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Legal Analysis, Reports September 26, 2022

The January 6 Hearings: Pennsylvania Spotlight 

The Pennsylvania Spotlight includes events in the state leading up to the January 6 attack, participation by Pennsylvania actors in relevant events and the attack itself, efforts in Pennsylvania to discredit or reverse the outcome of the presidential election, and subsequent post-January 6 events.

See Related Reports The January 6 Hearings
Issue Areas
  • Accountability
  • Election Protection
  • Public Safety & Elections
  • Truth In Elections
In This Resource

Updated September 26, 2022

Background: The U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol (January 6 Select Committee) is holding oversight hearings in June 2022. It will present public testimony, evidence, and analysis relating to the January 6, 2021 attack, its run-up, and its aftermath. The attack and effort to undermine the will of the American voters did not happen in a vacuum. Fueled by misinformation and lies about the 2020 election, many of the key actors involved and key actions taken that contributed to the attack originated from the states. After all, while elections are national events, they are run and led by the states.

The States United Democracy Center has created a series of state-by-state guides to the January 6 attack highlighting activities that sought to undermine our free, fair, and secure elections. The Pennsylvania Spotlight includes events in the state leading up to the January 6 attack, participation by Pennsylvania actors in relevant events and the attack itself, efforts in Pennsylvania to discredit or reverse the outcome of the presidential election, and subsequent post-January 6 events.

Events leading up to the January attack

Supporters of then-President Trump held rallies throughout the country attempting to discredit the 2020 presidential election process and challenging the official election results, including in Pennsylvania, despite lacking factual basis for their allegations.

Actors involved in January 6 activities

The Washington Post compiled a timeline documenting how January 6, 2021 progressed from Trump’s “Save America” rally on the White House Ellipse to the breach and attack on the U.S. Capitol. Just Security and Protect Democracy compiled a primer that organizes and distills the multiprong campaign to overturn the 2020 election results.

Fraudulent presidential electors slate

  • III. PENNSYLVANIA’S FRAUDULENT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS SLATE

    • On December 14, 2020, groups of Republicans in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Michigan, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin signed documents made to look official that represented the signatories as the duly authorized or potential alternate presidential electors for Trump, rejecting the will of the voters in their states.23American Oversight Obtains Seven Phony Certificates of Pro-Trump Electors. (2021, March 2). America Oversight. https://www.americanoversight.org/american-oversight-obtains-seven-phony-certificates-of-pro-trump-electors; Sherman, A. (2022, January 28). What you need to know about the fake Trump electors. PolitiFact. https://www.politifact.com/article/2022/jan/28/what-you-need-know-about-fake-trump-electors/. The actions of these fake electors are the possible subject of state and federal criminal probes.24Feuer, A., et al. (2022, March 25). Intensifying Inquiry Into Alternate Electors Focuses on Trump Lawyers. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/25/us/politics/pro-trump-lawyers-elector-scheme.html; Polantz., K., & Reid, P. (2022, March 25). DOJ probe of fake elector plot seeks information about Trump’s top lawyers and advisers. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/25/politics/justice-department-fake-elector-plot-trump-lawyers-advisers/index.html; Boucher, D. (2022, January 19). Nessel: Fake GOP electors committed crimes, hopes feds prosecute ‘conspiracy.’ Detroit Free Press. https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2022/01/18/nessel-gop-electors-crimes-lansing-michigan/6563387001/.
    • The following individuals served as fake electors in Pennsylvania:25American Oversight Obtains Seven Phony Certificates of Pro-Trump Electors. (2021, March 2). America Oversight. https://www.americanoversight.org/american-oversight-obtains-seven-phony-certificates-of-pro-trump-electors; Lerner, K. (2022, Feb. 2). Trump’s fake electors: Here’s the full list. The Wisconsin Examiner. https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2022/02/02/trumps-fake-electors-heres-the-full-list/.  Bill Bachenberg (Lehigh Valley business owner); Lisa Patton (former staffer for Donald Trump for President 2020); Lou Barletta (former congressperson); Charlie Gerow (conservative activist and candidate in primary for governor); Sam DeMarco III (at-large member of Allegheny County Council in Pennsylvania and member of county board of elections); Josephine Ferro (Monroe County Register); Tom Carroll (candidate for district attorney in Northampton County); Ted Christian (Pennsylvania state director for Trump’s 2016 campaign); Bernadette Comfort (vice chairwoman for Pennsylvania Republican Party); Chuck Coccodrilli (board member for Pennsylvania Great Frontier PAC); Calvin Tucker (deputy chairman and director of engagement and advancement for Pennsylvania Republican Party); Marcela Diaz-Myers (chairwoman of the PA GOP Hispanic Advisory Council); Kevin Harley (business colleague of Charlie Gerow and former press secretary for former governor Tom Corbett); Leah Hoopes (small business owner and Republican committee member for Bethel Township); Christie DiEsposti (account representative at Pure Water Technology); Ash Khare (active in the Pennsylvania Republican party); Andre McCoy (Director of Government Affairs for a private security firm); Pat Poprik (chair of Bucks County Republican Committee); Andy Reilly (national committee member for Republican Party of Pennsylvania); Suk Smith (owner of firearms training center and martial arts school in Carlisle).
Post January 6 developments

