'This is a madhouse': Jan. 6 texts from 'Stop the Steal' leader reveal his key role in attack

The Jan. 6 committee’s final report revealed that far-right activist, conspiracy theorist and “Stop the Steal” leader Ali Alexander’s text messages from Jan. 5, 2021 and Jan. 6, 2021 display his key role in the unfolding of the Capitol insurrection, Rolling Stone reports.

Alexander’s “Stop the Steal” campaign grew out of his false belief that the 2020 election was stolen from former president Donald Trump, which helped to fuel the attack.

The Guardian reported that the hard-right organizer’s name was mentioned in the committee’s final report “more than 100 times” for his consistent efforts to de-legitimize the outcome of the 2020 election.

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The committee’s release of Alexander’s text messages solidify his commitment to overturning the election by any means necessary, as well as his “advance knowledge that Trump would send masses marching on the Capitol.”

On the evening of Jan. 5, Gateway Pundit journalist Cassandra Fairbanks texted Alexander, “I’m getting nervous for you guys tbh. They’re f***ing scared and it’s showing. Be safe.”

Alexander replied, “They’re so scared. We’re on razors.”

All was calm in organizer's inbox until around 12:00 pm on Jan. 6. Alexander texted Republican strategist Roger Stone, “Get you a** to the U.S. Capitol. We have a stage & the president’s order.”

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Minutes later, the course of the rally took a turn for the MAGA organizers.

Alexander texted Joel Northrup, a “tech contact” associated with “Stop the Steal,” saying, “Tell them not to antagonize the police.”

About ten minutes later, he messaged “Stop the Steal” coordinator Mike Coundrey, warning him that 50,000 people were heading over to the Capitol.

Coundrey replied, “It’s over. They broke through and stormed the Capitol.”

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At that point, Alexander texted Thomas van Flein, Arizona GOP Rep. Paul Gosar’s chief of staff, warning him to leave. “This is hell out here,” he said.

As the insurrection prevailed for the next few hours, one of Alexander’s group chats titled “STS (Stop the Steal) Patriots” exploded with excitement.

STS member Scott Pressler asked if the group should head back to their hotel. To which another STS member, Brandon Straka responded, “F*** no!! I’m at the Capitol and just joined the breach!!! I just got gassed! Never felt so f*****g alive in my life!!"

He continued, “We’re hearing that somebody was shot and killed,” to which Coundrey replied, “Hahaha,” and later said, “a moment of history folks.”

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Almost immediately after, Alexander warned everyone to stop texting in the group chat and migrate over to the Signal, an encrypted instant messaging app.

Meanwhile, Moms for America founder Kimberly Fletcher shared her disappointment with Alexander, voicing that she was "heartbroken."

"Ali, this is a madhouse. Makes us all and the president look very bad," she said.

A few days after the attack, the far-right activist was banned from Twitter, but was reinstated by the platform’s CEO, Elon Musk, earlier this month.

Read the full report and transcript here.

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