Overturning the 2020 election

Trump asked Georgia’s top election official to “find 11,780 votes”

On a recorded Jan. 2, 2021 call, Trump told Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger: “All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have because we won the state.” Biden’s margin was 11,779. Raffensperger answered, “Well Mr. President, the challenge that you have is, the data you have is wrong,” and Trump warned him that failing to act on alleged ballot fraud was “a criminal offense” and “a big risk to you and to Ryan, your lawyer.”

Their response: Trump denies wrongdoing and says he was contesting fraud; on the call he insisted “we won the state.” The call featured in the Georgia criminal case, which ended without a trial; when it was dropped in 2025 he called it an “illegal, unconstitutional, and unAmerican hoax.”

Sources: CNN, full transcript of the Jan. 2, 2021 call · NBC News

Fake electors in seven states signed electoral certificates for Trump

On Dec. 14, 2020, Republicans in seven states Biden won (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin) met and signed certificates casting electoral votes for Trump, which were sent to Congress and the National Archives. In five states they declared themselves “the duly elected and qualified Electors”; the New Mexico and Pennsylvania documents carried partial caveats. The House Jan. 6 committee traced the plan to memos by Trump campaign lawyer Kenneth Chesebro, said Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows were involved and the RNC assisted, and concluded “President Trump oversaw it himself.” Lawyer John Eastman’s memo then cited the “dual slates” as grounds for the vice president to reject Biden’s electors.

Their response: Participants say they committed no crime and were preserving Trump’s options in case a court ruled he had won; judges in Michigan and Nevada later found insufficient proof of criminal intent. Trump denies wrongdoing and was never tried over the scheme.

Sources: House Jan. 6 Select Committee final report, Ch. 3 (govinfo) · Indictment, United States v. Trump (justice.gov) · AP, Dec. 15, 2025

Trump pressed Pence to reject electoral votes, then attacked him as the Capitol was breached

Eastman drafted memos proposing that Vice President Pence refuse to count certified electoral votes from seven states; Pence’s counsel recorded that Eastman “acknowledges that his proposal violates several provisions of statutory law.” Pence refused. At 2:24 p.m. on Jan. 6, after he had been told of violence at the Capitol, Trump tweeted: “Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution,” and the committee documented rioters chanting “Hang Mike Pence.”

Their response: Trump has maintained that Pence had the power to send electoral votes back to the states; his tweet said states should get “a chance to certify a corrected set of facts.”

Sources: House Jan. 6 Select Committee final report (govinfo)

Trump told Justice Department leaders to “just say the election was corrupt”

On a Dec. 27, 2020 call, acting Deputy Attorney General Richard Donoghue wrote down Trump’s request to him and acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen: “Just say the election was corrupt and leave the rest to me and the Republican Congressmen.” Trump then weighed installing Jeffrey Clark, who had drafted a letter urging Georgia’s legislature to convene over the election, as attorney general. He backed off at a Jan. 3, 2021 Oval Office meeting after senior officials said they would resign; White House Counsel Pat Cipollone called the letter a “murder-suicide pact.”

Their response: Donoghue told the committee: “We told him we were not going to do that.” Trump denies wrongdoing; the Supreme Court later ruled he is absolutely immune from prosecution for his discussions with Justice Department officials, and Georgia’s charge against Clark was dropped in 2025.

Sources: House Jan. 6 Select Committee final report, Ch. 4 (govinfo) · Supreme Court opinion, Trump v. United States

Only one of 62 post-election lawsuits succeeded

The House Jan. 6 committee counted 62 lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign and allies between Nov. 4, 2020 and Jan. 6, 2021 seeking to question or overturn the results. Only one succeeded, and the committee said it “affected relatively few votes, did not vindicate any underlying claims of fraud, and would not have changed the outcome in Pennsylvania.” Thirty were dismissed by a judge after a hearing on the merits.

Their response: Trump has never conceded and continues to say the election was “rigged and stolen.”