Pennsylvania continues to be a hotbed of efforts to undermine nonpartisan election administration and spread disinformation about the 2020 presidential election results.

Highlights from the Hearings

The States United Democracy Center’s Pennsylvania January 6 Spotlight outlines the events in the state leading up to the January 6 attack, participation by Pennsylvania actors in related events and the attack itself, efforts in Pennsylvania to discredit or reverse the outcome of the presidential election, and subsequent post-January 6 events. The following is a summary of the evidence presented at the January 6 Select Committee hearings related to Pennsylvania, including the June 21, 2022 testimony from the former City Commissioner for the city of Philadelphia Al Schmidt.

  • Promoting election fraud claims

    • The January 6 Select Committee played deposition testimony from Attorney General William Barr in which Barr recounted Trump’s repeated and sustained promotion of the allegation that there were more votes cast than voters in Philadelphia.45 June 13, 2022 Hearing: U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, 117th Cong. (2022) (Testimony of William Barr), https://www.npr.org/2022/06/13/1104690690/heres-every-word-of-the-second-jan-6-committee-hearing-on-its-investigation. See also Inskeep, S. (2022, January 12). Read NPR’s full interview with former President Trump. National Public Radio. https://www.npr.org/2022/01/12/1072176709/transcript-full-npr-interview-former-president-donald-trump.  But as Barr explained, “The turnout in Philadelphia was in line with the state’s turnout” and “there was nothing strange about the Philadelphia turnout.”46 See note 85. Barr acknowledged the simple fact that “Trump ran weaker than the Republican ticket generally.”47 See note 85.
    • Trump and his allies also alleged that dead people voted in Pennsylvania.48 June 13, 2022 Hearing: U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, 117th Cong. (2022) (Statement of Zoe Lofgren [Video played during statement]), https://www.npr.org/2022/06/13/1104690690/heres-every-word-of-the-second-jan-6-committee-hearing-on-its-investigation. The January 6 Select Committee revealed how Giuliani and other Trump allies held a briefing for Pennsylvania legislators49 June 13, 2022 Hearing: U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, 117th Cong. (2022) (Statement of Zoe Lofgren), https://www.npr.org/2022/06/13/1104690690/heres-every-word-of-the-second-jan-6-committee-hearing-on-its-investigation. See also Inskeep, S. (2022, January 12). Read NPR’s full interview with former President Trump. National Public Radio. https://www.npr.org/2022/01/12/1072176709/transcript-full-npr-interview-former-president-donald-trump.  where Giuliani said: “I guess the crooks in Philadelphia are disappointed in this. They only submitted 8,021 ballots from dead people—mail in ballots for dead people. Probably easier for dead people to submit mail in ballots than it is to vote in person.”50 June 13, 2022 Hearing: U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, 117th Cong. (2022) (Statement of Zoe Lofgren [Video played during statement]), https://www.npr.org/2022/06/13/1104690690/heres-every-word-of-the-second-jan-6-committee-hearing-on-its-investigation.
    • Al Schmidt, a Republican member of Philadelphia’s three-member city commission during the 2020 presidential election, testified at the January 6 Select Committee hearings that he investigated Trump’s and his allies’ claims of voter fraud and concluded that “[n]ot only was there not evidence of 8,000 dead voters voting in Pennsylvania, there wasn’t evidence of eight.”51 June 13, 2022 Hearing: U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, 117th Cong. (2022) (Testimony of Al Schmidt), https://www.npr.org/2022/06/13/1104690690/heres-every-word-of-the-second-jan-6-committee-hearing-on-its-investigation.

