- A Washington Post photographer glimpsed from the notes of the meeting of President Donald Trump and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell on Friday, where they appeared to discuss explosive national security moves.
- One line says, “Move Kash Patel to the CIA in action,” foreseeing more personnel changes that Trump could push. Another says: “… foreign interference in the electoral trigger [illegible] powers. Make it clear that this is China / Iran. “
- Lindell offered renewed solidarity to Trump, distributing a discount on MyPillow with the code “FightForTrump”, appearing on Newsmax and calling insurrectionists “very peaceful” and blaming antifa for the insurrection.
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Last Friday in the post of President Donald Trump, his public schedule predictably says that he “will work from early morning until late at night. He will make many calls and have many meetings”.
It appears that one of those meetings was discussing drastic national security measures with MyPillow CEO, Trump ally Mike Lindell.
A close-up photo of Lindell and Trump’s meeting notes was captured by Washington Post photographer Jabin Botsford, including a series of phrases and agenda items.
—Jabin Botsford (@jabinbotsford) January 15, 2021
Lindell is holding the notes with a phone in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, opening the notes so that some sentences are legible. One of those phrases says “” Insurrection Act now as a result of attacking … martial law, if necessary, at the first indication of any … “,
Another says, “Move Kash Patel into the role of the CIA,” anticipating more personnel changes that Trump could enact on his departure. Another note says: “… foreign interference in the electoral trigger [illegible] powers. Make it clear that this is China / Iran. “
My Pillow CEO Michael Lindell is seen outside the West Wing at the White House on Friday, January 15, 2021 in Washington, DC.
Jabin Botsford / The Washington Post via Getty Images / Business Insider
Patel, who currently serves as chief of staff to acting defense secretary Christopher Miller, has been an ally of Trump. A note suggests a new director of National Security “NOW”.
Other phrases, which are not entirely legible, refer to the investigation of the 2020 election, which Trump lost and has not yet admitted. Lindell did not answer questions from the press when he left the west wing.
Lindell was a strangely prominent and loyal figure during Trump’s presidency, appearing at important meetings and speaking on the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett on the White House lawn.
In the wake of last week’s deadly riots, Lindell offered renewed solidarity to Trump, distributing a discount on MyPillow with the code “FightForTrump” and appearing on Newsmax and calling insurrectionists “very peaceful” and blaming antifa for violence and destruction in Capitol.
Read More: My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell and pro-Trump lawyer Lin Wood spread misinformation about Antifa leading the Capitol rioters
On December 19, Lindell also tweeted and deleted a request for Trump to enforce martial law after Georgia officials refused to overturn the legitimate election results, according to Newsweek. Since then, Twitter has labeled many of Lindell’s tweets as electoral misinformation.
The New York Times reported that Lindell denied allegations that “martial law” was written in his notes or discussed at his meeting with the president, but a government official half confirmed that the words were indeed in his notes. Lindell presented more electoral conspiracies during the meeting, but Trump did not consider the ideas, leaving Lindell frustrated, a government official told The Times.
Steve Vladeck, a specialist in national security legislation and a professor at the University of Texas School of Law, responded to the alleged agenda items on Twitter.
“And just for the record, no – none of this could really work,” said Vladeck, referring to discussions about invoking the Law of Insurrection.
“Under the absolute terms of Section 1 of the Twentieth Amendment, Trump’s term ends at noon (EST) on Wednesday, no matter how much he – or his” advisers “- try to pull between now and then,” he added. Vladeck.
—Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) January 15, 2021
The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 means that if Trump invoked the Insurrection Act to delay his inauguration, and neither he nor Biden were presidents at noon on January 20, Mayor Nancy Pelosi would assume temporary power before to choose a president and vice president.