Mr. Chidi, concluding that something odd was taking place on the other side of the door, turned the knob and stepped into history. What he saw, and simultaneously live-streamed from his phone, were six to 10 people who reacted with alarm to his presence. As the source, an 18-year-old Republican activist named CJ Pearson, bustled wordlessly out of the room, Mr. Chidi asked what was going on. Mr. Chidi was soon escorted out of the meeting, but once in the corridor he asked who had reserved the room. Eventually, a clerk informed him that it was the House speaker, David Ralston, a Republican, who had done so at the behest of one of President Donald J. Trump’s lawyers, Ray Smith.

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Persons: George Chidi, Chidi, CJ Pearson, bustled, David Ralston, Donald J, Ray Smith, David Shafer, Trump Organizations: State Capitol, Republican, “ Locations: Georgia