  • Pressure campaign to overturn Pennsylvania’s presidential election results

    • The January 6 Select Committee presented evidence from the National Archives showing that U.S. Representative Scott Perry (R-PA) was one of the members of Congress that met with Trump about the election results on December 21, 2020.52 June 23, 2022 Hearing: U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, 117th Cong. (2022) (Statement of Adam Kinzinger), https://www.npr.org/2022/06/23/1106700800/jan-6-committee-hearing-transcript. The Committee also revealed records detailing how the next day, Perry introduced Trump to Jeffrey Clark, then-Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division in the Justice Department.53 See note 92. See also Benner, K., & Edmondson, C. (2021, January 29). Pennsylvania Lawmaker Played Key Role in Trump’s Plot to Oust Acting Attorney General. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/23/us/politics/scott-perry-trump-justice-department-election.html.
    • That meeting was “strictly against White House policy,”54 See note 92. which as former Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen testified, limits who at the Justice Department can speak with White House officials, especially to prevent inappropriate communications around criminal matters.55 June 23, 2022 Hearing: U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, 117th Cong. (2022) (Testimony of Jeffrey A. Rosen), https://www.npr.org/2022/06/23/1106700800/jan-6-committee-hearing-transcript. See also June 23, 2022 Hearing: U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, 117th Cong. (2022) (Testimony of Steven Engel), https://www.npr.org/2022/06/23/1106700800/jan-6-committee-hearing-transcript.
    • Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide to Trump’s Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, testified at the hearings that Perry was pushing for Clark “to take over the Department of Justice.”56 See note 31. And Perry’s push for Clark stemmed from Clark’s belief that there had been voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election.57 See note 47. Richard Donoghue, the then-Acting United States Deputy Attorney General, testified that Clark “repeatedly said to [Trump]” that “he would conduct real investigations that would … uncover widespread fraud.”58 See note 47.
    • The January 6 Select Committee revealed the contents of December 26, 2020 text messages between Perry and Meadows, where Perry “requested that Mr. Clark be elevated within the department” and instructed Meadows that he “should call” Clark.”59 See note 92
    • The next day, Perry called Donoghue.60 See note 92. Donoghue testified at the January 6 Select Committee hearings that Perry called him to talk about allegations that the Pennsylvania secretary of state “had certified more votes than were actually cast.”61 See note 47.  Perry sent Donoghue a report on these allegations.62 See note 47.
    • Donoghue testified that he sent these allegations to federal prosecutors who investigated and determined that the secretary of state “had not certified more votes than were actually cast.”63 See note 47. Instead, the initial temporary discrepancy between the number of votes that were certified and the number on a public website stemmed from delays in four counties uploading their election data.64 See note 47.
    • The January 6 Select Committee revealed the contents of additional texts Perry sent Meadows on December 31, 2020, linking to a video suggesting that an Italian defense contractor’s satellite had switched votes from Trump to Biden; Perry’s message to Meadows asked, “Why can’t we just work with the Italian government?”65 See note 92.
    • Rosen testified that Meadows then called Rosen asking him to investigate this Italy claim and meet with the video’s creator, but Rosen refused and called this claim “debunked.”66 See note 47. Meadows called Rosen back a few minutes later to let him know the video’s creator was working with Giuliani.67 See note 47.
    • Donoghue testified that on the same day, he received a follow-up call about the Italy claim from Department of Defense official Kash Patel, who was working for the Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller.68 See note 47. During this call, Donoghue made clear that the Justice Department was not going to be pursuing the Italian claim further.69 See note 47. The January 6 Select Committee confirmed that Miller later placed a call to an attaché in Italy to investigate this claim.70 See note 47.
    • Hutchinson testified at the hearings that Perry talked with her directly and that he asked for a presidential pardon.71 See note 31. Perry’s phone was also seized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of their investigation into election misconduct.72 A. Feuer, L. Broadwater & K. Benner. (2022, Aug. 10). Seizure of Congressman’s Phone Is Latest Sign of Escalating Election. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/10/us/politics/scott-perry-phone-fbi.html.

