- A Washington Post photographer got a peek of President Donald Trump and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell’s meetings on Friday, where they apparently discussed explosive national security movements.
- One line reads: “Move Kash Patel to CIA Acting,” which gives a preview of more personnel changes that Trump could drive. Another reads: ‘… foreign interference in the electoral system [illegible] power. Make it clear that this is China / Iran. ‘
- Lindell offered Trump renewed solidarity by handing out a MyPillow discount with the code ‘FightForTrump’ and appearing on Newsmax, calling insurgents ‘very peaceful’ and blaming antifa for the uprising.
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On President Donald Trump’s last Friday in office, his public schedule predictably says he will “work from early morning until late at night. He will have many calls and many meetings.”
It appears that one of the meetings discussed drastic national security measures with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell through Trump.
Washington Post photographer Jabin Botsford captured a close-up photo of Lindell and Trump’s meeting notes, including a number of phrases and agenda items.
—Jabin Botsford (@jabinbotsford) 15 January 2021
Lindell holds the notes with a telephone in one hand and a coffee cup in the other and bends the notes open so that some sentences are legible. One of the phrases reads ” Insurrection Act now as a result of the assault on the … martial law if necessary on the first win of any … ”,
Another reads, “Move Kash Patel to CIA Acting,” which sees a preview of more personnel changes Trump may undertake on his way out. Another note reads: ‘… foreign interference in the electoral system [illegible] power. Make it clear that this is China / Iran. ‘
My CEO, Michael Lindell, will be seen outside the door of the West Wing on Friday, January 15, 2021 in Washington, DC.
Jabin Botsford / The Washington Post via Getty Images / Business Insider
Patel, who currently serves as chief of staff to acting secretary of defense Christopher Miller, was a Trump ally. One note points to a new director of national security “NOW.”
Other phrases, which are not fully readable, refer to the investigation into the 2020 election, which Trump lost and has not yet conceded. Lindell took no questions from press when he left the West Wing.
Lindell was a strangely prominent and loyal figure during Trump’s presidency, appearing in key meetings and speaking at White House Lawn’s confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
In the wake of the deadly riots last week, Lindell offered renewed solidarity with Trump by handing out a MyPillow discount with the code “FightForTrump” and appearing on Newsmax, calling insurgents “very peaceful” and antifa blame for the violence and destruction. at the Capitol.
Read more: My pillow CEO Mike Lindell and pro-Trump lawyer Lin Wood spread false information about Antifa leading the Capitol rioters
On Dec. 19, Lindell also tweeted and removed a call for Trump to draft martial law after Georgia officials refused to block the legitimate election results, according to Newsweek. Twitter has since labeled many of Lindell’s tweets as misinformation.
The New York Times report that Lindell denies allegations that ‘martial law’ was written on his notes or discussed during his meeting with the president, but an official of the administration confirmed to the point that the words were indeed on his notes. Lindell offered more election conspiracies during the meeting, but Trump did not entertain the thoughts, leaving Lindell frustrated, an administrative official told The Times.
Lindell on later tweet an extremely zoomed out document which he presented to Trump everyday, without writing: “Here is one page of hundreds proving that President Trump got about 79 million votes to 68 million votes for Biden!” Twitter describes it as misinformation about election fraud.
Steve Vladeck, a national security law expert and professor at the University of Texas School of Law, responded to the alleged agenda items on Twitter.
“And just for the record, no – none of this can actually work,” Vladeck said, referring to discussions about the appeal of the Insurrection Act.
“Under the absolute terms of Section 1 of the Twentieth Amendment, Trump’s term expires on Wednesday at 12 o’clock (EST), no matter how much nonsense he – or his” advisers “- try to pull between now and then,” Vladeck added. .
—Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) 15 January 2021
The 1947 presidential succession means that if Trump called on the Insurrection Act to delay the inauguration, and neither he nor Biden would be president by noon on January 20, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would accept temporary power. before he would elect a president Vice President.