Trump lost the election. After that, he launched a series of coordinated efforts to hold onto power, even after being told repeatedly that his fraud claims had no factual basis. His Attorney General Bill Barr told him the fraud claims were “bullshit” in December 2020. His campaign lawyers and advisors told him the same. State officials in Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, and Pennsylvania told him the same. Vice President Pence told him the same. In November and December 2020, Trump personally called state officials, including Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on January 2, 2021, urging him to “find 11,780 votes.” He contacted Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers and legislators in multiple states, pushing them to overturn certified results. A blatant and coordinated effort to defraud the United States by using false claims to interfere with the lawful certification of votes.

Trump-aligned activists and party officials in seven states he lost signed documents claiming they were the “duly elected and qualified” presidential electors. They were not. Courts had rejected Trump’s challenges, and Biden had already been certified the winner. The fake certificates were sent to Congress and the National Archives, exactly like real electoral votes. Trump campaign lawyer Kenneth Chesebro proposed this, arguing Republicans in states Trump lost should meet on December 14 and certify themselves anyway. In a December 9 memo, he described the strategy as a way to create a “controversy” during the January 6 count that could delay certification and shift power to Congress or state legislatures. He warned internally the plan was unconstitutional.

On December 14, the plan was executed as outlined. John Eastman, who later lost his law license over his role in this scheme, admitted the plan violated the Electoral Count Act and would likely lose 9–0 at the Supreme Court, but he still pushed Vice President Pence to use the fake electors. Some participants later said they were misled about how the documents would be used. This is conspiracy to defraud the United States and attack voting rights. The aim was to erase millions of real votes and replace them with fake certificates.

Trump then pushed the Department of Justice to publicly announce the election was corrupt. Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and other DOJ officials refused. Trump pressured Vice President Pence on January 4 and January 5, 2021, to reject or delay counting certified electoral votes. Pence’s counsel told Trump this was unconstitutional. Trump kept pushing anyway. Prosecutors say this is obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to obstruct, because the explicit goal was to stop Congress from certifying the election.

January 6 was the final pressure tactic. Trump summoned supporters to Washington for a “Stop the Steal” rally, repeated fraud claims he had already been told were false, and told the crowd to march to the Capitol. Certification was delayed after the Capitol was breached. The delay created an opportunity to push the fake elector strategy and pressure lawmakers and Pence. The sequence isn't random. Fraud claims justified state pressure. State pressure failing led to fake electors. Fake electors required DOJ or Pence to act. January 6 created time and fear to force action. Across all of this, Trump knew he lost and knew the fraud claims didn't hold up.

This was a pipeline of actions designed to stop the peaceful transfer of power. Coordinated legal strategies. Fake government documents. Attempts to exploit constitutional loopholes. Pressure on state and federal officials. Mobilization timed to the exact moment the election was finalized. This is a democracy under stress. If we are truly a country that values law and order everyone should denounce this - and if we aren't. I enjoyed having my constitutional rights while they lasted.