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Inspector General Reports
Investigations
Other Reports
Inspectors general in multiple federal agencies have launched investigations in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection. Below are reports from some of these investigations
Defense Department
- Department of Defense Inspector General Report (Nov. 18, 2021)
Department of Homeland Security
- DHS IG Report: Intelligence division failed to share information about known violent threats in advance of Jan. 6 (March 4, 2022)
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General found that three different divisions with in the Office of Intelligence and Analysis failed to share with state, local, and federal partners important information about threats of violence on January 6. In multiple instances, I&A analysts collected open-source information about threats but did not issue reports. I&A did email information about potential threats to local Washington, D.C. partners, but this information "was not as widely disseminated as I&A's typical intelligence products." The Report concluded that the failure resulted from a number of factors, including inexperienced analysts, inadequate training, and hesitancy to report. It made five recommendations for rectifying the root causes, all of which DHS has adopted.
- Letter to the House and Senate Homeland Security committees reporting that the U.S. Secret Service erased text messages sent and received on Jan. 5 and Jan. 6, 2021. (July 14, 2022)
- On July 13, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General sent a letter to the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs reporting that the U.S. Secret Service had deleted text messages from Jan. 5 and Jan. 6, 2021. In the letter, the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General wrote that the Secret Service deleted the text messages after the Office of the Inspector General requested access to the agency’s electronic communications.
U.S. Capitol Police
- United States Capitol Police Office of the Inspector General Review of the Events Surrounding the January 6, 2021 Takeover of the U.S. Capitol Flash Report: Hazardous Incident Response Division and Canine Unit Executive Summary
- United States Capitol Police Office of the Inspector General Review of the Events Surrounding the January 6, 2021 Takeover of the U.S. Capitol Flash Report: Command and Coordination Bureau Executive Summary
- U.S. Capitol Police Office of the Inspector General Review of the Events Surrounding the January 6, 2021, Takeover of the U.S. Capitol: Flash Report, Containment Emergency Response Team and First Responders Unit Executive Summary
- U.S. Capitol Police Office of the Inspector General Review of the Events Surrounding the January 6, 2021, Takeover of the U.S. Capitol: Flash Report, Civil Disturbance Unit and Intelligence Executive Summary (April 2021)
- U.S. Capitol Police Office of the Inspector General Review of the Events Surrounding the January 6, 2021, Takeover of the U.S. Capitol: Flash Report, Civil Disturbance Unit and Intelligence (March 2021)
- U.S. Capitol Police Office of the Inspector General Review of the Events Surrounding the January 6, 2021, Takeover of the U.S. Capitol: Flash Report, Operational Planning and Intelligence (Febuary 2021)
U.S. Government Accountability Office
- GAO Report: Actions Needed to Prepare the Capitol Police for Violent Demostrations (March 2022)
- The Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to review a number of issues relating to the January 6, 2021 Capitol Attack, including the preparation and performance of the Capitol Police on the day of the attack, as well as what changes were necessary to prevent a future attack. On March 7, 2022, GAO released its fourth report, which summarizes its findings and recommendations after a survey of Capitol Police officers who had been working the day of the January 6, 2021 Capitol Attack.
- GAO Report: Federal Agencies Identified Some Threats, but Did Not Fully Process and Share Information Prior to January 6, 2021 (February 2023)
- The GAO examined 10 federal agencies' preparation for Jan. 6 and found every agency "identified potential threats of violence before January 6, but some agencies either didn't follow their established policies or procedures for reviewing the threats, or didn't share critical information with partners responsible for planning security measures." The office provided recommendations for improvements to the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Intelligence and Analysis, the U.S. Capitol Police, the Capitol Police Board, and the Park Police.
Fulton County Special Grand Jury
The Fulton County Special Grand Jury was approved and created at the request of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willi in Jan. 2022 to aid in her investigation of alleged attempts by former President Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. The special grand jury holds investigative authority and the ability to subpoena individuals. It is composed of 23 grand jurors and three alternates, and is overseen by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney. The special grand jury concluded its investigation on Jan. 9, 2023.
