In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, several key allies find themselves entangled in a web of legal troubles. As criminal cases against Trump unfold in Georgia and Washington, his associates face their own legal blowback for their roles in contesting the election outcome.
RUDY GIULIANI Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a prominent figure in the attempt to reverse Trump’s electoral defeat, has been slapped with a hefty $148 million defamation judgment. Accused of spreading baseless fraud claims, Giuliani’s bankruptcy filing may not shield him from the financial repercussions, as courts ruled that willful and malicious conduct cannot be discharged through bankruptcy.
Apart from the defamation case, Giuliani faces criminal charges in Georgia related to election subversion, along with pleas of not guilty. Legal battles extend to defamation lawsuits from voting machine makers, Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems, and personal lawsuits, including one from Hunter Biden for privacy violation.
MARK MEADOWS As Trump’s final chief of staff, Meadows actively sought evidence of fraud and played a role in pressuring Georgia officials to overturn election results. Facing criminal charges in Georgia, Meadows contends that he was merely performing his duties. The U.S. House of Representatives recommended contempt of Congress charges, but the Justice Department chose not to pursue the case.
MIKE LINDELL The outspoken pillow entrepreneur, Mike Lindell, who amplified baseless election fraud claims, is now grappling with defamation lawsuits from Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic. Additionally, Lindell faces financial strains, with his legal team seeking to drop him as a client due to unpaid fees.
JOHN EASTMAN Law professor John Eastman crafted a theory to overturn the election, pressing then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject certain states’ results. Facing charges in the Georgia election-subversion case, Eastman’s law license hangs in the balance pending a California judge’s ruling after a lengthy ethics trial.
SIDNEY POWELL Conservative lawyer Sidney Powell, a staunch advocate of Trump’s election claims, has pleaded guilty in the Georgia election-subversion case and agreed to testify against Trump and other defendants. Powell faces additional lawsuits from Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic for false vote-rigging claims.
JENNA ELLIS, KENNETH CHESBRO, LIN WOOD, JEFFREY CLARK Other figures, including lawyers Jenna Ellis, Kenneth Chesbro, Lin Wood, and Jeffrey Clark, each face their own legal challenges, ranging from guilty pleas to ethics charges and censure.
JAN. 6, 2021, PARTICIPANTS Over 1,200 individuals involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack are facing legal consequences, with hundreds pleading guilty or being found guilty at trial. Leaders of right-wing groups, such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, received substantial prison sentences.
FAKE ELECTORS, TAMPERING WITH VOTING MACHINES, FRIVOLOUS LAWSUIT Various Trump supporters engaged in deceptive tactics, such as fake electors and tampering with voting machines, now find themselves under legal scrutiny in Nevada, Michigan, Georgia, and Wisconsin. Additionally, lawyers Ernest Walker and Gary Fielder were ordered to pay legal fees for frivolous claims in a Colorado lawsuit.
As legal battles unfold, the consequences of challenging the 2020 election results continue to mount for Trump and his allies.
