Scanning the 250-plus times Kelli Ward took the 5th before the Jan. 6 committee

Dr. Kelli Ward, chair of the Arizona Republican Party, election denier, conspiracy spreader and fake Electoral College elector, was subpoenaed by the select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and sat for a deposition on March 16.

The 68-page deposition has now been released.

In it, Ward states her name, solemnly swears “under the penalty of perjury” that the testimony she was about to give would be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing by the truth, and then, in response to the questions put forth to her by attorneys for the committee, proceeds to invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 250 times.

Feel free to read the deposition yourself and check my math on that. One’s eyes tend to go buggy after a certain point.

And while Ward herself is not terribly forthcoming, there is much we might discern from the questions themselves, as well as her repeated answer. With that in mind, I thought I might share some of the exchanges with you.

She takes the 5th on being AZ GOP chair

For example, early on the witness is asked, “Dr. Ward, are you declining to answer our questions today based on the Fifth Amendment because you reasonably believe your factual responses may tend to incriminate you?”

To which Ward replies, “I rely on my Fifth Amendment privilege.”

Here are some of other exchanges from throughout the deposition.

Question: “Dr. Ward, do you have a Twitter handle?”

Answer: “I rely on my Fifth Amendment privilege.”

'You have to fire the coach':After losses, GOP pushes for Ward's ouster

Question: “Dr. Ward, what is your current occupation?”

Answer: “I rely on my Fifth Amendment privilege.”

Question: “Have you been the chair of the Republican Party of Arizona since approximately 2019?”

Answer: “I rely on my Fifth Amendment privilege.”

She takes the 5th on testy Ducey exchange

Question: “Dr. Ward, did you ever exchange text messages with Mark Meadows, then the White House chief of staff?”

Answer: “I rely on my Fifth Amendment privilege.”

Question: “Dr. Ward, did you exchange text messages with any members of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors following the 2020 election?

Answer: “I rely on my Fifth Amendment privilege.”

At one point, attorneys for the committee show Ward a tweet by Gov. Doug Ducey defending the integrity of the state’s election process.

The questioner continues, “And you tweeted in response an abbreviation, ‘#STHU,’ which I believe stands for ‘shut the hell up,’ in response to this tweet about the strengths of Arizona’s elecion system. Dr. Ward, why did you post this tweet?”

Answer: “I rely on my Fifth Amendment privilege.”

Plenty of questions on Arizona's fake electors

There were plenty of questions put to Ward about her role in submitting a slate of fraudulent Electoral College electors that was meant to ignore the will of Arizona voters and hand the state over to Donald Trump. A few of those inquiries include:

Question: “Did you speak with Trump campaign staff or advisors about the plan to convene alternate electors in Arizona, among other contested states?”

Answer: “I rely on my Fifth Amendment privilege.”

Question: “Were you aware, Dr. Ward, that Arizona law, state law, requires electors to vote for the winner of the popular vote in the state?”

Answer: “I rely on my Fifth Amendment privilege.”

Kelli Ward was proud then but silent now

Question: “Did you ask any member of the Arizona legislature to take action to recognize the Republican electors?”

Answer: “I rely on my Fifth Amendment privilege.”

Question: “Did you communicate with any members of Congress about the meeting of the Republican electors in Arizona?”

Answer: “I rely on my Fifth Amendment privilege.”

At one point, the committee’s attorney shows Ward the document signed by phony electors and sent to Washington in hopes of overturning the election. He asks, “Is this a document you signed and submitted to Federal authorities following the meeting on December 1, 2020?”

Ward and her merry band of fake electors seemed bold and proud of their actions at the time. They prayed together. They allowed photos to be taken.

Now, however, Ward answered, “I rely on my Fifth Amendment privilege.”

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kelli Ward took the 5th 250-plus times before Jan. 6 committee