John,

The Secret Service deleted texts from January 5 and 6, 2021, not long after oversight officials requested them in order to help shed light on the insurrection. This isn’t just suspicious and alarming—it’s likely illegal.

That’s why we filed a complaint with the Department of Justice, calling for an immediate investigation.

Federal law requires agencies like the Secret Service to preserve records to detail a complete history of the government’s actions and decisions—something especially important in cases like January 6, after which multiple lawmakers sought pardons and hundreds of protestors were prosecuted for the violent attack on the Capitol. Now, key evidence revealing Trump’s behavior toward his rioting supporters may never be retrieved. After we sent the complaint, the Secret Service confirmed that the texts could not be recovered—making an investigation even more urgent.

We’ve seen this before, with the destruction of White House records by Trump and his circle. We sued the Trump administration for failing to preserve messages sent on unofficial accounts by top officials. But this time, it appears to be a federal agency violating criminal law, potentially on Trump’s behalf.

The National Archives just announced it is investigating, which is a positive step. But with the stakes involved, the DOJ needs to investigate, too—and until they do, we're going to continue pushing for accountability. If you're able, please consider making a matched donation to CREW so we can continue the fight for accountability and democracy.

Thank you,

Donald Sherman
Vice President and Chief Counsel, CREW

DONATE NOW

Sent via ActionNetwork.org. To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, please click here.