  • Protests and threats towards state officials

    • Schmidt testified about the aftermath of Trump’s personal attacks on him, which originated with a tweet from Trump: “A guy named Al Schmidt, a Philadelphia commissioner and so-called Republican or RINO, is being used big time by the fake news media to explain how honest things were with respect to the election in Philadelphia. He refuses to look at a mountain of corruption dishonesty. We win.”73 June 13, 2022 Hearing: U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, 117th Cong. (2022) (Statement of Zoe Lofgren), https://www.npr.org/2022/06/13/1104690690/heres-every-word-of-the-second-jan-6-committee-hearing-on-its-investigation.
    • Schmidt testified that, although he had received various threats around the time of the election, “[a]fter the President tweeted at me by name … the threats became much more specific, much more graphic, and included not just me by name but included members of my family by name, their ages, our address, pictures of our home.”74 See note 91.
    • The January 6 Select Committee revealed that Pennsylvania House Speaker Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) received “daily voicemails from Trump’s lawyers in the last week of November,” including from Giuliani and Ellis.75 June 21, 2022 Hearing: U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, 117th Cong. (2022) (Testimony of Josh Roselman [Video played during statement]), https://www.npr.org/2022/06/21/1105848096/jan-6-committee-hearing-transcript. Cutler reported that he “felt that the outreach was inappropriate and asked his lawyers to tell Rudy Giuliani to stop calling. But Giuliani continued to reach out.”76 See note 115.
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Sources

  1. Wolfman-Arent, A., et al. (2020, November 5). ‘Philly’s got this’: Dueling rallies converge on ballot-counting center. WHYY. https://whyy.org/articles/phillys-got-this-dueling-rallies-converge-on-philly-ballot-counting-center/; See also Kessler, G. & Rizzo, S. (2020, November 5). President Trump’s false claims of vote fraud: A chronology. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/11/05/president-trumps-false-claims-vote-fraud-chronology/.

  2. Hill, C. (2020, November 25). Giuliani tells Pennsylvania legislators they can override popular vote to appoint pro-Trump electors. Yahoo! News. https://www.yahoo.com/video/giuliani-tells-pennsylvania-legislators-they-can-override-popular-vote-to-appoint-pro-trump-electors-010121925.html.

  3. Roebuck, J., et al. (2020, November 5). Trump campaign takes its complaints over Pa. election before GOP lawmakers, after string of court losses. Spotlight PA. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2020/11/rudy-giuliani-trump-pennsylvania-election-senate-hearing.

  4. Bender, W., & Couloumbis, A. (2020, November 27). President Trump invited Pa. lawmakers to the White House. Then everyone went silent. Spotlight PA. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2020/11/trump-pennsylvania-lawmakers-invite-white-house-silence-election-2020.

  5. ]Liptak, A. (2020, December 11). Texas files an audacious suit with the Supreme Court challenging the election results. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/us/politics/texas-files-an-audacious-suit-with-the-supreme-court-challenging-the-election-results.html.

  6. Cobb T. (2022, Mar. 8). State Bar Complaint Against Attorney General Ken Paxton to Proceed After Key Deadline Passes. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2022/03/08/state-bar-paxton-complaint/.

  7. American Oversight Obtains Seven Phony Certificates of Pro-Trump Electors. (2021, March 2). America Oversight. https://www.americanoversight.org/american-oversight-obtains-seven-phony-certificates-of-pro-trump-electors; Sherman, A. (2022, January 28). What you need to know about the fake Trump electors. PolitiFact. https://www.politifact.com/article/2022/jan/28/what-you-need-know-about-fake-trump-electors/.

  8. Coston, E. (2022, January 6). The Jan. 6 Capitol riot: A complete guide to what we know about Pennsylvania’s role. Spotlight PA. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2022/01/january-6-capitol-riot-pennsylvania-role; Benner, K., & Edmondson, C. (2021, January 28). Pennsylvania Lawmaker Played Key Role in Trump’s Plot to Oust Acting Attorney General. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/23/us/politics/scott-perry-trump-justice-department-election.html.

  9. Meyer, K., et al. (2021, January 12). Mastriano campaign spent thousands on buses ahead of D.C. insurrection. WHYY. https://whyy.org/articles/mastriano-campaign-spent-thousands-on-buses-ahead-of-d-c-insurrection.

  10. See note 9.

  11. See note 9.

  12. Corasaniti, N., et al. (2022, May 22). How Trump’s 2020 Election Lies Have Gripped State Legislatures. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/05/22/us/politics/state-legislators-election-denial.html; WPIX.com News Staff. (2021, January 5). Group of PA lawmakers sends letter to Mitch McConnell asking to delay election certification. WPIX.com. https://www.wpxi.com/news/politics/group-pa-lawmakers-sends-letter-mitch-mcconnell-asking-delay-election-certification/XTZKAVHDRNER5PJXOY4DLA7R7A/.

  13. See note 12.

  14. The Pennsylvania legislators who signed the letter are: Senator Dave Argall, Rep. Aaron Bernstine, Rep. Stephanie Borowicz, Rep. Robert Brooks, Rep. Bud Cook, Rep. Jim Cox, Rep. Eric Davanzo, Rep. Russ Diamond, Senator Cris Dush, Rep. Barbra Gliem, Rep. Mike Jones, Rep. Rob Kauffman, Rep. Dawn Keefer, Rep. Mike Jones, Senator Wayne Langerholc Jr., Rep. David Maloney, Senator Doug Mastriano, Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, Rep. Dan Moul, Rep. Eric Nelson, Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill, Senator Joe Pittman, Rep. Michael Puskaric, Rep. Kathy Rapp, Senator Mike Regan, Rep. Jim Rigby, Rep. Brad Roae, Rep. David Rowe, Rep. Francis Ryan, Rep. Jason Silvis, Rep. Brian Smith, Senator Judy Ward, Senator Kim Ward, and Rep. David Zimmerman; See Letter to Vice President Michael R. Pence. (2021, Jan. 5). The Wisconsin Examiner. https://wisconsinexaminer.com/wpcontent/uploads/2021/01/Letter-to-Pence-1.pdf.

  15. See note 14; Timm, C. (2021, Jan. 5). Fact check: No, Pence can’t overturn the election results. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/fact-check-no-pence-can-t-overturn-election-results-n1252869.

  16. Eisler, P., et al. (2021, December 30). Anatomy of a death threat. Reuters. https://graphics.reuters.com/USA-ELECTION/THREATS/mopanwmlkva/.

  17. Vaillancourt, W. (2022, May 16). Surging Pennsylvania Senate Candidate Said She Was Leading Buses to Capitol on Jan. 6 for ‘Our 1776 Moment.’ Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/kathy-barnette-pennsylvania-senate-jan-6-mob-1353896/?sub_action=logged_in Kacynski, A., & Steck, E. (2022, May 16). Barnette said she was leading buses to DC for ‘our 1776 moment’ on January 6, 2021. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/16/politics/kathy-barnette-1776-moment-january-6-kfile/index.html.

