On December 30, 2020, a text exchange between Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark and Rep. Scott Perry shed light on Perry’s pivotal role in the controversial events that followed the 2020 election.
Perry assured Clark of Trump’s satisfaction, hinting at a deeper involvement in the machinations that eventually led to criminal charges against both Clark and Trump, as reported by The Washington Post on Wednesday, November 29.
The messages, briefly public as part of a court dispute, highlighted Perry’s role in arranging Clark’s meeting with the president. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit exposed many of these messages, unsealing a lower court judge’s opinion that had been heavily redacted.
The document, initially on the public docket for a few hours, was later resealed, sparking questions about the selective release of information.
The day after Perry’s reassurance to Clark, Trump proposed making Clark the acting attorney general as part of a controversial attempt to overturn the election results. Top Justice Department officials opposed the plan, warning of mass resignations if Clark, an obscure environmental attorney, assumed the role.
The unsealed documents revealed that the Justice Department sought Perry’s phone records in August 2022, aiming to investigate his communications with key figures, including Clark, John Eastman, Jenna Ellis, Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Sidney Powell, and Trump.
Perry has not faced charges, but the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack claimed he sought a preemptive pardon from Trump, a claim Perry denies.
While Wednesday’s disclosures may not be news to Trump’s defense, they provided a deeper insight into Clark’s pursuit of sensitive intelligence about the election results.
Clark turned to Perry to relay a request to then-CIA head Gina Haspel for classified information, referred to as “tickets.” Perry’s response implied that Trump had granted Clark a presidential security clearance.
The documents also exposed Perry’s connections to Pennsylvania state legislators supporting Trump’s fraud allegations and his role in spreading wild claims to the White House and the public.
Perry facilitated communication between key figures like retired Army Colonel Phil Waldron and Ronna McDaniel, head of the Republican National Committee.
The full context of the late December exchange between Clark and Perry remains unclear, but it played a role in then-Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl.
Howell’s determination that these communications were political discussions, not legislative work protected by the speech or debate clause. The appellate court later ruled that Howell’s decision was too broad, prompting further review by U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg.
The unsealing of records followed a request from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, emphasizing public interest in understanding the case’s resolution. Legal director Katie Townsend stated that the group sought transparency to help the public better comprehend the court’s decision.
As the legal proceedings unfold, these revelations provide a detailed glimpse into the intricate web of communications and actions that surrounded the tumultuous aftermath of the 2020 election.