- Order entering portions of the special purpose grand jury's final report into court record (Feb. 16, 2023)
- Order denying full release of the special purpose grand jury's final report (Feb. 13, 2023)
- Certificates of material witness pursuant to uniform act to secure the attendance of witnesses from without the state for Sen. Lindsey Graham, Rudolph Giuliani, John Eastman, Kenneth Chesebro, Cleta Mitchell, Jenna Ellis, and Jacki Pick Deason. (July 5, 2022)
- Kenneth Chesebro
- Motion to Quash Grand Jury Subpoena by Kenneth Chesebro (Aug. 25, 2022)
- Order Denying Motion to Quash (Aug. 29, 2022)
- Rudolph Giuliani
- Notice of Order to Appear and Testify before the special grand jury for Rudolph Giuliani (July 20, 2022)
- Rudolf Giuliani's Emergency Motion to Continue Hearing/Grand Jury Appearance Pursuant to O.G.C.A § 24-13-26 (Aug. 8, 2022)
- District Attorney's Response in Opposition to Rudolph Giuliani's Emergency Motion to Continue Hearing/Grand Jury Appearance Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 24-13-26 (Aug. 8, 2020)
- Rudolph Giuliani's Reply to the State's Response to His Emergency Motion to Continue Hearing/Grand Jury Appearance Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 24-13-26 (Aug. 9, 2022)
- Lindsey Graham
- Expedited Motion to Quash and Memorandum in Support by Lindsey Graham (July 13, 2022)
- Response in Opposition to Material Witness Sen. Lindsey Graham's Expeditied Motion to Quash
- In re subpoena to non-party Lindsey O. Graham Post-Hearing Reply Brief on Behalf of the Special Purpose Grand Jury (Aug. 12, 2022)
- Order on Sen. Lindsey Graham's Expedited Motion to Quash (Aug. 15, 2022)
- Graham's Emergency Motion to Stay Order and Enjoin Select Grand Jury Proceedings Pending Appeal (Aug. 17, 2022)
- Memorandum of Law in Support of Sen. Lindsey Graham's Emergency Motion to Stay Order and Enjoin Select Grand Jury Proceedings Pending Appeal (Aug. 17, 2022)
- Response in Opposition to Sen. Lindsey Graham's Emergency Motion to Stay and Enjoin Select Grand Jury Proceedings Pending Appeal (Aug. 19, 2022)
- Order on Subpoena to Non-Party Lindsey O. Graham (Aug. 19, 2020)
- Graham's Notice of Appeal (Aug. 17, 2022)
- Response in Opposition to Sen. Lindsey O. Graham's Emergency Motion to Stay District Court's Order and Enjoin Select Grand Jury Proceedings Pending Appeal (Aug. 22, 2022)
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruling on Graham's appeal from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (Aug. 22, 2022)
- Response in Opposition to Sen. Graham's Supplemental Motion (Aug. 29, 2022)
- Order to deny Sen. Graham's Supplemental Motion to Quash (Sept. 1, 2022)
- Eleventh Circuit Order Denying Graham's motion to stay and enjoin select grand jury proceedings pending appeal (Oct. 20, 2022)
- Graham's Emergency Application for Stay and Injunction Pending Appeal (Oct. 21, 2022)
- Clarence Thomas's order granting administrative stay of the Eleventh Circuit Court’s order (Oct. 24, 2022)
- Supreme Court order denying Graham's emergency application for stay and injunction pending appeal (Nov. 1, 2022)
- Kenneth Chesebro
- Rep. Jody Hice's motion to remove his subpoena litigation to federal court (July 18, 2022)
- Motion to Quash Subpoena Issued to Brian P. Kemp and Memorandum In Support (Aug. 17, 2022)
- Response in Opposition to Witness Governor Brian P. Kemp's Motion to Quash (Aug. 23, 2022)
- Order Denying Motion to Quash (Aug. 29, 2022)
- Petition for certification of need for testimony before the special purpose grand jury pursuant to the uniform act to secure the attendance of witnesses from without the state for Mark Meadows (Aug. 25, 2022)
- Petition for certification of need for testimony before the special purpose grand jury pursuant to the uniform act to secure the attendance of witnesses from without the state for Sidney Powell (Aug. 25, 2022)
- Petition for certification of need for testimony before the special purpose grand jury pursuant to the uniform act to secure the attendance of witnesses from without the state for James Phil Waldron (Aug. 25, 2022)
- Petition for certification of need for testimony before the special purpose grand jury pursuant to the uniform act to secure the attendance of witnesses from without the state for Boris Epshteyn (Aug. 24, 2022)
- Petition for certification of need for testimony before the special purpose grand jury pursuant to the uniform act to secure the attendance of witnesses from without the state for Willie Lewis Floyd III (Sept. 2, 2022)
Justice Department
"Fake Electors" Probe
The Justice Department is reportedly investigating a plot allegedly put forward by former President Trump and his supporters to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election using “alternate” slates of state electors. The Justice Department has issued numerous subpoenas (not all of which have been made public) to gain access to information about the alleged attempt to carry out the scheme in seven electoral battleground states.