  18. Itkowitz, C., & Helderman, R. (2022, May 15). Leading GOP candidates in Pennsylvania were in Washington on Jan. 6. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/05/15/leading-gop-candidates-pennsylvania-were-washington-jan-6.

  19. Briggs, R. & Meyer, K. (2021, May 25). New video appears to show State Sen. Mastriano closer to Capitol riot than he said. WHYY. https://whyy.org/articles/new-video-appears-to-show-state-sen-mastriano-closer-to-capitol-riot-than-he-said.

  20. Otterbein, H., & Montellaro, Z. (2022, May 16). GOP blame game erupts in Pennsylvania governor’s race, Politico. https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/16/gop-pennsylvania-primary-doug-mastriano-00032910.

  21. Brennan, C., & Seidman, A. (2022, May 17). Mastriano’s Election Denialism. The Philadelphia Inquirer.  https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/inq2/doug-mastriano-pennsylvania-2020-election-denial-timeline-20220609.html.

  22. Roebuck, J., & Goodin-Smith, O. (2022, January 5). 62 Pennsylvanians have been charged in the Capitol riot. A year later, judges are starting to weigh their punishments. The Philadelphia Inquirer. https://www.inquirer.com/news/capitol-riot-pennsylvania-new-jersey-arrests-sentencings-cases-20220105.html; NPR Staff. (2022, June 3). The Capitol siege: The cases behind the biggest criminal investigation in U.S. history. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2021/02/09/965472049/the-capitol-siege-the-arrested-and-their-stories#database.

  23. American Oversight Obtains Seven Phony Certificates of Pro-Trump Electors. (2021, March 2). America Oversight. https://www.americanoversight.org/american-oversight-obtains-seven-phony-certificates-of-pro-trump-electors; Sherman, A. (2022, January 28). What you need to know about the fake Trump electors. PolitiFact. https://www.politifact.com/article/2022/jan/28/what-you-need-know-about-fake-trump-electors/.

  24. Feuer, A., et al. (2022, March 25). Intensifying Inquiry Into Alternate Electors Focuses on Trump Lawyers. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/25/us/politics/pro-trump-lawyers-elector-scheme.html; Polantz., K., & Reid, P. (2022, March 25). DOJ probe of fake elector plot seeks information about Trump’s top lawyers and advisers. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/25/politics/justice-department-fake-elector-plot-trump-lawyers-advisers/index.html; Boucher, D. (2022, January 19). Nessel: Fake GOP electors committed crimes, hopes feds prosecute ‘conspiracy.’ Detroit Free Press. https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2022/01/18/nessel-gop-electors-crimes-lansing-michigan/6563387001/.

  25. American Oversight Obtains Seven Phony Certificates of Pro-Trump Electors. (2021, March 2). America Oversight. https://www.americanoversight.org/american-oversight-obtains-seven-phony-certificates-of-pro-trump-electors; Lerner, K. (2022, Feb. 2). Trump’s fake electors: Here’s the full list. The Wisconsin Examiner. https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2022/02/02/trumps-fake-electors-heres-the-full-list/.

  26. Schwartz, B. (2021, December 16). MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell says he spent $25 million to push false pro-Trump election claims: ‘I will spend whatever it takes.’ CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/16/mypillow-ceo-mike-lindell-spent-25-million-to-push-false-pro-trump-election-claims.html. 

  27. Vandewalker, I. (2022, May 18). Election Denial in the Race for Pennsylvania Governor. Brennan Center. .

  28. Berzon, A. (2022, May 30). Lawyer Who Plotted to Overturn Trump Loss Recruits Election Deniers to Watch Over the Vote. The New York Times. .

  30. Lehigh Valley business owner subpoenaed in Jan. 6 probe (2022, January 29). Lehigh Valley Live. https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/elections/2022/01/lehigh-valley-business-owner-subpoenaed-in-jan-6-probe.html.

