On Monday, we saw the FBI raid President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home. They also took the cell phone belonging to a member of Congress. Reports claim that federal investigators visited several Republican offices within the Capitol, including the Senate and House of Representatives, over the course of the past two-days with subpoenas.
PennLive has learned that at least some subpoena recipients were informed they weren’t the targets of any investigation. Six sources told PennLive they had been told by PennLive they could have relevant information for the FBI. Although they were briefed about the investigative steps in some manner, all of them requested anonymity so that they could discuss it.
The information being requested centered around U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., and the effort to seek alternate electors as part of former President Donald Trump’s efforts to remain in office after the 2020 election, several sources said.
As I reported, Rep. Perry’s cellphone was seized by the FBI in a surprise move, they demanded it from him while he was with his family.
According to reports, this could have something to do with an alternate slate of electors being discussed by Republicans. This alternative slate would be presented if Trump was declared the winner. In the past, there have been alternative slates for electors in races between John Kennedy and Richard Nixon. There were also two electors from Hawaii depending on the winner. So I’m not sure what the alleged “crime” was that the FBI is supposedly pursuing here. Again, we are aware of the FBI’s concern.
The Pennsylvania Senate Republican Leaders and the Pennsylvania House Spokespeople did not confirm whether any received subpoenas. The spokesperson for Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Centre County), issued a statement.
Jason Thompson, a spokesman for Corman, issued a statement, saying, “Federal subpoenas typically request confidentiality from the witnesses being subpoenaed in order to avoid impediment to the ongoing investigation, so it would be inappropriate to comment on whether members have received subpoenas or not. If subpoenaed as witnesses, our members will certainly comply with requests for documents or information not covered by an applicable privilege.”
He added: “We have no indication that any of our members are targets of any FBI investigation.”
It’s not clear if this is a factor in the raid against Trump which reports and his attorneys have indicated is related to presidential records and possible classified information.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-KY), called for Perry’s resignation.
Once you realize this is a hot war between the embedded elements of big government and conservatives who threaten their existence, you can understand the tactical and psychological significance of the FBI notoriously seizing the House Freedom Caucus chairman’s cell phone.
Just like with the raid on Trump, as Massie noted, they could glean all kinds of political information from Perry’s phone since he is the head of the House Freedom Caucus.
Perry also filed impediments against Merrick Garland in the last year. That raises another question: is this retaliation?
This reported action to drop subpoenas on Republicans seems like more political action in this “war” being leveled against Republicans, especially if it’s about alternate electors. They seem determined to locate something about Jan. 6 on the people, even though there’s nothing. This kind of action just adds to the overall sense of now being in a banana republic where it’s all about politics and suppressing political opponents. This threatens our Republic’s very existence.
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