Justice Department Officials Threatened — Trump Considers Replacing Acting AG with Loyalist (2021-01-03)

The House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack holds a hearing on Trump's efforts to corrupt the Justice Department. Evidence shows Trump considered replacing Acting AG Jeffrey Rosen with Jeffrey Clark, a DOJ official who supported Trump's fraud claims. Acting Deputy AG Richard Donoghue testified that Clark acknowledged he had gone to a December meeting in the Oval Office — arranged by Congressman Scott Perry — without authorization. Clark was apologetic and said it was "inadvertent" and would not happen again, but shortly after, Perry texted Meadows: "Mark, just checking in as time continues to count down — 11 days to January 6 and 25 days to inauguration. We've got to get going."

Clark presented a draft letter urging Georgia officials to "re-examine" the election results. The hearing revealed Trump told DOJ officials: "Just say the election was corrupt and leave the rest to me." Four top DOJ officials — Acting AG Rosen, Deputy AG Donoghue, and career officials — prepared to resign if Trump installed Clark. Barr later testified that he told Trump the fraud claims were "bullshit" and "complete nonsense."