Senate leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) on Saturday called on the Inspector General of the Ministry of Justice to investigate an alleged plan by former President Trump and a DOJ attorney to remove the Acting Attorney General and replace him with someone more willing to investigate baseless claims of electoral fraud.
Driving the news: The New York Times first reported Friday that the attorney, Jeffrey Clark, had reportedly “figured out ways to cast doubt on the election results and to bolster Trump’s ongoing legal battle and pressure on politicians in Georgia.” [Jeffrey] Rosen had rejected the president’s pleas to carry out those plans, Mr. Trump was about to decide whether to fire Mr. Rosen and replace him with Mr. Clark. ”
- Trump ultimately decided not to fire Rosen after DOJ officials unanimously decided to resign if the then president went ahead with the plan, The Times reported. The Acting Attorney General and Clark also each argued their case in a “bizarre White House meeting that compared two officials to an episode of Mr. Trump’s reality show” The Apprentice. ” ‘
Clark “categorically” denied that he had drawn up a plan to oust Rosen, according to the Times and Washington Post, which also reported the alleged plan.
- “I have also not made recommendations for action based on factual inaccuracies collected from the Internet,” noted Clark, the Post said.
- “There were no ‘maneuvers[s]. There was a frank discussion of options and pros and cons with the president. It is unfortunate that those who were part of a privileged legal conversation publicly commented on such internal deliberations, while also twisting any discussions. … Living up to legal privileges, which I will uphold even if others don’t, prevents me from disclosing details about the conversation. “
- The DOJ, Rosen and Trump declined to comment to the Times. An adviser told the paper that the judicial system should investigate “rampant electoral fraud that has plagued our system for years.”
What he says: “An unscrupulous Trump Justice Department chief would conspire to undermine the will of the people, ” Schumer tweeted Saturday.
- “The Inspector General of the Justice Department must now investigate this attempted sedition,” he added.
- “And the Senate will continue the process of impeaching Trump,” scheduled for the week of Feb. 8.