Sources: House Jan. 6 Select Committee final report, Ch. 1 (govinfo) · NBC News, Nov. 26, 2025

A mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol to stop the count

$2.88M in losses from the breach (Justice Department)

After Trump told a rally crowd on Jan. 6, 2021, “We fight like hell. And if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore,” supporters attacked the Capitol and halted the electoral count. The House Jan. 6 committee found more than 140 police officers were injured and that Trump waited 187 minutes after his speech before releasing a 4:17 p.m. video asking rioters to leave. Ashli Babbitt was shot dead by a Capitol Police officer, Officer Brian Sicknick died the next day (ruled natural causes), four officers who responded later died by suicide, and the Justice Department put losses at $2,881,360.20.

Their response: Trump denies inciting the attack; his speech included the words “peacefully and patriotically” once, and he has said the speech was “totally appropriate.” As president in 2025 he called the prosecutions of rioters “a grave national injustice.”

Sources: House Jan. 6 Select Committee final report (govinfo) · U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C., “36 Months Since the Jan. 6 Attack” (archived) · FactCheck.org, deaths tied to the riot · White House proclamation, Jan. 20, 2025 · CNN, Aug. 1, 2023 (Trump “totally appropriate” remark)

Impeached a second time; Senate majority voted to convict but fell short

The House impeached Trump for incitement of insurrection on Jan. 13, 2021 by 232 to 197, with 10 Republicans voting yes. On Feb. 13, 2021 the Senate voted 57 to 43 to convict, including seven Republicans, which was short of the two-thirds required, so he was acquitted.

Their response: Trump likened the impeachment to a “witch hunt” and said his Jan. 6 speech was “totally appropriate.”

Sources: Clerk of the U.S. House, Roll Call 17 (H.Res. 24) · U.S. Senate, Roll Call Vote 59, 117th Congress · CNN, Aug. 1, 2023

House Jan. 6 committee referred Trump to the Justice Department on four crimes

In its December 2022 final report, the House select committee made criminal referrals of Trump for obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to make a false statement, and inciting, assisting or giving aid and comfort to an insurrection. It also referred lawyer John Eastman. A referral is a recommendation with no legal force; Trump was later charged with different but overlapping federal counts and was never tried.

Their response: Trump denies wrongdoing and says he believed the election was stolen. The committee wrote: “Even if it were true that President Trump genuinely believed the election was stolen, this is no defense.”

Sources: House Jan. 6 Select Committee final report, H. Rept. 117-663 (govinfo)

Federal grand jury indicted Trump on four counts; the case never reached trial

On Aug. 1, 2023 a federal grand jury in Washington indicted Trump on four counts: conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. These were accusations, not findings: Trump pleaded not guilty, was never tried, and the case was dismissed without prejudice on Nov. 25, 2024 after he won the election, under the Justice Department’s position that a sitting president cannot be prosecuted.

Their response: Trump pleaded not guilty and denies wrongdoing, saying he was contesting a fraudulent election. His spokesman Steven Cheung called the dismissal “a major victory for the rule of law.”

Sources: Indictment, United States v. Trump, No. 23-cr-257 (justice.gov) · Special Counsel Smith final report, Vol. 1 (justice.gov) · CNN, Nov. 25, 2024

Supreme Court gave presidents broad immunity, narrowing the case

In Trump v. United States, decided July 1, 2024, a 6-3 court held that a former president has “absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority” and “at least presumptive immunity” for all official acts, with “no immunity for unofficial acts.” The majority found Trump absolutely immune for his discussions with Justice Department officials. A second grand jury then returned a superseding indictment charging the same four offenses based on conduct prosecutors considered not immune.

Their response: The ruling was a win for Trump, who had argued that presidents cannot be prosecuted for official acts. Justice Sotomayor, joined by Justices Kagan and Jackson, dissented.

Sources: Supreme Court opinion, Trump v. United States, No. 23-939 · Special Counsel Smith final report, Vol. 1 (justice.gov)

Special counsel’s final report said the evidence was enough to convict

Jack Smith’s final report, released by the Justice Department in January 2025, said that “but for Mr. Trump’s election and imminent return to the Presidency, the Office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial.” This is the prosecutor’s assessment, not a verdict; the report itself notes an indictment is an allegation and a defendant is presumed innocent. Smith repeated the claim in public testimony to the House Judiciary Committee in January 2026.

