‘Chilling’ text sent by pro-Trump Republican before Capitol riot suggests knowledge of what was to unfold

[Rogue Valley]

‘Chilling’ text sent by pro-Trump Republican before Capitol riot suggests knowledge of what was to unfold

2/18.22
A text message sent days before the attack on the Capitol is raising new questions about what members of Congress on Capitol Hill knew about how January 6 would play out before it occurred. The Washington Post obtained a message sent to then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows with a dire warning for the president. “If POTUS allows this to occur… we’re driving a stake in the heart of the federal republic,” read the text, described by The Post as having been sent by a member of the House Freedom Caucus, a far-right group of Republicans, who had “knowledge of the president’s planning for that day”. The newspaper cited a staff member for the select committee for the characterisation of the lawmaker. It wasn’t clear what the lawmaker was referring to, but news of its existence comes as the House committee investigating January 6 has taken an interest in both lawmakers who helped or encouraged the effort to overturn the election, as well as organisers of two “Stop the Steal”-themed rallies in DC that day which were credited with drawing thousands of Trump supporters to the city.

The Washington Post’s Carol Leonnig, who covered the 45th president in his final year in office including his 2020 campaign for president in her book I Alone Can Fix It with fellow Post writer Philip Rucker, described the message as “chilling” in an interview with Chris Jansing on MSNBC on Wednesday. “What exactly did that Freedom Caucus member mean by ‘this’?” asked Ms Leonnig. “[W]hat else could the ‘this’ be?” she asked. “How grim and chilling a piece of information is this, if this lawmaker knew something Donald Trump was plotting beyond what we all know now?” Among those who texted Mr Meadows in horror during the riot included everyone ranging from Republican members of Congress to prominent Trump allies on Fox News and even Mr Trump’s own son, Donald Jr.

Former GOP Congressional "Freedom Causus" leader and Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows knows far more than he is willing to share.

Meadows is currently fighting a subpeona to testify before the House 1/6 Committee. What is Meadows hiding? His complicity in the Insurrection, or something even more troubling?

 

[Peacenik]

An obvious question. What is the 'this?'

Was the text in response to something said in another text?

 

[code1211]

‘Chilling’ text sent by pro-Trump Republican before Capitol riot suggests knowledge of what was to unfold

Former GOP Congressional "Freedom Causus" leader and Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows knows far more than he is willing to share.

Meadows is currently fighting a subpeona to testify before the House 1/6 Committee. What is Meadows hiding? His complicity in the Insurrection, or something even more troubling?

Is there a link to the source for this? Was this the full text?

Was there a previous text to which this was a response?

Context of any kind?

From your link:

"It wasn’t clear what the lawmaker was referring to,"

 

[Gateman_Wen]

‘Chilling’ text sent by pro-Trump Republican before Capitol riot suggests knowledge of what was to unfold

Former GOP Congressional "Freedom Causus" leader and Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows knows far more than he is willing to share.

Meadows is currently fighting a subpeona to testify before the House 1/6 Committee. What is Meadows hiding? His complicity in the Insurrection, or something even more troubling?

 

[EdwinWillers]

I'm not convinced what "chills" Philip Rucker should necessarily worry the rest of us - particularly given he doesn't know what the lawmaker was referring to.

 

[element94]

"we're driving a stake in the heart of the Federal republic" sounds very clear to me considering what happened on January 6th after that text was sent.

 

[pocket aces]

I'm not convinced what "chills" Philip Rucker should necessarily worry the rest of us - particularly given he doesn't know what the lawmaker was referring to.

Is there anything these people can do that the anti Americans will not run to defend?

 

[EdwinWillers]

Is there anything these people can do that the anti Americans will not run to defend?

Defend what? What exactly do you know about the text that you are so ready to condemn ANYONE for ANY reason you think is defending it (whatever "it" is)?

Frankly - that attitude is more chilling than anything - and far more concrete a message against the heart of the federal republic than some text of which we only have hearsay knowledge.

