Inside Trump’s Fake Electors Conspiracy
A deep dive into Trump’s fake electors plot how the scheme worked, who knew, and why it poses a lasting threat to U.S. democracy.
The Anatomy of a Criminal Conspiracy
The foundation of democracy rests on the peaceful transfer of power, a principle that has survived centuries of political conflict, war, and social upheaval. It is a process that has endured because the people’s will, expressed through elections, is respected as the ultimate authority. That foundation was directly assaulted in the final days of Donald Trump’s presidency.
What happened in late 2020 and early 2021 was not an abstract legal debate, nor was it a case of partisan dispute over technicalities. It was an attempted coup, one meticulously planned and brazenly executed in the open. The so-called “fake elector” scheme was not a theoretical exercise in constitutional interpretation. It was a deliberate effort to fabricate the electoral process and subvert democracy itself.
There is no ambiguity about what Trump and his allies attempted. The evidence is overwhelming, indisputable, and documented in court filings, testimony, and their own words. Yet, despite this, millions continue to dismiss the gravity of the crimes. Understanding exactly what happened is not just a matter of historical record but a necessary step in ensuring that history does not repeat itself.
Fake Electors: The Smoking Gun
In the weeks following Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election, his inner circle devised a plan to override the will of the voters in multiple states. The plot was simple yet audacious: create fraudulent slates of electors who would falsely claim that Trump, rather than Joe Biden, had won their respective states. These fake electors would then submit their fabricated votes to Congress, setting the stage for Trump’s allies to argue that the results were in dispute and should be overturned.
Evidence of this scheme is not hidden in obscure legal documents or buried in classified intelligence reports. It exists in black-and-white statements from those involved.
In Arizona, one official pressured by Trump’s team summarized the plan succinctly in an email:
This was not a matter of misinterpretation or political gamesmanship. It was a coordinated attempt to deceive the American people and dismantle the electoral system from within.
Trump’s Knowledge and Intent
Trump was not a passive observer of this scheme: he was its driving force. His Deputy Campaign Manager, aware of the gravity of what was unfolding, struggled to explain the plot when Trump demanded updates. In a text message, he confessed:
Even among Trump’s closest allies, there was an awareness that what they were doing was unlawful. And yet, Trump continued to push forward.
In a meeting with Vice President Mike Pence, Trump’s lawyer, John Eastman, was confronted with a direct question: Did Pence have the authority to reject electoral votes unilaterally? Eastman admitted that no such legal authority existed. Pence, refusing to be coerced, turned to Trump and reiterated the reality:
“Even your own counsel is not saying I have that authority.”
Trump’s response was chilling in its brazenness:
“That’s okay, I prefer the other suggestion.”
There was no legal argument, no constitutional ambiguity. Trump knew he was advocating for a lawless power grab, and he simply did not care.
The Blueprint for an Autocracy
For those who still struggle to grasp the severity of these actions, consider what this scheme sought to achieve. If it had succeeded, it would have invalidated the votes of millions, shattered the integrity of the electoral system, and established a precedent that elections could be nullified by those in power.
Kenneth Chesebro, the lawyer who drafted the memo outlining this plan, admitted in writing:
This was not an effort to ensure election integrity; it was an attempt to manufacture a constitutional crisis and hold power through deception.
Chesebro, along with multiple other co-conspirators, has since pleaded guilty, acknowledging the criminality of their actions. Trump, however, remains unrepentant, continuing to spread the same falsehoods that fueled this conspiracy in the first place.
A Coup Attempt and a Nation’s Response
When the fake elector scheme failed, Trump turned to his last resort: violence. He summoned his supporters to Washington, fed them lies about a stolen election, and directed them to march on the Capitol. As the nation watched in horror, the very institutions that had safeguarded democracy for generations came under direct attack.
Many of Trump’s closest advisors, those who had served him loyally, publicly declared him unfit for office. They recognized the existential danger he posed. And yet, when allowed to ensure accountability, elected officials failed to act decisively. Trump was impeached, but the Senate refused to convict him. The Republican Party, rather than severing ties with an attempted autocrat, embraced him more fervently than before.
And then, in 2024, millions of Americans, especially Swing State voters, voted for him again.
The Price of Complacency
It is easy to believe that a democracy as old as the United States cannot fall. But history is full of nations that believed the same thing until they were proven wrong. The question is not whether Trump will attempt to undermine democracy again but whether enough people will resist when he does.
Democracy is not self-sustaining. It is not an unbreakable institution immune to corruption or decay. It requires vigilance, action, and an electorate that refuses to be deceived.
The lessons of the past four years are not ambiguous. Trump attempted to subvert democracy, and he came dangerously close to succeeding. If he is given another opportunity, there is no reason to believe he will not try again, this time, with more preparation, more control over the levers of power, and fewer obstacles in his way.
No one can afford to be indifferent to the threat that remains. The institutions that held the line once may not be strong enough to do so again. The responsibility falls not on politicians or prosecutors alone but on every individual who believes in democracy’s survival.
If you value the truth, share it. If you believe in democracy, defend it. If you want more content like this, consider supporting this platform. The cost of silence is far greater than the price of speaking out.
A desperate illegal act, when the election was somehow”stolen” from him? With 94 criminal indictments, what desperate illegal acts were metted out against the will of the peeps to avoid prosecution & incarceration? Means, motive, & opportunity-me thinks fraud, an illegitimate seizure-a 2nd amendment event.
Meanwhile, in completely unrelated news, Danielle Smith has outlawed election ballot tabulators.