During a Christmas reception, former President Donald Trump alleged the 2020 election was rigged by Democrats and claimed to possess substantial evidence to prove it. He asserted that the evidence would be revealed “in truckloads,” implying a vast amount of proof of election fraud. Trump also stated he would have won California if the election had been legitimate, further highlighting his allegations of widespread voter interference. While making these claims, Trump also diverted to other topics, including comments about a woman in the crowd and a story about a snake bite.
Read More
President Trump announced his intention to pardon Tina Peters, a former Colorado county clerk serving a state sentence for election-related crimes. Peters, convicted of state charges including attempting to influence a public servant, was prosecuted in a Republican county, which has led to significant criticism. Despite the president’s claim that the pardon is related to alleged election fraud, Colorado officials, including Secretary of State Jena Griswold and Attorney General Phil Weiser, assert that the president lacks the constitutional authority to pardon state crimes. While Peters’ attorney argues that the president may have the power to pardon in this case, legal experts widely disagree, citing that the presidential pardon power is limited to federal offenses.
Read More
Tina Peters, a Colorado election official, is currently incarcerated after being convicted on multiple charges related to unauthorized access of voting machines and attempts to influence a public servant, stemming from her actions following the 2020 election. Right-wing figures, however, have rallied behind her, portraying her as a political prisoner despite her convictions. Concerns have been raised by Peters’ supporters regarding her health and treatment while in jail, including a recent period in solitary confinement. Notably, Donald Trump has publicly advocated for Peters’ release, echoing the narrative that she is wrongly imprisoned for exposing election fraud.
Read More
Former Arizona state legislator Austin Smith pleaded guilty to charges related to forging over 100 signatures on his reelection petitions. Smith admitted to signing a deceased person’s name and attempting to deceive the Secretary of State’s Office by filing petitions with forged signatures. The plea agreement allows Smith to potentially avoid a felony conviction, but he will face probation, a fine, and a five-year ban from public office, pending the sentencing judge’s decision. Despite initially denying the accusations, Smith resigned from his position at Turning Point Action around the time of the allegations, but may have been rehired.
Read More
The article details Donald Trump’s ongoing attempts to discredit the electoral process, now specifically targeting both mail-in and early voting methods. Despite previously utilizing these very methods himself and encouraging his supporters to do the same, he is calling for their elimination. Trump is falsely claiming these methods are proof of Democratic cheating, and urging the Justice Department to investigate the 2020 election outcome. These demands come amid record-breaking early voting turnout in several states, including a concerning shift in Republican voter behavior.
Read More
In a significant development, a Michigan judge dismissed criminal charges against a group of individuals accused of attempting to falsely certify Donald Trump as the winner of the 2020 election, citing a lack of intent to commit fraud. The 15 Republicans, including prominent members of the state’s GOP, faced forgery and conspiracy charges related to signing a document falsely claiming they were the state’s duly elected electors. The judge determined that the defendants believed they were executing their constitutional right to seek redress. Following the ruling, Attorney General Dana Nessel expressed disappointment and said that she is considering an appeal.
Read More
The Department of Justice has alleged that Smartmatic executives, indicted last year on bribery and money-laundering charges, transferred funds from a 2018 Los Angeles County voting machine contract into slush funds previously used for bribing election officials in Venezuela and the Philippines. Prosecutors are seeking to prove these funds were part of a larger pattern of bribery. Fox News, involved in a separate defamation lawsuit, asserts that LA County’s registrar-recorder, Dean Logan, may have received unreported gifts from the company. This could link to a broader scheme including overcharging customers and using the excess to pay bribes in other countries.
Read More
In a defamation case, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell was ordered to pay $2.3 million to Eric Coomer, a former Dominion Voting Systems employee. The lawsuit stemmed from Lindell’s false accusations that Coomer helped rig the 2020 election. During the trial, Lindell maintained his claims of election fraud, which led to the jury’s decision. Lindell has vowed to appeal the verdict and stated he is in debt as a result.
Read More
Following Donald Trump’s controversial 2024 election win over Kamala Harris, a Wisconsin nonprofit filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk, alleging that he and his political allies violated state election laws. The complaint centers on Musk’s distribution of significant sums of money to voters in Wisconsin and other swing states, allegedly incentivizing them to vote for Trump through schemes that circumvented legal limits on campaign contributions. These actions, which included cash payments and lotteries, prompted unsuccessful legal challenges prior to the election. The lawsuit seeks to prevent future similar actions and potentially award damages.
Read More
A lawsuit alleging voting discrepancies in Rockland County, New York’s 2024 election is proceeding to discovery. The nonpartisan SMART Legislation group claims statistical anomalies and affidavit evidence contradict official results, particularly concerning the Senate race and exhibiting improbable patterns in presidential vote counts. While the lawsuit won’t alter the certified presidential outcome, it raises concerns about election integrity, fueled by reports of altered voting machines and a missing testing lab. A hearing is scheduled for September 22 to consider a request for a full hand recount.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker