Donald Trump discussed making Sidney Powell — the “Kraken” lawyer — who spins unfounded conspiracy theories that go way over the top, a special counsel investigating voter fraud, according to what two people briefed on the discussion told the New York Times. Yes, this is the same Sidney Powell that was reportedly considered “too crazy even for the president,” so she was dropped from the legal team that is trying to prove that widespread voter fraud exists when it clearly does not.
Unfortunately, the report gets even weirder. Maggie Haberman and Zolan Kanno-Youngs report that most of Trump’s advisers opposed the idea, including Rudy Giuliani.
Haberman added more to the story on Twitter:
Among those pushing back on the idea was Pat Cipollone, Meadows and even Giuliani. But Giuliani separately pushed DHS this week to seize control of voting machines to examine them for possible fraud. DHS said it has no authority to do that. https://t.co/wUB8ZMrPxp
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) December 19, 2020
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The meeting got raucous, with various administration members drifting in and out and different people arguing. Powell told others they were quitters, people people briefed on the meeting https://t.co/wUB8ZMrPxp
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) December 19, 2020
The fact of the meeting – and Giuliani hope of seizing the voting machines – has alarmed some of the president’s advisers, who see his desire to take his refusal to accept the election results as in a dangerous new place https://t.co/wUB8ZMrPxp
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) December 19, 2020
Meadows and Cipollone strenuously and repeatedly objected to these suggestions, saying there was no constitutional basis, according to the people briefed.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) December 19, 2020
One person floated an executive order to seize the voting machines. That was also shot down by Cipollone, per the people briefed.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) December 19, 2020
Adding to the story but two people briefed said Flynn was there as well for this meeting.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) December 19, 2020
Powell’s lawsuits have been tossed out of court in a number of states, and the president does not appoint a special counsel, so maybe his advisers should have mentioned that to Trump. The president had also pushed outgoing attorney general, Bill Barr, to appoint a special counsel to look into election fraud and investigate Hunter Biden. As for Powell, they just don’t make Krakens like they used to.
Featured image via Political Tribune gallery
