By Robert Anglen | Arizona Republic
The architect of the “Stop the Steal” movement, who boasted that U.S. Reps. Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar of Arizona helped plan the Jan. 6, 2021, rally that turned into a violent assault at the U.S. Capitol, is cooperating with federal investigators.
Ali Alexander, who has described himself as “the father” of the effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election, said he agreed to work with the Department of Justice after being served with a grand jury subpoena this month.
Alexander’s cooperation was first reported by The New York Times and provides official confirmation that investigators are looking beyond the breach of the U.S. Capitol by hundreds of Trump supporters to the planners and organizers behind it.
Alexander has already talked to congressional investigators about his communications with several Republican lawmakers. In December, he testified to the U.S. House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
Alexander, in federal court documents, said he testified he had “a few phone conversations” with Gosar and spoke to Biggs “in person.”
Alexander famously called Gosar the “spirit animal” of “Stop the Steal” efforts in a video posted before the attack that has since been deleted.
He described Biggs as a hero of the movement during a 2020 rally in Phoenix and led a chant in his name.
As rioters fought past police and breached the interior of the Capitol, Biggs and Gosar were in the House calling to set aside electors chosen by voters in Arizona and Pennsylvania.
Alexander also had ties to state Rep. Mark Finchem, R-Oro Valley, and former state Rep. Anthony Kern, R-Glendale, who spoke at “Stop the Steal” rallies and were at the Capitol on Jan. 6.
