According to a new report from the Daily Beast, Arizona Republican Secretary of State nominee Mark Finchem was caught on camera accusing “former Vice President Mike Pence for everything from orchestrating a ‘coup’ to unseat Donald Trump after Jan. 6, to allegedly spying on the Trump campaign in 2016, to scheming to ‘steal’ the presidency in 2024.”
Finchem, who partook in the armed insurrection on January 6, has championed conspiracy theories, chiefly that the 2020 election was stolen. Before winning the Republican primary, Finchem was subpoenaed for his involvement in planning slates of fake electors for former President Donald Trump.
The Daily Beast: New Video Shows Trump’s Pick to Run AZ Elections Accusing Pence of ‘Coup’
By: Sam Brodey | September 14, 2022
Key Points:
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“Mark Finchem, the Republican nominee for secretary of state in Arizona, has enthusiastically championed a number of conspiracy theories—none more so than the conspiracy of a stolen 2020 election, which is the animating force behind his campaign to run Arizona’s elections.”
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“Just days before he won the August primary, Finchem was caught on tape blaming former Vice President Mike Pence for everything from orchestrating a ‘coup’ to unseat Donald Trump after Jan. 6, to allegedly spying on the Trump campaign in 2016, to scheming to ‘steal’ the presidency in 2024.”
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“First came the theory that Pence ‘seized power over an existing president’—Trump—following the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol. Finchem claimed he had usurped the authority to give orders to the Department of Defense and Department of Justice.”
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“‘How long has he been ordering those folks around?’ Finchem said. ‘Apparently from January 6 to January 20. Ladies and gentlemen, that’s a coup.’”
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“Then, Finchem claimed ‘it is now believed’ that Pence was responsible for any federal law enforcement surveillance of Trump’s campaign in 2016, amid concerns about his team’s contact with Russian officials.”
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“Although he did not elaborate on who believes this or why, Finchem linked the spying allegation to former Trump Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and former Speaker Paul Ryan, who he said ‘foisted Pence into the VP position to represent the interests of the establishment.’”
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“Finally, Finchem accused Pence of a conspiracy to steal the 2024 nomination for president, and the presidency, by endorsing supporters of his for governors’ offices in key states. This year, Pence endorsed Gov. Brian Kemp, who refused Trump’s calls to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia, as well as Karin Taylor Robson, who ran for governor in Arizona against Kari Lake, a staunch election denier herself.”
Read the full report here.
Published: Sep 14, 2022