group requested supporters to falsely declare that they have been the electors who represented the states’ electorate ― and to signal phony slates purportedly handing over Electoral School votes to Trump. The tactic sought to forestall Pence’s certification of the actual Electoral School outcome on Jan. 6, 2021.
All through its 3rd listening to, the Space committee investigating Trump supporters’ assault at the U.S. Capitol that day unveiled the textual content messages between Riley and Hodgson and an extra message from a best Republican legit.
In a Jan. 4 textual content, Wisconsin Republican Birthday party Govt Director Mark Jefferson wrote: “Freaking trump idiots need any person to fly authentic elector papers to the senate President.”
The revelation that Johnson attempted to provide Pence false ballots creates a transparent hyperlink between the senator and the marketing campaign to overturn the 2020 election. And it underscores the variability of private and non-private ways in which distinguished Republicans supported Trump’s bid to defy electorate and grasp directly to energy whilst fueling the outrage that drove the attack at the Capitol.
Johnson used to be no longer one of the vital 139 Republican lawmakers who voted to uphold Trump’s election lies. He did, alternatively, host a December 2020 listening to right through which Trump allies spent hours selling conspiracy theories concerning the earlier month’s election.
Quickly after the scoop broke, Johnson’s spokesperson Alexa Henning tweeted, “The senator had no involvement within the introduction of an alternative slate of electors and had no foreknowledge that it used to be going to be dropped at our workplace.”
“The Vice President’s workplace mentioned to not give it to him and we didn’t. There used to be no additional motion taken. Finish of tale,” Henning endured.
Johnson is lately working for reelection in Wisconsin.
One in every of his doable competitors, Democratic hopeful Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, issued a observation about Johnson’s movements on Tuesday afternoon.
“Ron Johnson actively attempted to undermine this democracy,” Barnes mentioned. “As soon as once more, Ron Johnson has confirmed he’s a risk to our nation and our basic rights. I’m calling for him to renounce in an instant.”
Igor Bobic contributed reporting.