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U.S. NEWS Friday 24 June 2022
Feds search Trump-era official’s home, subpoena GOP leaders

By MICHAEL BALSAMO, Rep. Mike Kelly of Pennsyl-
ERIC TUCKER and NOMAAN vania.
MERCHANT Among those who have
Associated Press received subpoenas, ac-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Fed- cording to a person familiar
eral agents searched a with the matter who was
former top Justice Depart- not authorized to discuss an
ment official’s home and ongoing investigation, was
seized records from key Georgia Republican Party
Republicans in at least four chairman David Shafer.
states linked to Donald Nevada GOP Chair Mi-
Trump’s efforts to overturn chael McDonald turned
the 2020 election, in what over his phone to federal
were clear signs that au- agents Wednesday when
thorities are ramping up they approached him out-
their investigation of asso- side his car in Las Vegas
ciates of the former presi- and presented a warrant,
dent. according to another per-
Authorities on Wednes- son familiar with the matter.
day searched the Virginia In Pennsylvania, FBI agents
home of Jeffrey Clark, who interviewed the chairman
was known at the Justice of the Allegheny County
Department to champi- Republican Party at his
on Trump’s false claims of Jeffrey Clark, then-Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division, home Thursday and gave
election fraud. Agents in re- speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, on Sept. 14, 2020. him a subpoena for com-
Associated Press
cent days also served sub- munications between him,
poenas on the Republican rection. The disclosures of agents were searching for. There are growing revela- Trump electors in the state
Party chairmen of Nevada law enforcement activ- The person who confirmed tions about the false slates and members of Trump’s
and Georgia, two states ity came as the U.S. House the search was not autho- of electors. The commit- campaign and legal team,
that went for President Joe committee investigating rized to discuss it by name tee this week disclosed text the party official, Sam De-
Biden and where Trump the riot said it had new and spoke on condition of messages that showed an Marco, told the Pittsburgh
allies created slates of “al- evidence of Trump’s efforts anonymity. aide to U.S. Sen. Ron John- Post-Gazette.
ternate electors” intended and his knowledge that he Both the committee and son, a Wisconsin Republi- And in Michigan, Michele
to subvert the vote. And had no legal basis to try to federal authorities are can and Trump ally, tried Lundgren told the Detroit
Republicans in two other overturn the election. probing the use of replace- to hand-deliver the fake News that someone from
states — Michigan and The committee’s Thurs- ments for duly chosen elec- elector votes to an aide for the FBI served her with a
Pennsylvania — disclosed day hearing focused on tors in seven battleground former Vice President Mike subpoena Thursday and
they had been interviewed Trump’s desire to install states that voted for Biden. Pence. that another Trump elec-
by the FBI. Clark atop the Justice De- Trump and his allies furi- The texts show Pence’s tor was served on Wednes-
The Justice Department partment in his administra- ously pressured authorities aide refused to accept day. Lundgren, 72, said her
appears to be escalating tion’s last days. The reason in those states to replace the votes. Johnson told discussion with the agent
its probe of pro-Trump ef- for the search of Clark’s Vir- Biden’s electors with ones a Wisconsin conservative was “long” and “pleas-
forts to overturn the 2020 ginia home was not imme- for him on specious or non- talk radio host on Thursday ant” and that she let one of
election, which culminated diately clear and it was not existent allegations that his that the fake elector slates the agents go through her
in the deadly Jan. 6 insur- known what information victory was stolen. came from the office of phone and computer.q

California Senate rejects involuntary

servitude amendment

By ADAM BEAM the punishment of a crime. from its prison population
Associated Press Some state lawmakers pro- by leasing inmates — most-
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) posed an amendment to ly Black men — to private
— The California Senate on remove that exception, an companies for work.
Thursday rejected a pro- amendment that must first That “convict lease” system
posal to ban involuntary be approved by voters. doesn’t exist anymore. But
servitude as punishment for But the state Senate, which California prison inmates
a crime after Gov. Gavin is controlled by Democrats, are required to either work
Newsom’s administration on Thursday failed to put or participate in education
warned it could cost tax- the amendment on the or rehabilitative programs.
payers billions of dollars by ballot this fall. They could Inmate jobs — which in-
forcing the state to pay try again next week. But if it clude things like clerks, In this Aug. 17, 2020, photo, inmate firefighters - notable by
inmates who work while in doesn’t pass by June 30, it painters and carpenters their bright orange fire gear compared to the yellow worn by
prison a $15-per-hour mini- won’t be on the ballot this — pay salaries that range professional firefighters - prepare to take on the River Fire in
Salinas, Calif.
mum wage. year. from a low of 8 cents per Associated Press
California’s constitution California is one of many hour to 37 cents per hour.
bans both slavery and in- states that allows involun- The Newsom administration California is $15 per hour for Many Democrats did not
voluntary servitude — forc- tary servitude for the pun- warned the amendment companies with 26 or more vote for the bill because
ing someone to provide la- ishment of a crime. For de- could require the state employees. That could cost they were worried about
bor against their will — but cades, the state used that to pay prison inmates the taxpayers $1.5 billion per how it would impact the
there is an exception for exception to make money minimum wage, which in year. prison system.q