 

[NolanVoyd]

Defend what? What exactly do you know about the text that you are so ready to condemn ANYONE for ANY reason you think is defending it (whatever "it" is)?

Frankly - that attitude is more chilling than anything - and far more concrete a message against the heart of the federal republic than some text of which we only have hearsay knowledge.

Wow.

Republicans used to be patriots.

 

[EdwinWillers]

Wow.

Republicans used to be patriots.

What's that supposed to mean? Because I don't pay attention to hearsay I'm not a patriot?

 

[NolanVoyd]

What's that supposed to mean? Because I don't pay attention to hearsay I'm not a patriot?

The more you defend Trumpism, and make excuses for insurrectionists the less patriotic you prove yourself to be.

 

[Razoo]

Since 1980 radical right wing nut republicans aka ALEC have been portraying themselves as super patriots
when in fact they are still trying to over throw the USA government to be replaced with Fascism.

Do they even know what Fascism is? Do they know it typically uses violent military action against the people ...... even them.

 

[Razoo]

Certain key elements must be present before a system can be called fascist. Keycharacteristics include: (1) authoritarian government; (2) a one-party or one-ideology system; (3) wealthy-class dominance; (4) militarism and a military tradition where warfare is exalted; (5) a close interlock between powerful commercial interests and the state, with generous profits for the former; (6) an object of hate (an
IIanti" ideology) used to galvanize the masses such as anti Communist or Socialist, anti-black, anti-Indian, anti-labor unions, anti-Jewish, anti-Protestant, and anti-Catholic; (7) an exalted sense of "mission," "destiny," and "superiority," such as super-race ideas, "manifest destiny," and crusading ....zeal; and (8) the mobilization of the masses in such a manner as to control their thinking and to use mass-support to crush "enemies" where the masses are "pursuaded" to act against their own class interests.

In addition to the key elements, there are certain secondary characteristics which are usually present to one degree or another.

These secondary characteristics include: (1) religious bigotry, racism, and conformity-uniformity; (2) a distrust of outsiders and "foreign" ideas, i.e., a cultivated hypernationalism; (3) imperialism and colonialism; (4) the use of secret organizations and right-wing terrorist groups to silence opposition or to control the "enemy"; (5) brutal assassinations and terror, to immobilize the "enemy" and the "neutral"; (6) systematic spying on citizens and thought control; (7) control of media; (8) "ghettoization" or imprisonment or even elimination of "undesirables"; (9) the use of an established church or state-dictator cults to create loyalty; and (10) the use of pageantry, ceremonies, and other evocative tools to control the masses.

https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1169&context=ees

 

[Hampton86]

Defend what? What exactly do you know about the text that you are so ready to condemn ANYONE for ANY reason you think is defending it (whatever "it" is)?

Frankly - that attitude is more chilling than anything - and far more concrete a message against the heart of the federal republic than some text of which we only have hearsay knowledge.

But I'm assuming you agree it's something that needs to be investigated

 

[Stealers Wheel]

Defend what? What exactly do you know about the text that you are so ready to condemn ANYONE for ANY reason you think is defending it (whatever "it" is)?

Frankly - that attitude is more chilling than anything - and far more concrete a message against the heart of the federal republic than some text of which we only have hearsay knowledge.

What part of "we're driving a stake in the heart of the Federal republic" do you think is the good part? Which part do you think we ought not be concerned about? Does the fact that it was sent by a member of Congress make it OK?

 

[Mithrae]

An obvious question. What is the 'this?'

Was the text in response to something said in another text?

Sounds like a non-story for now, or at least nothing new. Since it was "sent days before the attack" it could easily have been
Meadows: "Looks like Raffensperger is going to stand by the count of Georgia's fraudulent ballots without our independent confirmation."
Anon.: "If POTUS allows this to occur… we’re driving a stake in the heart of the federal republic"

Or
Meadows: "Looks like Pence won't man up and delay certification 'til we can confirm the integrity of the results."
Anon.: "If POTUS allows this to occur… we’re driving a stake in the heart of the federal republic"

Or my favourite speculation
Meadows: "We're holding the dinner in DC on the 4th, but Melania wants some real quality corn-fed Iowa beef if you can bring some!"
Anon.: "If POTUS allows this to occur… we’re driving a stake [sic] in the heart of the federal republic"

Lawmakers can make typos too, people!

