Q&A #4: A Discussion of the New Book “Proof of Coup: How the Pentagon Shaped An Insurrection”
sethabramson.substack.com
PROOF subscribers can submit questions now—in the comments section of this post—which the author of the new book in the New York Times-bestselling Proof series will begin answering at 8PM ET tonight.
UPDATE (9:03 PM ET): Thanks for all the incredible questions, everyone! Definitely check out all the answers, as I may have spoken to a question you had in an answer to another subscriber. Talk to you all again soon!
Do you think that in addition to Trump we will see indictments of sitting Senators and Representatives with all of the evidence of their direct participation in the coup attempt? Most important of all, will Roger Stone be indicted? PS He will flip under pressure.
Throughout this whole story, what really surprises me is that Eric Prince doesn't seem to be involved. From reading the Proof series, an armed insurrection seems right up his alley. If anyone could round up a private army...it would be Prince.
Q1. Is there any evidence Prince was involved in J6?
When you look at the military and intelligence connections that some of these people have/had, it seems like the military is a breeding ground for this sort of above the law, Machiavellian behavior. Easy enough to say look at all the service people who don't do this but bottom line is our tax dollars are creating a system that allows this type of behavior to develop in certain people and the specialized and sometimes uniquely deadly and or manipulative training they are provided at public expense is then being used against the USA. Do you think the military can do more to deter this sort of behavior in the first instance with better training and supervision of those provided these skills and also enforcement, such as recalling those it can recall (Flynn for example) and court-martialing them? Why isn't the military banning participation is unofficial militias which aim to destroy the government, requiring service members to provide information on all militia contacts and memberships, and dishonorably discharge/ court-martial them for lying or participating in a forbidden group? Their constitutional rights would not be infringed if the regulations were carefully crafted. Their actions are in direct conflicts with their oaths to serve and defend.
What do you think is the common interest of these coup plotters (if any) beyond keeping Trump in office long enough to achieve their aims? It seems like a collection of people who wanted to break down the existing government, some to impose a christofascist regime, some to profit, some to undo the concept of centralized government, etc.
It’s been established that sitting members of Congress were told the Eastman/Navarro plan was illegal. In addition, I’m sure every Republican had heard rumblings of what was going on at the Pentagon and the DOJ.
Can the argument be made that any Republican that voted to NOT certify should be ineligible to hold office? What about the State Republican Atty Generals?
With the SCOTUS, DOD, Senate & House, corp media, 40%+ populace, judges who are going light on J6 defendants & voters who either aren’t engaged or are doubting Thomases who refuse to believe we are better off than two years ago…. what are the odds you’re giving our Republic?
Will Biden be willing to fire the DHS Inspector General Cuffari now that he is refusing to hand over information to Jan. 6 committee about deleted Secret Service text messages?
What do you deem it will take for media to start reporting on this, i.e. to come clean? Will they wait for an indictment before they start sobering up?
How many people do you think are following investigations like yours and remain unmesmerized by all the cons?
It's a mindstaggering amount of persons who contributed their part to this attempted Coup, some of them unexperienced and seemingly 'can't believe their luck to get this high up'. Who do you think most likely to flip and cooperate with Jan6Committee?
Seth, I’m curious about how involved Kushner was in the Jan 6th plot in light of the recent insanely critical op-ed by the surprisingly Harvard-educated dolt Peter Navarro?
When I can listen to your voice again Seth? I drive a lot and for this reason I have more time to listen then reading to you. Any podcast or radio program?
Hi Seth, do you think it is possible or likely that there are copies or traces somewhere of the communications that the DoD and SS deleted regarding J6? Also, would it be possible for Trump to somehow take copies of classified docs rather than the originals to hide at his properties? It seems really foolish to hide originals when they are known to be missing and are being searched for. How can the government guarantee docs aren't copied...either electronically or on paper...especially when Trump was having his aides toss them into boxes and taking them to his residence?
Do you think that the unique issue of three branches of government and elements of the military potentially being involved in coup planning poses a unique enforcement challenge that may be too overwhelming to overcome and if so, which groups get convicted and which never get charged? Do you think there is any chance at all of tying Ginni's actions to Clarence or anyone else on the USSC? Also you were careful to distinguish civilian overseers of military from military itself and I'm wondering why, esp. in light of highly decorated ex-military involvement , enlisted service member, and even possibly Charles Flynn's involvement in the coup effort?
UPDATE (9:03 PM ET): Thanks for all the incredible questions, everyone! Definitely check out all the answers, as I may have spoken to a question you had in an answer to another subscriber. Talk to you all again soon!
