If you were actively under investigation for attempted murder, a thing you’d probably want to avoid in the meantime would be going out and trying to murder someone else. Most people understand, without needing it to be explained to them, why this would be a bad idea. And then there’s Donald Trump. He hasn‘t been implicated in any murders (that we know of) nor is he currently trying to kill anyone (again, that we know of). He is, however, said to be actively plotting to steal the midterm elections, and the presidential one after that‚ which seems pretty wild given that he’s reportedly under criminal investigation for attempting to steal an election just two years ago.
Rolling Stone reports that in recent months, Trump has “convened a series of in-person meetings and conference calls to discuss laying the groundwork to challenge the 2022 midterm election results,” according to four people familiar with the matter. But hey, you might be saying, what’s wrong with challenging election results if you have a legitimate reason to do so? And the answer is nothing, except that in this case, the ex-president has a well-documented history of “challenging” results simply because he doesn’t like them, and basing his case on total lies.
According to reporters Asawin Suebsaeng and Adam Rawnsley, during these meeting and conference calls, “pro-Trump groups, attorneys, Republican Party activists, and MAGA diehards often discuss the type of scorched-earth legal tactics they could deploy” and have “gamed out” ways to “aggressively challenge” election outcomes they’re unhappy with, i.e. ones in which Republicans don’t win. One route they reportedly plan to take on election night, if a clear winner is yet to be announced, is the one Trump deployed in the early hours of November 4, 2020, in which he declared: “This is a fraud on the American public. This is an embarrassment to this country. We were getting ready to win this election. Frankly, we did win this election.”
While Trump has apparently been “briefed on plans in multiple states and critical races,” he reportedly is largely focused on the Pennsylvania races, particularly the one for US Senate between Mehmet Oz and John Fetterman. Despite the fact that the most recent poll puts Fetterman ahead of the former TV doctor (and alleged puppy killer) by a whopping six points, sources have told Rolling Stone that Trump and other Republicans will launch “a legal and activist crusade” if the Fetterman does not offer a “speedy concession,” or if the results are too close to call.
And, of course, Trump isn’t just plotting to undermine democracy in 2022.
As he hosts meetings on possible 2022 election challenges, he’s also been laying the groundwork for a run in 2024—where Pennsylvania again promises to be critical and competitive. As one source who has spoken to Trump several times about a potential post-election-day legal battle over the Oz-Fetterman race puts it, Trump views a potential midterm challenge as a “dress rehearsal for Trump 2024.” Trump is gripped by the belief that he got cheated in Philadelphia in 2020, and this time around, he has privately demanded his allies concentrate additional firepower and legal resources in the commonwealth’s largest and most racially diverse metro area. In recent weeks, according to two people with knowledge of the situation, the ex-president has asked several advisers and at least one of his attorneys what national and Pennsylvania Republicans are doing to prevent Democrats from—in his words—“steal[ing] it in Philadelphia [like] they did last time.”
As for the investigation into the last attempt to steal an election—and the violent riot he incited when that attempt failed—Rolling Stone reported in July that Trump’s legal team was “planning for criminal charges” to be brought against him. Which need to come sooner rather than later, lest he actually win a second term and make them disappear.
Ron DeSantis: not just an evil little man but something of an idiot too
The governor of Florida and reported 2024 hopeful contains multitudes. Per the Financial Times:
Searchlights on October 25th, 2022 at 12:53 UTC »
They are going to contest and deny any Democratic win. Everybody knows it's coming and nothing can be done about it.
We are once again sleepwalking in to a crisis.
rwp86 on October 25th, 2022 at 12:52 UTC »
How is America STILL being subverted by a guy who said the last hurricane was “One of wettest we’ve ever seen, from the standpoint of water.”
GhettoChemist on October 25th, 2022 at 12:26 UTC »
Are those his foot soldiers outside AZ voting locationa harassing people?