 

[Stealers Wheel]

What's that supposed to mean? Because I don't pay attention to hearsay I'm not a patriot?

So you're simply assuming that this "hearsay" has no basis in fact? Until someone in Congress jumps up and says "It was me! I sent it! Go team!" you don't have any concerns? You're cool with we're driving a stake in the heart of the Federal republic?

Now, I know this next part is going to be tough for you, but give it a try. Imagine - just imagine for a moment - that the Post actually got it right. That a GOP member of Congress was so distraught about what they anticipated going down on 1/6, that they actually frantically texted the White House Chief of Staff to voice their concerns. Does that bother you in the least?

 

[CaughtInThe]

Uh oh

 

[NolanVoyd]

Sounds like a non-story for now, or at least nothing new. Since it was "sent days before the attack" it could easily have been
Meadows: "Looks like Raffensperger is going to stand by the count of Georgia's fraudulent ballots without our independent confirmation."
Anon.: "If POTUS allows this to occur… we’re driving a stake in the heart of the federal republic"

Or
Meadows: "Looks like Pence won't man up and delay certification 'til we can confirm the integrity of the results."
Anon.: "If POTUS allows this to occur… we’re driving a stake in the heart of the federal republic"

Or my favourite speculation
Meadows: "We're holding the dinner in DC on the 4th, but Melania wants some real quality corn-fed Iowa beef if you can bring some!"
Anon.: "If POTUS allows this to occur… we’re driving a stake [sic] in the heart of the federal republic"

Lawmakers can make typos too, people!

Wow.

Why aren't Republicans Patriots anymore?

 

[Bodi]

‘Chilling’ text sent by pro-Trump Republican before Capitol riot suggests knowledge of what was to unfold

Former GOP Congressional "Freedom Causus" leader and Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows knows far more than he is willing to share.

Meadows is currently fighting a subpeona to testify before the House 1/6 Committee. What is Meadows hiding? His complicity in the Insurrection, or something even more troubling?

How is this "chilling" and what is the context of the previous messages?

 

[Bodi]

So you're simply assuming that this "hearsay" has no basis in fact? Until someone in Congress jumps up and says "It was me! I sent it! Go team!" you don't have any concerns? You're cool with we're driving a stake in the heart of the Federal republic?

Now, I know this next part is going to be tough for you, but give it a try. Imagine - just imagine for a moment - that the Post actually got it right. That a GOP member of Congress was so distraught about what they anticipated going down on 1/6, that they actually frantically texted the White House Chief of Staff to voice their concerns. Does that bother you in the least?

What if the text he was responding to said "the pen is mightier than the sword. Let's write a letter!!"

 

[Bodi]

What part of "we're driving a stake in the heart of the Federal republic" do you think is the good part? Which part do you think we ought not be concerned about? Does the fact that it was sent by a member of Congress make it OK?

What part is the bad part? Are they taking an actual stake and plunging it into... what? The building? People?

Or is a metaphor?

Jeesh.

 

[Bodi]

The more you defend Trumpism, and make excuses for insurrectionists the less patriotic you prove yourself to be.

Do you feel that the more that you insult Republicans the more Patriotic you are?

 

[NolanVoyd]

Do you feel that the more that you insult Republicans the more Patriotic you are?

It's not an insult it's a fact.

But I have no problem insulting people who are making excuses for people who tried to end American democracy and trash the constitution.

History will not be kind to you all either.

 

[Lutherf]

Is there a link to the source for this? Was this the full text?

Was there a previous text to which this was a response?

Context of any kind?

From your link:

"It wasn’t clear what the lawmaker was referring to,"

You just have to read between the lines.