Their response: Trump’s lawyers wrote to the attorney general that the dismissals amounted to his “complete exoneration” and that the report would “perpetuate his false and discredited accusations.” Trump has called Smith “deranged” and “a criminal.”

Sources: Special Counsel Smith final report, Vol. 1 (justice.gov) · NPR, Jan. 22, 2026 · NBC News, Oct. 29, 2025

Georgia racketeering case: 19 charged, four guilty pleas, then dismissed

A Fulton County grand jury indicted Trump and 18 others in August 2023 on 41 counts alleging a scheme to overturn Georgia’s result. Four co-defendants pleaded guilty: Scott Hall and Sidney Powell to misdemeanors, Kenneth Chesebro and Jenna Ellis to one felony each. A Georgia appeals court disqualified District Attorney Fani Willis in December 2024 over an “appearance of impropriety,” and on Nov. 26, 2025 Judge Scott McAfee dismissed the case after replacement prosecutor Pete Skandalakis declined to proceed, so Trump was never tried.

Their response: Trump, who pleaded not guilty, wrote: “LAW and JUSTICE have prevailed in the Great State of Georgia, as the corrupt Fani Willis Witch Hunt against me, and other Great American Patriots, has been DISMISSED in its entirety.” Skandalakis wrote that “the citizens of Georgia are not served by pursuing this case in full for another five to ten years.”

Sources: NBC News, Nov. 26, 2025 · CBS News, Powell plea · CNN, Willis disqualified · Politico, Nov. 10, 2025 (Chesebro felony plea) · CNN, Ellis plea and suspension · CBS News, 41 counts and 19 defendants

State fake-elector prosecutions have mostly collapsed

Michigan: a judge dismissed felony charges against 15 Republicans on Sept. 9, 2025, saying “I don’t believe that there’s evidence sufficient to prove intent.” Nevada: a judge dismissed the case against six Republicans in August 2026 and the attorney general plans to appeal. Arizona: courts sent the 18-defendant case back to a grand jury and the attorney general has vowed to seek a new indictment. Wisconsin: 11 felony forgery counts against Trump campaign lawyer Jim Troupis, aide Mike Roman and Chesebro are still pending.

Their response: Defendants say they acted lawfully to preserve Trump’s legal challenges. A lawyer for Giuliani said of the Arizona case: “Mr. Giuliani has done nothing wrong.”

Sources: Bridge Michigan, Sept. 9, 2025 · AP, Nevada dismissal, Aug. 2026 · CNBC (AP), June 4, 2026 · Wisconsin Public Radio, April 23, 2026

Giuliani and Eastman disbarred; Ellis suspended

A New York appeals court disbarred Rudy Giuliani on July 2, 2024, finding he “baselessly attacked and undermined the integrity of this country’s electoral process,” and Washington, D.C. followed on Sept. 26, 2024. California’s Supreme Court disbarred John Eastman in April 2026, ordering his name “stricken from the roll of attorneys.” Jenna Ellis’s Colorado license was suspended for three years in 2024 after her Georgia guilty plea.

Their response: Giuliani said the New York case was “based on an activist complaint, replete with false arguments.” Eastman’s lawyer said he would appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing the ruling raises “pivotal constitutional concerns regarding the limits of state regulation of attorney speech.”

Sources: AP, Giuliani disbarred in New York · CBS News, Giuliani disbarred in D.C. · The Guardian, Eastman disbarred · CNN, Ellis suspended

Election-fraud claims cost broadcasters and Giuliani hundreds of millions

$787.5M paid by Fox News to Dominion

Fox News paid Dominion Voting Systems $787.5 million in April 2023 to settle a defamation suit over false claims that its machines rigged the 2020 election, moments before trial. Newsmax agreed in August 2025 to pay Dominion $67 million, and a federal jury in December 2023 ordered Giuliani to pay $148 million to two Georgia election workers he defamed.

