Category Archives: chicanery

“Exclusive: Special counsel trades immunity for fake elector testimony as Jan 6 probe heats up”

June 23, 2023, 9:40 amchicanery, election subversion riskRick Hasen

CNN: Special counsel Jack Smith has compelled at least two Republican fake electors to testify to a federal grand jury in Washington in recent weeks by giving them limited immunity, part of a current push by federal prosecutors to swiftly… Continue reading

No Response to John Eastman Cert. Petition Seeking to Wipe Out District Court Finding that Eastman More Likely Than Not Engaged with Trump in Crime Related to 2020 Election

June 23, 2023, 7:33 amchicanery, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

I blogged earlier about John Eastman arguing for the decision against him to be vacated on grounds it is moot. I wondered if a response would be filed by the Jan. 6 committee, which I think no longer exists. There… Continue reading

The Coming Storm in depth on QAnon

May 12, 2023, 12:09 pmchicanery, election subversion riskJanuary 6Tabatha Abu El-Haj

I recently listed to this episode of the BBC’s “The Coming Storm” on the origins of QAnon and its connection to January 6. Many regular blog readers may have heard it already, but for those, who like me are not… Continue reading

DOJ Indictment of George Santos Alleges Campaign Finance Fraud, Conversion of Campaign Funds to Personal Use

May 10, 2023, 7:43 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Pretty blatant violations of the law if they can be proven. [The headline has been corrected.]

“We Just Want Someone Sane”

May 7, 2023, 4:47 pmchicanery, election administration, election subversion riskJustin Levitt

Frank Wilkinson in Bloomberg, in a piece with a Howitzer of a subheader: Washington County, Pennsylvania, was never known as Crazytown. Then election deniers decided to run for local office.

“In Trump Case, Bragg Pursues a Common Charge With a Rarely Used Strategy”

May 7, 2023, 4:45 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryJustin Levitt

The NYT works through the details of a falsifying business records charge and – despite the fact that there’s apparently no legal requirement to do so – the rarity of not making clear the underlying crime to convert the misdemeanor… Continue reading

“Michigan commission finds ‘misconduct’ by pro-Trump attorneys in 2020 lawsuit”

May 6, 2023, 8:35 amchicanery, election administration, election subversion riskJustin Levitt

Bridge Michigan with news on the state’s Attorney Grievance Commission, and its formal complaint against Sidney Powell, Lin Wood, and others (including 3 Michigan attorneys).

“Democratic operative charged with NJ election fraud”

May 4, 2023, 8:46 pmchicanery, petition signature gatheringJustin Levitt

This one’s not the work of a criminal mastermind. According to [AG] Platkin, James Devine allegedly emailed the Secretary of State’s Division of Elections about 1,948 fraudulent voter certifications in support of [a] petition for a spot on the… Continue reading

Arizona Supreme Court sanctions Kari Lake’s attorneys

May 4, 2023, 2:14 pmchicanery, election law biz, election subversion riskJustin Levitt

Hot off the press: an order by the Arizona Supreme Court sanctioning Kari Lake’s attorneys for false factual statements to the court. I believe this is at least the second sanctions order issued against Kurt Olsen related to false statements… Continue reading

“Election-denying clerk ousted in recall: ‘Make Adams Township Boring Again’”

May 3, 2023, 7:20 amchicanery, election administration, election subversion risk, recall electionsJustin Levitt

Bridge Michigan has the unofficial results on yesterday’s recall election of a Michigan town clerk: Voters in deeply conservative Adams Township on Tuesday night rejected elections clerk Stephanie Scott, ousting the Republican official who questioned the accuracy of her own… Continue reading

“As 2024 Campaigns Begin, States Confront Threats to Election Workers”

May 1, 2023, 7:42 pmchicanery, election law biz, election subversion risk, The Voting WarsJustin Levitt

And yet, there’s a lot more to be done. NCSL has more on a disturbing trend that should be of concern to every single one of its members. And good for Kansas SOS Scott Schwab for speaking up here (and… Continue reading