A top Justice Department official has confirmed that prosecutors are reviewing fake slates of electors that Donald Trump supporters submitted to the government before Congress met to count the electoral votes.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said federal prosecutors were 'looking at' the matter – using careful language to avoid providing details of any investigation.
'We've received those referrals. Our prosecutors are looking at those and I can't say anything more on ongoing investigations,' she told CNN in an interview.
Her statement comes as lawmakers and outside groups have drawn new attention to the 'alternate' electors submitted from seven states where Trump was claiming election fraud amid his overturn effort, even as state officials ascertained the results based on ballots cast.
Federal prosecutors have charged hundreds of people with violent offenses and wrongfully entering the Capitol or destroying property during the Capitol riot. But it was only when prosecutors filed charges against members of the Oath Keepers alleging seditious conspiracy in recent days that the government signaled any kind of a probe that might go after planners of the events of Jan. 6th or other election related offenses.
'We've received those referrals. Our prosecutors are looking at those,' said Deputy AG Lisa Monaco when asked about submissions of fake electors
Trump and his allies publicly discussed efforts to submit 'alternate' electors from Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, Nevada and New Mexico, the same states where Trump allies claimed fraud occurred, but where courts tossed out their claims.
The group American Oversight published the documents after obtaining them from the government.
The idea was to present Congress with conflicting slates, which could set off a clash over rightful electors which would ultimately go to the House – where Republicans could try to prevail by controlling a majority of the state delegations.
Last week, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said she thought there was sufficient evidence to charge 16 Republicans who submitted false certificates stating Trump won Michigan's electoral votes. Joe Biden won the state by more than 100,000 votes.
AG Merrick Garland said on the anniversary of Jan. 6th: 'The Justice Department remains committed to holding all January 6th perpetrators, at any level, accountable under law, whether they were present that day or were otherwise criminally responsible for the assault on our democracy.'
Sources told CNN last week that Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani coordinated the effort by Trump backers in states
