Internet weighs in as Reps Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar subpoenaed in Arizona ‘fake electors’ probe

PHOENIX, ARIZONA:  Arizona investigators are currently conducting an inquiry into the actions of Republican officials in their attempts to overturn the results of the state's 2020 election.

The investigation has now taken a new turn as two members of Congress, who were closely associated with former President Donald Trump during this period, have been subpoenaed.

Representatives Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar, both Arizona Republicans, have reportedly been summoned to testify before a grand jury.

It is yet to be determined whether Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, who is leading the investigation, will pursue criminal charges against either of the GOP congressmen.

Furthermore, it remains unclear whether the subpoenas will be enforced against the lawmakers, as they may have legal grounds to resist.

Nevertheless, these subpoenas, combined with other recent actions taken by AG Mayes, a Democrat, indicate that the scope of the investigation is broader than previously thought.

Road ahead for Reps Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar

According to Politico, Attorney General Kris Mayes is nearing a decision on whether to request the grand jury to issue indictments in the case.

If she proceeds, she will become the fourth local or state prosecutor to press criminal charges against Trump and his associates for submitting fake electors in states where Joe Biden won.

In recent weeks, Mayes' office has issued a multitude of subpoenas to the grand jury, and she has required Arizona Republicans who falsely claimed to be the state's presidential electors to assert their Fifth Amendment rights in front of the grand jury, an unfamiliar move that has generated criticism from some former prosecutors.

Biggs, the previous chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus in 2020 and 2021, and Gosar were among the most vocal congressional proponents of former President Trump's efforts to overturn Biden's victory in the Grand Canyon State.

Both policymakers attempted to challenge the state's presidential electors on January 6th, 2021, when Congress convened to certify the results of the Electoral College.

Simultaneously with Gosar launching that challenge, a pro-Trump crowd swept the Capitol, disrupting the proceedings.

Evidence collected by congressional investigators revealed that Gosar maintained relationships with activists who organized "Stop the Steal" protests that aimed to disrupt Congress' Jan. 6 session.

Both Arizona GOP congressmen attended a White House meeting with then-President Donald Trump on December 21, 2020, to discuss how then-Vice President Mike Pence could block the certification of the election results, according to the Jan. 6 select committee.

The Committee investigating the events of January 6 has obtained text messages revealing that Congressman Andy Biggs hurriedly contacted Mark Meadows, the former White House Chief of Staff, after the 2020 Election Day to push for state legislatures to overrule the results in multiple states that President Biden won.

Furthermore, Biggs reportedly worked with other Arizona Republicans to forge ahead with the fake elector effort and told Meadows that Trump should not concede the election.

Arizona was one of seven states won by Joe Biden where Trump's supporters organized slates of so-called alternate electors.

Criminal charges have been brought against fake electors in Georgia, Michigan, and Nevada, and Special Counsel Jack Smith has called the scheme a central element of Trump's effort to subvert the election.

Members of Congress are generally exempt from subpoenas in criminal investigations due to their strong constitutional protection against criminal prosecutions related to their official positions.

But Biggs and Gosar are not the only politicians under investigation by law enforcement looking into Trump's efforts to annul the results of the 2020 election.

Details of Attorney General Mayes' investigation have remained obscure, in part because of Arizona's unusually strict - and, according to some experts, constitutionally dubious - state law that prohibits witnesses from disclosing whether they have been subpoenaed.

Jared Keenan, the legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona said, “Getting a subpoena to testify in front of a grand jury is kind of rare. And that’s why I think no one has challenged the secrecy law.”

Internet reacts as Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar have been subpoenaed

People online have shared their opinions and reactions to Republican congressmen Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar being subpoenaed for their efforts in conjunction with former President Donald Trump to overturn the 2020 election results of the state of Arizona.

One person remarked: "The truth always wins."

Another person wrote: "Lock them up!"

Another person commented: "Those MAGA insurrectionists that failed to secure a presidential pardon from their leader before he got booted from the Oval Office in 2021, better have a damn good criminal attorney."

One person claimed: "Two law breakers who will ignore the subpoenas."

Another person quipped: "hopefully they’ll do what they do best, and lie to the grand jury…"

Finally, this user said: "Two of the nastiest human beings on this earth."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.