How come Biden hasn't cleaned out all of these corrupted trump appointees?
Do you think that in addition to Trump we will see indictments of sitting Senators and Representatives with all of the evidence of their direct participation in the coup attempt? Most important of all, will Roger Stone be indicted? PS He will flip under pressure.
Throughout this whole story, what really surprises me is that Eric Prince doesn't seem to be involved. From reading the Proof series, an armed insurrection seems right up his alley. If anyone could round up a private army...it would be Prince.
Q1. Is there any evidence Prince was involved in J6?
Q2. Is Prince still in Trump's orbit?
When you look at the military and intelligence connections that some of these people have/had, it seems like the military is a breeding ground for this sort of above the law, Machiavellian behavior. Easy enough to say look at all the service people who don't do this but bottom line is our tax dollars are creating a system that allows this type of behavior to develop in certain people and the specialized and sometimes uniquely deadly and or manipulative training they are provided at public expense is then being used against the USA. Do you think the military can do more to deter this sort of behavior in the first instance with better training and supervision of those provided these skills and also enforcement, such as recalling those it can recall (Flynn for example) and court-martialing them? Why isn't the military banning participation is unofficial militias which aim to destroy the government, requiring service members to provide information on all militia contacts and memberships, and dishonorably discharge/ court-martial them for lying or participating in a forbidden group? Their constitutional rights would not be infringed if the regulations were carefully crafted. Their actions are in direct conflicts with their oaths to serve and defend.
What do you think is the common interest of these coup plotters (if any) beyond keeping Trump in office long enough to achieve their aims? It seems like a collection of people who wanted to break down the existing government, some to impose a christofascist regime, some to profit, some to undo the concept of centralized government, etc.
It’s been established that sitting members of Congress were told the Eastman/Navarro plan was illegal. In addition, I’m sure every Republican had heard rumblings of what was going on at the Pentagon and the DOJ.
Can the argument be made that any Republican that voted to NOT certify should be ineligible to hold office? What about the State Republican Atty Generals?
Thank you!
With the SCOTUS, DOD, Senate & House, corp media, 40%+ populace, judges who are going light on J6 defendants & voters who either aren’t engaged or are doubting Thomases who refuse to believe we are better off than two years ago…. what are the odds you’re giving our Republic?
Will Biden be willing to fire the DHS Inspector General Cuffari now that he is refusing to hand over information to Jan. 6 committee about deleted Secret Service text messages?
What do you deem it will take for media to start reporting on this, i.e. to come clean? Will they wait for an indictment before they start sobering up?
How many people do you think are following investigations like yours and remain unmesmerized by all the cons?
It's a mindstaggering amount of persons who contributed their part to this attempted Coup, some of them unexperienced and seemingly 'can't believe their luck to get this high up'. Who do you think most likely to flip and cooperate with Jan6Committee?
Seth, I’m curious about how involved Kushner was in the Jan 6th plot in light of the recent insanely critical op-ed by the surprisingly Harvard-educated dolt Peter Navarro?
When I can listen to your voice again Seth? I drive a lot and for this reason I have more time to listen then reading to you. Any podcast or radio program?
Hi Seth, do you think it is possible or likely that there are copies or traces somewhere of the communications that the DoD and SS deleted regarding J6? Also, would it be possible for Trump to somehow take copies of classified docs rather than the originals to hide at his properties? It seems really foolish to hide originals when they are known to be missing and are being searched for. How can the government guarantee docs aren't copied...either electronically or on paper...especially when Trump was having his aides toss them into boxes and taking them to his residence?
Do you think that the unique issue of three branches of government and elements of the military potentially being involved in coup planning poses a unique enforcement challenge that may be too overwhelming to overcome and if so, which groups get convicted and which never get charged? Do you think there is any chance at all of tying Ginni's actions to Clarence or anyone else on the USSC? Also you were careful to distinguish civilian overseers of military from military itself and I'm wondering why, esp. in light of highly decorated ex-military involvement , enlisted service member, and even possibly Charles Flynn's involvement in the coup effort?
Assuming for the sake of argument that the DOJ knows all this (plus more) and agrees it’s treason…
Is everyone who heard/read the Waldron considered a co-conspirator? Is that why they asked for the pardons?
What would be the defense?
Would a GOP pol who witnessed a briefing and took no other action be culpable?
If I were aware of the plot, should I have reported it to Trump’s FBI? Would I feel safe doing so?
How many people do you think are potentially guilty of treason?