Washington, DC – Yesterday, Vox published excerpts from an RNC strategy document which details the GOP’s commitment to undermining the January 6 Committee while attempting to distance themselves from Donald Trump. In response, Defend Democracy Project Communications Director Nicole Haley said the following:
“As much as they’d like to, Republicans can’t separate themselves from the MAGA element that has taken control of their party. Americans will see through their partisan attacks designed to undermine the unbiased, nonpartisan nature of the committee.”
“The fact is, the committee’s investigation has been led by career prosecutors appointed by Democrats and Republicans. They have conducted a comprehensive investigation, holding over 860 interviews, receiving tens of thousands of pages of documents, and following up on hundreds of calls to the panel’s tip line.”
“On the other hand, 147 Republicans voted to overturn the results of the 2020 election after the events of January 6 and despite no real evidence of voter fraud, and Senate Republicans refused to investigate. And the RNC itself is running out the clock on a subpoena to cooperate with the investigation. Republicans can’t try to undermine the work of the committee and try to separate themselves from Donald Trump and MAGA at the same time. Americans deserve to hear the truth about the MAGA-fueled attack against America without partisan bickering and lies.”
- In a document obtained by Vox, a coordinated communications plan apparently sent from the Republican National Committee (RNC) recommends pushing back on the select committee as “partisan” while also taking care not to be seen as explicitly speaking on behalf of Trump or embracing his lies about the 2020 election’s legitimacy
- Trump, according to the same document, is focused on amplifying that message, both in the mainstream media and in conservative media.
- The other section includes “Requests from FPOTUS” — an abbreviation for “former President of the United States” — as the document labels Trump. Trump’s requests include “shaping coverage on networks” through surrogates as well as especially using conservative media to “control and drive messaging using the channels we control” while also checking if there were trackers available to “ask members of congress about what their priorities should be” and get them on the record about the hearings.
- The difference between what Trump desires and what the RNC hopes to achieve is made clear under RNC goals, where it is explicitly said its recommendations are “Not one size fits all. We won’t provide air cover for all but don’t want to be seen as speaking for FPOTUS.”
