Michigan prosecutors investigating the 2020 election subversion probe have obtained hundreds of files from Google and X containing private direct messages and emails from pro-Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro. Chesebro played a significant role in the fake electors plot in Michigan, which led to charges of forgery and other crimes against the state’s fake electors. The investigation is ongoing, and Trump is considered an unindicted co-conspirator in the case. Similar investigations are also taking place in other states, such as Arizona, where prosecutors have filed criminal charges against pro-Trump electors involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Chesebro attempted to bring several controversial pro-Trump figures to Washington, DC, to witness his “fake electors” strategy on January 6, 2021, but it appears that no one accepted his offers. He also reached out to conservative pundits and right-wing figures following Trump’s loss in the 2020 election, urging them to promote his theories on subverting the Electoral College process. The search warrants executed in March allowed prosecutors to access Chesebro’s private communications after he concealed some of his social media accounts during a cooperation session last year. Chesebro has not been charged in Michigan but has pleaded guilty in Georgia’s election interference probe.
Chesebro, while advising the Trump campaign on the fake electors plot, was simultaneously seeking favorable news coverage by pitching to conservative radio hosts and pro-Trump pundits. He provided unsolicited guidance to Gateway Pundit founder Jim Hoft on framing coverage of the January 6 certification proceeding in Congress, suggesting parallels with Thomas Jefferson’s actions. Chesebro also offered accommodations at the Trump International Hotel to Hoft and other conservative figures, including former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke and radio host Vicki McKenna. Most of the individuals contacted by Chesebro did not respond to his offers.
In his attempts to generate coverage of alleged irregularities in the Wisconsin election results, Chesebro reached out to James Wigderson, a conservative writer on Wisconsin politics, and various other political pundits and legal scholars in the state. Wigderson dismissed Chesebro’s claims as conspiracy theories, while others ignored his messages. Chesebro also contacted Northwestern University law professor Daniel Rodriguez, a former college classmate, regarding a new lawsuit from the Trump campaign challenging the Wisconsin results. Rodriguez responded with “LOL,” indicating skepticism towards the lawsuit. The Wisconsin litigation, like many other Trump election suits, failed in court.
Despite his efforts to influence media coverage and gather support for the fake electors plot, Chesebro’s attempts were largely unsuccessful, with many individuals rejecting his offers or ignoring his messages. The ongoing investigations by Michigan prosecutors and other states demonstrate the continued scrutiny of individuals involved in attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. Chesebro’s involvement in these schemes has led to legal consequences and raised questions about the extent of coordination and cooperation among pro-Trump figures in the post-election period. The search warrants obtained by prosecutors have provided valuable information for the ongoing probes, shedding light on the actions and communications of key players in the election subversion efforts.
