The Charlie Kirk Show

Arizona Audit Update, Investigating Jan. 6th, and Asking 'Where's Durham?'

Guest: Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ)
Date: June 22, 2021

Overview

In this episode, Charlie Kirk is joined by Congressman Andy Biggs from Arizona to discuss recent pressing political topics, including the Arizona election audit, questions swirling around the January 6th Capitol events, oversight of the intelligence community, election-related legislation, and the political landscape in Arizona. The conversation is a robust critique of Democratic leadership, perceived abuse of federal power, and the need for conservative activism and oversight.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Government Involvement in January 6th Events

• FBI's Role & Alleged Infiltration
  • Kirk questions the possibility of FBI agents being present at the Jan. 6th rally not merely for security but potentially to instigate or monitor protestors.
  • Biggs recounts recent testimony from FBI Director Christopher Wray, highlighting a lack of transparency:

    "[Wray] testified... they were investigating people before January 6, but none of the people they were investigating even showed up... None participated in the January 6 breach..." (04:43)

  • Biggs expresses concerned skepticism:

    "If you have law enforcement that's there that could have stopped, thwarted, whatever, and they didn't, that's a problem." (06:14)

• Oversight and the Need for Clarity
  • References to the Pike Committee's historical investigations into intelligence abuses, arguing for a new period of accountability.
  • Kirk:

    "This might be a thread that actually unfolds something a lot deeper and a lot more unfortunately sophisticated..." (07:18)

2. "Where’s Durham?" and FBI Reforms

• Kirk and Biggs express frustration at the lack of results and transparency from Special Counsel John Durham’s investigation into FBI misconduct during the Trump-Russia probe.
  • Biggs:

    "I literally, this morning I was looking at a report and I found myself saying, where's Durham? Whatever happened to Durham?" (09:41)

    • Ongoing delays with "it's going to be out Friday" repeated for over a year. (10:55)

3. Civil Liberties and Abuse of Power

• Double Standards in Justice
  • Kirk and Biggs argue that conservatives and Jan. 6th defendants face harsher treatment than left-leaning riot participants:

    "We have the FBI... geo-fencing members of Congress cell phones to see if... that is an attack on the Republic of the United States of America." (13:39)
    "Meanwhile you have guys that walked into the Capitol and took selfies on January 6... they're in solitary confinement, literally." (12:14)

  • Biggs adds:

    "They're not going to investigate these people torching federal buildings in Minneapolis and Portland." (15:52)

4. Legislative Update: Status of HR1 and the Filibuster

• HR1 ("For the People Act")
  • Biggs reports the bill is “mostly dead” thanks to Senators Manchin and Sinema’s unwillingness to end the filibuster:

    "As long as Manchin and Sinema hold firm, it is going to be dead. But it is a dangerous, dangerous bill." (16:40)

• Kyrsten Sinema’s Stance
  • Praises Sinema’s consistency on the filibuster, despite strong policy disagreements:

    "She's tough. I've known her. She's strong willed... We disagree on policy a lot but she's a dear friend and good for her. Good for her." (18:43)

5. Arizona Election Audit Update

• Timeline and Purpose
  • Audit expected to finish by end of June with a report in mid-July.
  • Biggs insists on the need for transparency regardless of outcome:

    "If they find violations and anomalies and problems, then that's important... The bottom line is I have confidence they're doing a good job on the audit. I just want the truth." (19:46)

• Opposition and Federal Interference
  • Notes DOJ and Merrick Garland “interfering” and criticizes using federal power to intimidate Arizona officials:

    "I think that is clearly an overreach on the part of the Department of Justice. I think it's abusive power." (22:34)

  • Warns of “weaponization of the police apparatus” against conservatives. (23:19)

6. The State of Congress and Partisanship

• Biggs observes increased hostility and breakdown of bipartisan cooperation:
  • "They've emasculated the committee system... no real committee hearings... hearings were all about January 6th and domestic terrorism..." (26:15)
  • Notes Democrats sometimes refuse to speak to Republicans, shun collaboration, and file complaints based on "tweets from people we don't know..." (27:45)

7. Arizona's Political Shift, Messaging, and 2022 Outlook

• Reasons for Arizona's Political Changes
  • Influx of residents from California:

    "Part of the problem is we've had so many people from San Bernardino move into Arizona..." (31:43)

  • Emphasizes the need for a clear, repetitive narrative on election integrity ("voter ID, verification of mail-in ballots"), redistricting, and reforming the initiative process.
• Campaign and Issues
  • Mark Kelly portrayed as vulnerable on Second Amendment, borders, and abortion:

    "He is a total open border guy... a radical abortion, a pro abortion guy... late term abortions, wide open on that. You know what, we can win on those issues." (34:27)

  • Predicts massive out-of-state spending on upcoming AZ congressional, Senate, and gubernatorial races, potentially totaling $400 million.

8. COVID & Federal Mandates

• Biggs criticizes Arizona State University’s mask mandates and supports bans on federal vaccine passports for entities receiving federal funds:

  "ASU, that has to go away. That's reckless. It's irresponsible on their part. It's authoritarian." (37:16)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On FBI Oversight & January 6th:
  • Biggs:

    "If you have law enforcement that's there that could have stopped, thwarted, whatever, and they didn't, that's a problem." (06:14)

• On John Durham’s Probe:
  • Biggs:

    "Where's Durham? Whatever happened to Durham?... Over a year ago, Charlie, I was told, yeah, this Friday they should have something." (10:36)

• On Arizona Political Strategy:
  • Biggs:

    "Arizona is a center right state. I'm right there with you." (33:32)

• On Sinema and the Filibuster:
  • Biggs:

    "She's a dear friend and good for her..." (18:43)

  • Kirk (on anti-Sinema ads):

    "It’s like, 'Oh, she’s too busy running marathons.' I was like, you know, we need more politicians who run marathons." (19:11)

• On Congressional Dysfunction:
  • Biggs:

    "Some [Democrats] really believe that we intend to do them bodily harm." (27:45)

• Closing on Arizona's Political Future:
  • Biggs:

    "If we start doing that, I think we can win... As they own all their horrific policies, I think people will come home." (36:18)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Opening and Jan. 6th Government Involvement: 04:06 – 08:31
• FBI, Durham, and Reform Discussion: 08:31 – 11:21
• Abuse of Power, Double Standards in Justice: 13:39 – 16:40
• HR1, Filibuster, and Sinema Praise: 16:40 – 19:11
• Arizona Audit Update: 19:11 – 22:34
• Federal Overreach & DOJ Critique: 22:34 – 24:16
• Status of Congress & Partisanship: 26:15 – 29:39
• State of Arizona Politics & 2022 Outlook: 31:43 – 37:00
• COVID/Vaccine Mandates: 37:00 – 37:42

Summary

This episode is a sweeping, energetic conversation focused on how conservatives should confront what Kirk and Biggs perceive as a politicized justice system, lack of government transparency, and threats to election integrity. Congressman Biggs provides updates and inside perspectives on the Arizona audit, the elusive Durham investigation, and the fraught state of Congress, while both he and Kirk stress the importance of grassroots activism and narrative control for upcoming elections. The episode concludes with calls to resist federal vaccine mandates and a staunch defense of state authority over elections.