Special counsel subpoenas Georgia Secretary of State Raffensperger in January 6 probe

Particular counsel Jack Smith has subpoenaed Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger as a part of the Justice Division’s investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the US Capitol assault on January 6, 2021.

Mike Hassinger, public info officer with the Georgia secretary of state’s workplace, confirmed that Raffensperger’s workplace has obtained a subpoena from Smith.

“On the request of the Justice Division, we’ve no additional remark,” Hassinger mentioned in an e mail to CNN.

The grand jury exercise expands on earlier investigative steps the Justice Division has taken to know efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies in battleground states after the election.

Since Thanksgiving, Smith has introduced various shut Trump associates earlier than a grand jury in Washington, DC, together with two former White Home legal professionals, three of Trump’s closest aides, and his former speechwriter Stephen Miller.

Smith has additionally issued a flurry of subpoenas, together with to election officers in battleground states the place Trump tried to overturn his loss in 2020.

However Raffensperger may show to be a very compelling witness. His profile grew after the 2020 election when he resisted Trump’s efforts to stress him to “discover” the votes vital for Trump to win Georgia in an notorious January 2021 telephone name.

In excerpts of the one-hour name, Trump lambasted his fellow Republican for refusing to falsely say that he gained the election in Georgia and repeatedly touted baseless claims of election fraud.

“The folks of Georgia are indignant, the folks of the nation are indignant. And there’s nothing improper with saying that, you realize, um, that you simply’ve recalculated,” Trump mentioned in a single a part of the decision.

Raffensperger responded, “Nicely, Mr. President, the problem that you’ve is, the info you could have is improper.”

The Georgia Republican has already spoken with the Home choose committee investigating the January 6 riot, and he testified publicly this summer season concerning the threats he obtained after standing as much as Trump.

It’s unclear how lengthy Smith, who can even oversee the investigation into the potential mishandling of federal data taken to Mar-a-Lago after Trump left the White Home, could proceed to work earlier than deciding on any prices within the probes. Whereas the investigations could lead to prices inside months, Smith may nonetheless spend time organizing and increasing his crew, and persevering with to select by means of info that’s been collected, in response to folks aware of components of the probe.

This story has been up to date with further info Monday.