Off the Rails

Episode 1: A premeditated lie lit the fire

Photo illustration of Donald trump speaking with quotes from his election night speech in the background

Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Photo illustration of Rudy Giuliani, the White House, and a ballot

Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

Photo illustration of torn ballots with images of Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell and Jenna Ellis

Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photos: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Photo illustration of Donald Trump and William Barr

Photo illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios. Photos: Drew Angerer, Pool/Getty Images

Photo illustration of Gina Haspel with folders and files

Photo illustration:  Aïda Amer, Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Zach Gibson/Getty Images

Photo illustration of a plane landing and Donald Trump with his back turned.

Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo: Drew Angerer, Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

Photo illustration of Donald Trump and Mike Pence facing away from each other

Photo illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios. Photos: Elijah Nouvelage, Alex Wong/Getty Images

Photo illustration of Donald Trump in front of the mob that stormed the Capitol.

Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photos: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Photo illustration of the white house surrounded by scraps of paper feating a ballot, Sidney Powell, Michael Flynn, and Patrick M. Byrne

Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Getty Images photos: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call,  Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post, George Frey/Bloomberg

Illustration of President Donald Trump on a scrap of paper featuring his signature and multiple military helicopters 

Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images