Trump Allies Push for Election Takeover, Raising Concerns About 2024 Integrity
A recent summit involving high-ranking federal election officials and prominent figures who previously sought to overturn the 2020 presidential election has sparked concerns about potential interference in the upcoming midterm elections. Participants reportedly discussed strategies for President Trump to take control of the electoral process, including declaring a national emergency.
Summit Details and Key Participants
The event, held February 19th at an office building in Washington, D.C., was convened by Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security adviser and sponsored by the Gold Institute for International Strategy, a conservative believe tank. Attendees included Kurt Olsen, a White House lawyer tasked with reinvestigating the 2020 election, and Heather Honey, the Department of Homeland Security official in charge of election integrity [ProPublica]. Cleta Mitchell, who directs the Election Integrity Network, a group known for spreading false claims about election fraud, was also present [ProPublica].
Push for Unprecedented Actions
Election experts suggest the meeting signifies a growing effort to persuade Trump to take unprecedented actions to influence the November vote [ProPublica]. Activists associated with the summit have reportedly circulated a draft executive order that would ban mail-in ballots and eliminate voting machines as part of a federal takeover of elections [ProPublica]. Peter Ticktin, a lawyer involved in drafting the order, stated these actions were “all part of the same effort” [ProPublica].
Coordination and Concerns About Guardrails
The summit is part of a series of meetings and discussions between administration officials and activists dating back to last fall [ProPublica]. Experts warn that this coordination between individuals inside and outside the government represents a breakdown of crucial safeguards protecting the integrity of U.S. Elections [ProPublica]. Brendan Fischer, a director at the Campaign Legal Center, noted the participants are “better organized and now embedded in the machinery of government,” creating a risk of improper election interference [ProPublica].
White House Response and Trump’s Stance
A White House official, speaking anonymously, claimed that the attendance of federal officials at the summit should not be interpreted as support for a national emergency declaration, characterizing it as “common practice” for staffers to engage with outside advocates [ProPublica]. The official also pointed to previous statements by Trump denying consideration of such a declaration [ProPublica]. However, Trump has previously expressed openness to a federal takeover of elections, stating that Republicans “need to take over” and “to nationalize the voting” [ProPublica].
Additional Attendees and Activities
Besides Olsen and Honey, Clay Parikh, a special government employee at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and Mac Warner, who handled election litigation at the Justice Department, also attended the summit [Hoodline]. Warner resigned from the Justice Department the day after the summit, reportedly without receiving required ethics approval [Hoodline]. Kari Lake, appointed by Trump as senior adviser to the U.S. Agency for Global Media, was a featured speaker [Hoodline].
Future Implications
The summit and subsequent discussions highlight ongoing efforts to reshape American elections and raise concerns about the potential for interference in the democratic process. The coordination between government officials and activists associated with the 2020 election challenges underscores the need for vigilance and robust safeguards to protect election integrity.