Updated November 25, 2024 Rule of Law
Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern
Federal Election Interference Indictment: 4 Counts for Defrauding the United States
The indictment described a multi-pronged conspiracy: fabricating slates of Trump electors in seven states that Biden had won; pressuring Pence to refuse to certify or delay certification; pressuring state officials to change election results; coordinating with the Justice Department to send false claims to states; and promoting false claims of election fraud Trump knew to be false. The case was assigned to Judge Tanya Chutkan; the Supreme Court's June-July 2024 ruling on presidential immunity vacated the lower court's immunity decision and required further proceedings; Smith closed the case in November 2024 citing DOJ policy.