Lessig’s new book, ‘How to Steal a Presidential Election,’ co-written with Matthew Seligman, presents possible strategies for undermining a presidential election, sharply criticizing Donald Trump for choosing the ‘stupidest possible way’ in 2020.
Election Strategy Flaws
Lessig emphasized that Trump’s approach was fundamentally flawed, relying on entirely false documents and irrational legal theories. In a conversation with Salon, he cautioned that without urgent reforms by Congress, more effective tactics remain a threat to America’s democracy.
Predicting Trump’s Next Move
The book outlines several potential manipulation tactics, highlighting the most dangerous ones involving ‘malicious actors,’ as reported by Salon.Lessig predicts that Trump, likely the Republican nominee in 2024, will escalate his election claims even further than before.
‘Dangerous’ Electoral Strategies
“As Lessig told me during our recent conversation, the most dangerous possibilities involve rogue state legislatures — and let’s be real, rogue Republican state legislatures — giving themselves final power over electoral outcomes, either by finding an excuse to override the popular vote, directly appointing their own slates of electors or simply dictating exactly how the existing electors will vote,” Salon’s Executive Editor Andrew O’Hehir wrote.
The Stolen Election Narrative
“We today have as many people who believe the election was stolen in 2020 as believed it was stolen on Jan. 6, 2021,” Lessig stated
Playing Games?
He added that in a world “where the public can’t be brought around to the truth, it’s easy for either side to play games and get away with it because denialism will reinforce itself, especially in the light of the most extreme actions taken.”
Understanding Distrust in Democracy
Lessig expressed understanding towards the widespread distrust in the democratic process, attributing it to a system that often favors insiders and those with financial power, rather than serving the general populace, as it’s meant to.
A Grave Concern
“This is the most terrifying reality,” he remarked, “that we continue to spin in this direction of hopelessness about democracy, for most people, and that means the hollowed out institutions of democracy can do even more extreme and outrageous things without any political check.”
Absolute Immunity?
Addressing the question of whether Trump has complete immunity from crimes allegedly committed during his presidency, Lessig was straightforward, stating, “No, he does not have total immunity.”
Late-Night Call for ‘Total Immunity’
In a late-night social media blast at 1:59 a.m. ET on Thursday, former President Donald Trump, using all caps for emphasis, declared that even presidents who ‘cross the line’ should be granted ‘total immunity.’
Immunity Argument Intensifies
This statement intensifies the broad immunity argument his attorneys have been advocating, aiming to halt the prosecution efforts by special counsel Jack Smith concerning Trump’s actions related to the 2020 presidential election results.
Complexities of Disqualifying Trump
On the possibility of states disqualifying Trump from future ballots, Lessig noted the complexity of the issue, saying, “I don’t think that without a statute by Congress anybody has the right to exclude federal officers, whether it’s congresspeople or the president, from being candidates.”
Illinois Confirms Trump’s Eligibility
Recently, former President Donald Trump was confirmed to remain on the Illinois March primary ballot. This decision came after the state’s election board concluded on Tuesday that they lack the authority to assess potential violations of the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause.
Trump’s Ballot Access
During a Tuesday morning hearing, the Illinois State Board of Elections aligned with a hearing officer’s recommendation, asserting that the decision on Trump’s eligibility under the 14th Amendment falls within the judiciary’s domain.
Election Board Restricted
The hearing officer, retired Republican Kankakee County Judge Clark Erickson, reported that despite Trump’s involvement in the events of January 6, 2021, Illinois Supreme Court precedent restricts the Board of Elections from performing the deep constitutional analysis required to remove him from the ballot.
Campaigns and Courtrooms
Trump is actively engaging in political discourse as he moves between campaign events and courtrooms. Should he win the presidential election in November, it will effectively serve as an endorsement of his claims.
Trump’s Favorable Position
Currently, Trump is the clear favorite to secure the Republican nomination for the third consecutive time. According to CNN’s latest analysis, Trump holds an advantage over President Joe Biden in a sufficient number of states to potentially reclaim the presidency.
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