Donald Trump made numerous attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to Joe Biden. Here are some key ways Trump tried to subvert the election outcome:
Spreading False Claims of Fraud
Trump began casting doubt on the election's integrity even before votes were counted, claiming without evidence that the only way he could lose was if the election was rigged. After his loss, he continued pushing baseless conspiracy theories about widespread voter fraud, despite his own advisors and officials telling him there was no evidence to support these claims.
Legal Challenges
The Trump campaign filed dozens of lawsuits in states where Trump lost, alleging various forms of fraud. Courts repeatedly rejected these suits due to lack of evidence.
Pressuring State Officials
Trump attempted to persuade state officials, particularly in Georgia, to "find" votes or overturn their state's results. He also pushed for states to put forward alternate slates of electors, even in states Biden had won.
The "Fake Electors" Scheme
Trump advisers pursued a plan to have Republican officials in states Biden won submit fake slates of pro-Trump electors.
Purpose of the Scheme
The goal of this plot was not to directly manage voting centers, but rather to:
Create the illusion of a contested election.
Provide a pretext for Vice President Pence to either block Congress from recognizing Biden's win or delay the vote count on January 6, 2021.
Potentially take the case to the Supreme Court, hoping for a favorable ruling.
Details of the Scheme
The scheme was coordinated among Trump's attorneys, campaign officials, and Republican Party members in the affected states.
They created and submitted fraudulent certificates of ascertainment falsely claiming Trump had won the electoral college vote in these states.
- elector certificates were created for Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
These certificates falsely stated that the signatories were their state's "duly elected and qualified" electors.
The fake certificates were submitted to the National Archives and Congress.
Pressuring Mike Pence
Trump pressured Vice President Mike Pence to reject the Electoral College votes from certain states during the January 6 certification process, which Pence refused to do.
Inciting the January 6 Capitol Attack
At a rally on January 6, 2021, Trump urged his supporters to march to the Capitol and "fight like hell" to stop the certification of Biden's win. This led to the violent storming of the Capitol building.
Legal Consequences
These attempts to subvert the election results were unprecedented in American history and have led to ongoing legal consequences for Trump and some of his associates. As a result of these actions, Trump has been indicted on four federal felony counts related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, including conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of an official proceeding.
As of August 2024, the current state of charges against Donald Trump for attempting to overturn the 2020 election is as follows:
Federal Charges
Trump continues to face four federal felony counts brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith in Washington, D.C. These charges include:
Conspiracy to defraud the United States
Conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding
Obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding
Conspiracy against rights
The case is ongoing, but the trial date has been postponed from its original March 4, 2024 date due to Trump's appeal of his presidential immunity claim to the United States Supreme Court.
Georgia State Charges
In addition to the federal charges, Trump was indicted in Fulton County, Georgia in August 2023. The charges in Georgia include:
Racketeering
Conspiracy
Making false statements
This case is also proceeding, though specific trial dates have not been set as of August 2024.
Legal Proceedings
Both the federal and Georgia cases are moving through the court system, with various pre-trial motions and hearings taking place. Trump's legal team has been actively challenging the charges and attempting to delay or dismiss the cases.
Impact on 2024 Election
These ongoing legal challenges continue to have significant implications for the 2024 presidential race, in which Trump remains a prominent figure in the Republican party. It's important to note that the legal landscape surrounding these cases is complex and subject to change. As of August 2024, no final verdicts have been reached in either the federal or Georgia cases, and Trump maintains his innocence on all charges.
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