  31. See note 30; Reinhard, J. (2022, February 2). Lehigh Valley business owner subpoenaed by January 6th Committee. WFMZ-TV 69 News. https://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley-business-owner-subpoenaed-by-january-6th-committee/article_163a2020-8155-11ec-8daf-6f809022e202.html.

  32. Itkowitz, C. and Helderman, R.S. (2022, May 15). Leading GOP candidates in Pennsylvania were in Washington on Jan. 6. The Washington Post.https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/05/15/leading-gop-candidates-pennsylvania-were-washington-jan-6; Associated Press. (2022, March 11). Mastriano, Jan. 6 committee silent of deposition request. Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-congress-donald-trump-pennsylvania-subpoenas-19ecd45de74d7d0719f82beaa97cbab8.

  33. Woodruff Swan, B. (2022, June 2). Pa. GOP gubernatorial nominee shares documents with Jan. 6 panel, agrees to interview. Politico. https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/02/mastriano-jan-6-panel-subpoena-00036468/.

  34. Adams, A. (2022, January 28). Jan. 6 Committee Subpoenas 2 Fake Trump Electors From Pennsylvania. Keystone. https://keystonenewsroom.com/story/jan-6-committee-subpoenas-2-fake-trump-electors-from-pennsylvania; Lehigh Valley business owner subpoenaed in Jan. 6 probe (2022, January 29). Lehigh Valley Live. https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/elections/2022/01/lehigh-valley-business-owner-subpoenaed-in-jan-6-probe.html.

  35. Schnell, M. and Beals, M. (2022, February 5). These people have been subpoenaed by the Jan. 6 panel. The Hill. https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/592861-these-people-have-been-subpoenaed-by-the-jan-6-panel.

  36. Owens, D. et al. (2022, May 27). Perry objects to January 6 Committee subpoena, responds to burned document report. ABC 27. https://www.abc27.com/this-week-in-pennsylvania/pennsylvania-politics/rep-perry-refuses-jan-6-committee-deposition.

  37. Parish, M. and Caruso, S. (2021, June 2). Mastriano, Pa. state lawmakers visit Arizona election audit.Pennsylvania Capital-Star. https://www.penncapital-star.com/election-2020/three-pa-state-lawmakers-visit-arizona-election-audit/.

  38. Seidman, A. and Ohl, D. (2021, November 19). What we know about the firm hired by the GOP to review Pennsylvania’s 2020 election. The Philadelphia Inquirer. https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/envoy-sage-pa-republicans-election-review-contract-20211119.html.

  39. Viebeck, E. and Helderman, R.S. (2021, September 15). Pennsylvania GOP lawmakers approve wide-ranging subpoenas for personal information of 2020 voters. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/09/15/pennsylvania-gop-election-probe-subpoena-trump.

  40. Murphy, J. (2022, May 24). Pa. Senate GOP’s election inquiry continues; consultant contract extended. Penn Live. https://www.pennlive.com/news/2022/05/pa-senate-gops-election-inquiry-continues-consultant-contract-extended.html; Levy, Marc. (2022, January 11). Pennsylvania Court Won’t Block Entire Election ‘Investigation’ Subpoena. NBC10 Philadelphia. https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/politics/pennsylvania-court-election-investigation-subpoena/3103014/.

  41. H.B. 1300. Regular Session 2021-2022. Pennsylvania General Assembly. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2021&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1300.

  42. Routh, J. (2021, June 30). Gov. Tom Wolf vetoes GOP-backed voting bill, calling it ‘riddled with unacceptable barriers.’ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2021/06/30/Tom-Wolf-governor-vetoes-Pennsylvania-Republican-voting-restrictions-bill-law-election-reform-HB1300-Pa-Legislature/stories/202106300089.

  43. Berman, R. (2021, November 14). The Desperate Scramble to Stop an Insider Election Threat. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/11/pennsylvania-election-threat/620684/.

