Trump and Congressman Scott Perry Plot to Install Jeffrey Clark as Acting AG to Force Election Overturn (2020-12-26)

The January 6 committee reveals that Congressman Scott Perry (R-PA) coordinated with President Trump to install Jeffrey Clark -- a DOJ environmental lawyer with no election experience -- as Acting Attorney General in order to force Georgia to overturn its election results. Clark had drafted a letter urging Georgia officials to "re-examine" the election, directly contradicting DOJ policy that the department does not take sides in elections.

Acting Deputy AG Richard Donoghue testified that Clark went to a December Oval Office meeting arranged by Perry without Donoghue's authorization. When confronted, Clark was apologetic and said it was "inadvertent." But Perry texted White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows on December 26: "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."

Donoghue testified that when told DOJ policy prohibited such letters, Clark responded: "Well, the president asked me to do it." 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. The scheme failed only because of the threatened mass resignation.