Their response: Fox’s settlement included no public apology or admission that it defamed Dominion, NBC News reported. Trump was not a party to these suits and continues to claim the election was stolen.

Sources: NBC News, Fox-Dominion settlement · CNN, Newsmax-Dominion settlement · CBS News, Giuliani verdict

Prosecutors and FBI agents who worked the Trump cases were fired

A week after the inauguration the Justice Department fired more than a dozen officials from Jack Smith’s team, saying the acting attorney general “does not trust these officials to assist in faithfully implementing the President’s agenda.” Acting deputy Emil Bove ordered eight senior FBI officials out and demanded lists of thousands of employees who worked Jan. 6 cases; the FBI turned over details on more than 5,000. More agents tied to the Smith investigation were fired in 2025, and three former senior FBI officials sued, alleging Director Kash Patel told one of them the firings were happening because “the FBI tried to put the President in jail and he hasn’t forgotten it.”

Their response: The Justice Department said the firings were “consistent with the mission of ending the weaponization of government.” Patel said on Fox News: “You’re darn right I fired those agents.” The quote attributed to Patel in the lawsuit is an allegation.

Sources: AP, Jan. 27, 2025 · CNN, Feb. 11, 2025 · CBS News, Feb. 4, 2025 · NBC News, Oct. 8, 2025 · NBC News, Sept. 10, 2025

FBI seized Fulton County’s 2020 ballots

On Jan. 28, 2026, the FBI executed a search warrant at the Fulton County, Georgia election center seeking all “physical ballots from the 2020 General Election in Fulton County” and other records; Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was present. On May 6, 2026 a federal judge declined to order the return of more than 600 boxes of ballots, while writing that “the seizure in this case was certainly not perfect.” A week before the search Trump said “people will soon be prosecuted for what they did.” No charges had been reported as of May 2026.

Their response: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “President Trump and his entire team are committed to ensuring a U.S. election can never, ever be rigged again.” Fulton County’s commission chair called the warrant defective and said the records were “wrongly seized.”

Sources: NPR, Jan. 28, 2026 · NBC News, May 6, 2026

Courts blocked key parts of Trump’s order to rewrite election rules

Executive Order 14248, signed March 25, 2025, directed that the federal voter registration form require documentary proof of citizenship and pushed states to reject mail ballots arriving after Election Day. A federal judge in Washington, D.C. blocked the proof-of-citizenship requirement in April 2025, and judges in Massachusetts (June 2025) and Seattle (January 2026) blocked that and the ballot-deadline rule for the states that sued, one writing, “The Constitution does not grant the President any specific powers over elections.” A second order on March 31, 2026 (EO 14399), which AP says would have the government compile lists of eligible voters and send mail ballots only to them, is still in court; on Aug. 24, 2026 the Supreme Court paused one lower-court order blocking it, over the dissents of Justices Sotomayor, Kagan and Jackson.

Their response: The White House defended the 2025 order as “standing up for free, fair and honest elections” and called proof of citizenship a “commonsense” requirement.

Sources: White House, Executive Order 14248 · AP, April 24, 2025 · AP, June 13, 2025 · AP, Jan. 9, 2026 · White House, Executive Order 14399 · AP, Aug. 24, 2026 · Supreme Court order, Trump v. California (Aug. 24, 2026)

Justice Department sued 30 states and D.C. for full voter rolls

The Justice Department has demanded complete voter registration lists, including driver’s license and partial Social Security numbers, from at least 48 states and Washington, D.C., according to the Brennan Center’s tracker. It sued 30 states and D.C. that refused, and courts have dismissed 26 of those cases; at least 16 states have provided or agreed to provide their full lists.

Their response: The Justice Department plans to run the voter data against the Homeland Security SAVE citizenship database, according to the tracker. The Brennan Center, an advocacy group that opposes the effort, calls the demands unprecedented.

Sources: Brennan Center for Justice tracker (updated Oct. 2, 2026)