Donald Trump holds talks with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell who brandishes notes about 'MARTIAL LAW'
Even after acknowledging the upcoming transition, President Donald Trump met Friday with MyPillow exec Mike Lindell – who carried notes into the White House that referenced Martial Law and even a final leadership shakeup at the CIA.
Lindell, a Trump advisor who backed many of his conspiracy theories about massive election fraud, appeared unexpectedly at the White House Friday afternoon. A Marine was stationed outside the West Wing, indicating Trump was most likely there.
Amid a huge National Guard presence in D.C. after last week’s MAGA riots in the Capitol, close-up of Lindell’s notes revealed some bizarre snippets about what may be on his mind. Lindell, like Trump, spoke to the rally crowd before Trump supporters invaded the Capitol.
Mike Lindell, CEO of My Pillow, stands outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 15, 2021. A closeup of his notes revealed tense topics ranging from martial law to the Insurrection Act and the leadership of the CIA
A Washington Post photographer obtained a close-up of papers carried by Lindell.
One ominous line said ‘martial law if necessary upon the first hint of any.’ The term does not come without precedent. Former National Security Advisor Mike Flynn spoke openly about it while parroting Trump’s claims of a ‘rigged’ election – and scored his own White House meeting afterward.
Another line, partly obscured by Lindell’s hand, most likely referenced the ‘Insurrection Act’ – the subject of discussion before after the election about use of forces inside the country. It said to ‘Act now as a result of the assault on the …’
Other lines hinted at recommended staff moves. One might indicate moving ‘Colson NOW as Acting National Security’ – suggesting a staff move atop the National Security Agency. Other language references Fort Mead and a top cybersecurity lawyer, which could identify Frank Colon, who according to his LinkedIn page is an attorney with Cyber Operations 780th Military Intelligence Brigade.
A Washington Post photographer snagged an image of Lindell’s notes, which he did not conceal outside the West Wing
The notes also appear to reference potential cabinet moves just days before Trump is to leave office
MyPillow CEO speaks at ‘Stop the Steal’ rally, accuses Fox News of trying to overthrow Trump administration. Following the rally, a MAGA mob ransacked the Capitol
There are also references to ‘Kracken’ lawyer Sidney Powell, who oversaw failed election challenges in court and who has been at the White House post-election.
‘Move Kash Patel to CIA Acting,’ it says, in a line which could indicate a proposal to oust CIA Director Gina Haspel, and put in her place a Trump loyalist recently moved to the Pentagon.
Other lines are mere snippets, but they suggest Trump’s obsession with a ‘stolen’ election – although Joe Biden beat him by 7 million votes, or 306 to 232 in the Electoral College.
‘Been with getting the evidence of ALL the … as the election and all information regarding … among people he knows who already have security … done massive research on these issues,’ the notes say.
‘Foreign Interference in the election Trigger … powers, make clear this is a China/Iran … domestic actors. Instruct Frank,’ it says.
The notes mention ‘Kraken’ lawyer Sidney Powell, as well as other individuals
The meeting comes days after Trump took part in a scripted video where he finally said: ‘A new administration will be inaugurated on January 20.’ But he hasn’t said outright that Joe Biden won, even as Vice President Mike Pence finally called Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and began what appears to be a farewell tour.
Trump has been hunkered down in office, with bizarre White House schedules saying only that: ‘President Trump will work from early in the morning until late in the evening. He will make many calls and have many meetings.’
A message to Lindell was not immediately returned.
Trump’s obsession with overturning the results are also reflected in charts that could be seen as trade advisor Peter Navarro walked on White House grounds. It said ‘Vote Irregularities and Illegalities by Category and State.’
Trump himself is expected to leave D.C. on January 20th, with no plans for the traditional meeting with President-elect Joe Biden.
The ominous snippets in Lindell’s notes about the election were contradicted by reality on the ground at the White House Friday afternoon. A procession of aides left the building with boxes, even packing away large framed photos that have adorned the building.
A Marine outside the door indicated the president was most likely there
US President Donald Trump listens as Michael J. Lindell, CEO of MyPillow Inc., speaks during the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 30, 2020
Lindell’s pillow company regularly advertises on Fox News
Former U.S. national security adviser Michael Flynn speaks during a rally to protest the results of the election, in Washington, U.S., December 12, 2020. He urged martial law in a post-election video
A viewing platform for the inauguration already has printed signage for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Biden spoke in Delaware about changes he plans to institute for vaccine rollout, following reports that the Trump Administration Operation Warp Speed name will be one of the first things jettisoned.
Even lower level aides in the West Wing have already departed, leaving a skeleton crew – even as the nation faced a relentless surge of coronavirus infections and deaths.
Lindell posted even after the riots with claims about ways to ‘suppress the evil’ and ‘beat the evil’ with claims that Trump supporters ‘broke the algorithms.’
He posted brief comments, which appear to be made aboard a private jet, where he wrote that ‘Donald Trump is going to be your president for the next 4 years.’
Lindell retweeted a tweet by Right Side Broadcasting Network January 10 which bashed the idea of impeachment as pointless. ‘Seems like a whole lot of trouble to go through to impeach someone who, if tradition has its way, will be gone from office in 10 days. What is going on here, Nancy? Seems a little desperate. There must be…other factors at play,’ it said.