  44. Replacing the Refs. (2022, June 6). States United Action. https://statesuniteddemocracy.org/resources/replacingtherefs/.

  45. June 13, 2022 Hearing: U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, 117th Cong. (2022) (Testimony of William Barr), https://www.npr.org/2022/06/13/1104690690/heres-every-word-of-the-second-jan-6-committee-hearing-on-its-investigation. See also Inskeep, S. (2022, January 12). Read NPR’s full interview with former President Trump. National Public Radio. https://www.npr.org/2022/01/12/1072176709/transcript-full-npr-interview-former-president-donald-trump.

  46. See note 85.

  47. See note 85.

  48. June 13, 2022 Hearing: U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, 117th Cong. (2022) (Statement of Zoe Lofgren [Video played during statement]), https://www.npr.org/2022/06/13/1104690690/heres-every-word-of-the-second-jan-6-committee-hearing-on-its-investigation.

  49. June 13, 2022 Hearing: U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, 117th Cong. (2022) (Statement of Zoe Lofgren), https://www.npr.org/2022/06/13/1104690690/heres-every-word-of-the-second-jan-6-committee-hearing-on-its-investigation. See also Inskeep, S. (2022, January 12). Read NPR’s full interview with former President Trump. National Public Radio. https://www.npr.org/2022/01/12/1072176709/transcript-full-npr-interview-former-president-donald-trump.

  50. June 13, 2022 Hearing: U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, 117th Cong. (2022) (Statement of Zoe Lofgren [Video played during statement]), https://www.npr.org/2022/06/13/1104690690/heres-every-word-of-the-second-jan-6-committee-hearing-on-its-investigation.

  51. June 13, 2022 Hearing: U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, 117th Cong. (2022) (Testimony of Al Schmidt), https://www.npr.org/2022/06/13/1104690690/heres-every-word-of-the-second-jan-6-committee-hearing-on-its-investigation.

  52. June 23, 2022 Hearing: U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, 117th Cong. (2022) (Statement of Adam Kinzinger), https://www.npr.org/2022/06/23/1106700800/jan-6-committee-hearing-transcript.

  53. See note 92. See also Benner, K., & Edmondson, C. (2021, January 29). Pennsylvania Lawmaker Played Key Role in Trump’s Plot to Oust Acting Attorney General. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/23/us/politics/scott-perry-trump-justice-department-election.html.

  54. See note 92.

  55. June 23, 2022 Hearing: U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, 117th Cong. (2022) (Testimony of Jeffrey A. Rosen), https://www.npr.org/2022/06/23/1106700800/jan-6-committee-hearing-transcript. See also June 23, 2022 Hearing: U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, 117th Cong. (2022) (Testimony of Steven Engel), https://www.npr.org/2022/06/23/1106700800/jan-6-committee-hearing-transcript.

  56. See note 31.

  57. See note 47.

  58. See note 47.

  59. See note 92

  60. See note 92.

  61. See note 47.

  62. See note 47.

  63. See note 47.

  64. See note 47.

  65. See note 92.

  66. See note 47.

  67. See note 47.

  68. See note 47.

  69. See note 47.

  70. See note 47.

  71. See note 31.

  72. A. Feuer, L. Broadwater & K. Benner. (2022, Aug. 10). Seizure of Congressman’s Phone Is Latest Sign of Escalating Election. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/10/us/politics/scott-perry-phone-fbi.html.

  73. June 13, 2022 Hearing: U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, 117th Cong. (2022) (Statement of Zoe Lofgren), https://www.npr.org/2022/06/13/1104690690/heres-every-word-of-the-second-jan-6-committee-hearing-on-its-investigation.

  74. See note 91.

  75. June 21, 2022 Hearing: U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, 117th Cong. (2022) (Testimony of Josh Roselman [Video played during statement]), https://www.npr.org/2022/06/21/1105848096/jan-6-committee-hearing-transcript.

  76. See note 115.