Meadows repeatedly forwards the debunked Italygate claim to Justice leadership

Date: 2020-12-30
Entry type: justice-department-pressure
Current status: FBI and Justice Department found the allegation not credible

The FBI found the foreign-satellite vote-switching story not credible, yet Meadows asked the acting attorney general to investigate it.

Entities and roles

Donald J. TrumpWhite House chief of staffMark Meadows
politicaldocumented1 sourceCited claim 1

factdocumented
Meadows sent Rosen a video and messages alleging Italian satellites had switched Trump votes, requested an investigation, and helped arrange contact with the claim's proponents. Justice officials had the FBI assess the allegation and found it not credible. The referrals consumed federal investigative resources on an unsupported claim while presidential staff sought a basis to challenge the certified result.
- United States Government Publishing Office: Final Report of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States CapitolChapter 4, pages 393–401: Italygate referrals, FBI assessment, and repeated White House requests