- Subpoenas
- Kelly Townsend, Republican Arizona state senator
- Karen Fann, Republican president of the Arizona State Senate
- Warrant for John Eastman's phone records (July 27, 2022)
- Appointment of Jack Smith to serve as special counsel (Nov. 18, 2022)
- On Nov. 18, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that he has issued an order to appoint John (Jack) L. Smith to serve as special counsel for the Department of Justice to conduct two ongoing investigations related to former President Trump. Smith will oversee the investigation into whether any person or entity unlawfully interfered with the 2020 presidential election and certification of the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6, 2021, as well as the investigation into the unlawful removal of classified documents and other presidential records from the White House to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence—and any attempts to obstruct that investigation.
- Statement of Special Counsel Jack Smith on his appointment (Nov. 18, 2022)
- After Garland’s announcement of his appointment as special counsel, Smith issued a statement in which he affirmed that he “will exercise independent judgment and will move the investigations forward expeditiously and thoroughly to whatever outcome the facts and the law dictate.”
- Statement of Special Counsel Jack Smith on his appointment (Nov. 18, 2022)
- On Nov. 18, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that he has issued an order to appoint John (Jack) L. Smith to serve as special counsel for the Department of Justice to conduct two ongoing investigations related to former President Trump. Smith will oversee the investigation into whether any person or entity unlawfully interfered with the 2020 presidential election and certification of the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6, 2021, as well as the investigation into the unlawful removal of classified documents and other presidential records from the White House to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence—and any attempts to obstruct that investigation.
- Order by Chief Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia concerning the government's search of email accounts belonging to Jeffrey Clark, Ken Klukowski, and John Eastman (Dec. 15, 2022)
- Memorandum opinion and order of Chief Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Nov. 4, 2022)
- In this ruling, unsealed in February 2023, Howell found that the Speech or Debate Clause's protections "require judicial review of Rep. Perry's claims of privilege" prior to the disclosure of material on his cell phone to the government.
- Order of Chief Judge Beryl Howell (Dec. 28, 2022)
- In this heavily redacted order, Judge Howell held that Rep. Perry must disclose a portion of his communications to the government.
- Memorandum opinion of Chief Judge Beryl Howell (Dec. 28, 2022)
- This opinion sets out Judge Howell's reasoning concerning her order that Perry disclose a portion of his communications to the government.
- Memorandum opinion and order of Chief Judge Howell (Jan. 4, 2023)
- Judge Howell denied Perry's motion for a stay of her Nov. 28, 2022 order.
- Order by Chief Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia unsealing documents related to the government's search of Rep. Scott Perry's phone (Feb. 24, 2023)
- Following oral argument in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, Howell ordered the release of three opinions and orders in the district court concerning Perry's efforts to prevent the Justice Department from accessing his phone under the Speech or Debate Clause.
Other
- Election Year Sensitivities Memorandum, Attorney General Merrick Garland (May 25, 2022)
- Report of U.S. Army Operations on January 6, 2021 (March 18, 2021)
- This report, written by the Department of the Army, details the Army's claims about its conduct and that of the D.C. National Guard on Jan. 6. Some of the material has been alleged by current and former Guard officials to be false.
- This report, written by the Department of the Army, details the Army's claims about its conduct and that of the D.C. National Guard on Jan. 6. Some of the material has been alleged by current and former Guard officials to be false.