Ex-New York City police Commissioner Bernard Kerik — a relatively close ally to both former President Donald Trump and longtime Trump confidante Rudy Giuliani — met with the House committee investigating the Capitol riot for eight hours this week. Kerik was involved in the widespread efforts to uncover evidence of the non-existent systematic election fraud that Trump and others claimed was responsible for Biden’s win. As for the committee meeting, a source ‘told CNN that Kerik had been asked repeatedly about Giuliani and he had defended the former New York mayor as legitimately believing there was at least “probable cause” of voter fraud that should be investigated and not a “big lie,”‘ as that outlet explained.
One thing is clear from the indictment: The Oath Keepers planned on and needed a crowd as cover. Even if Trump wasn’t directly involved in their “plan,” his expectation to his lunatic mob to head to the Capitol definitely helped them execute their operation
— Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) January 14, 2022
No matter Giuliani’s beliefs about things, the ex-New York City mayor is facing serious repercussions for his participation in pushing falsehoods about the last election. He has been suspended from practicing law in both New York and Washington, D.C., and he’s facing a hefty defamation lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems, an election technology company that has been the subject of numerous pro-Trump conspiracy theories about the election. As for Kerik, the riot investigation committee “also asked about the so-called Willard War Room, which Kerik told lawmakers had been set up after they had to decamp from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel following a Covid-19 outbreak among the group investigating voter fraud,” CNN explains.
Bernard Kerik, former NYC police commissioner & close associate of Rudy Giuliani, met with 1/6 committee for over eight hours Thursday: https://t.co/AS5kyLNeKm
— Paula Reid (@PaulaReidCNN) January 14, 2022
The reference to “Willard” refers to a gathering at the Willard Hotel in D.C., where Trump allies plotted ways to block Biden’s presidency. Reporting has circulated about an examination by the riot investigation panel of whether to recommend prosecutions by the Justice Department for criminal conspiracy — the conspiracy at issue would have been targeting the proceedings to certify the presidential election outcome that were scheduled for the day of the riot. Other potential criminal charges that could be recommended include obstruction of an official proceeding.
Today's sedition charges are remarkable. Sedition is rarely charged and DOJ could have merely charged them with obstructing an official proceeding.
The Justice Department wanted to send a message and it has certainly done so. The organizers appear to be next on their list. https://t.co/JWUAlKghUT
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) January 13, 2022
Other high-profile individuals who recently opted to cooperate with the riot investigation committee include ex-White House press secretary — and ex-Trump campaign spokesperson — Kayleigh McEnany. Meanwhile, the committee formally requested information from House GOP leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) this week — and McCarthy promptly announced that he did not intend to comply with the committee. He ranted in his response to the panel that the committee “is not conducting a legitimate investigation as Speaker Pelosi took the unprecedented action of rejecting the Republican members I named to serve on the committee” — although Pelosi didn’t block all of his selections, just some of them. Despite these back-and-forths, the committee has spoken with over 340 witnesses and counting.
would you be shocked to learn that tucker is giving a friendly interview with one of the guys charged with sedition pic.twitter.com/wB2U4tuQeC
— Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) January 14, 2022
