Page:CTRL0000034600 - Transcribed Interview of Richard Peter Donoghue, (Oct. 1, 2021).pdf/206

206 Mr. Donoghue. I don't believe so, no.

Ms. Cheney. And then, with respect to martial law, what's the impression—did you become aware at any time that there were any discussions about the implication of martial law, whether in conjunction with [inaudible] ballot boxes or anything else [inaudible].

The Reporter. Ms. Cheney, your audio cut out. Can you please repeat that?

Ms. Cheney. Yes. With respect to martial law, did you become aware at any time of any discussions in that same time period that the President might be considering declaring martial law or asked for your views on the topic?

Mr. Donoghue. No. There was never any mention or discussion of that.

Ms. Cheney. So your—the seizing of the ballot boxes that you mentioned and [inaudible] sent to the Oval Office was [inaudible] ballot boxes, there was no discussion about the mechanics of doing so?

Mr. Donoghue. I'm sorry, ma'am. You're breaking up.

Ms. Cheney. Sorry. The question was about the discussion that you mentioned, Mr. Donoghue, in the Oval Office about the seizing of ballot boxes. Was there a discussion—

Mr. Donoghue. Yes.

Ms. Cheney. —or any discussion with that about the mechanics for doing so?

Mr. Donoghue. The President made some comment about: If you would seize these machines, I am sure you'd find evidence of criminal conduct.

He seemed to think that we had some administrative role supervising State elections. And, again, we explained to him that that's not our role and we have no authority to seize State election machines. And then Ken Cuccinelli reiterated that.

I didn't—that had nothing to do with martial law or anything of that sort, but the