Giuliani and Flynn join the December 18 Oval Office confrontation over overturning the result

Date: 2020-12-18
Entry type: oval-office-election-meeting
Current status: Proposals were not adopted; meeting documented by the January 6 committee

Outside advisers pressed proposals involving voting machines and a special counsel; White House lawyers opposed them in a heated meeting.

Entities and roles

Donald J. Trumpnational security adviser and clemency recipientMichael Flynn
legalpoliticaldocumented1 sourceCited claim 1
Donald J. Trumppersonal attorneyRudy Giuliani
legalpoliticaldocumented1 sourceCited claim 1

factdocumented
Giuliani and Michael Flynn participated in the December 18 White House meeting where Sidney Powell and others pressed to seize voting machines, appoint Powell special counsel, and continue efforts to overturn certified results. White House lawyers forcefully opposed the proposals, and no seizure order was executed. Former and private advisers had direct Oval Office access to seek extraordinary state action for Trump's political objective.
- United States Government Publishing Office: Final Report of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States CapitolChapter 6, pages 510–523: December 18 meeting, participants, proposals, opposition, and non-adoption