The extent of people involved in Donald Trump’s endeavor to overturn the 2020 election results is quite alarming. This frenzy spread wide and encompassed various individuals, ranging from administration officials to dedicated supporters of MAGA. Let’s break down these individuals into six primary groups.
At the center of this enterprise was Donald Trump himself, a defeated president fiercely determined to hold onto power at any cost. However, his chief of staff, Mark Meadows, played a crucial role in supporting and assisting Trump throughout this whole ordeal. Indicted in Georgia, Meadows has been accused of performing much of the essential groundwork necessary to help his boss undermine democracy, such as arranging meetings in the Oval Office with key players and participating in the controversial phone call where Trump requested the Secretary of State of Georgia, Brad Raffensperger, to “find 11,780 votes.” A federal judge has aptly described Trump’s alleged efforts to retain power as a “coup in search of a legal theory.”
To aid Trump in finding that desired legal theory or to act as his frontline in court, he sought out lawyers, and not just a few—quite a lot of them. These lawyers were the ones responsible for driving the reckless legal theories on a national and state level. For instance, Cleta Mitchell was present during the infamous Raffensperger call, and Jack Wilenchik seemed to acknowledge that the electors were fraudulent. Several of these lawyers, including John Eastman, now face indictment. They led the charge in shaping Trump’s unprecedented assault on the election outcome. But Trump had no shortage of enablers—both lawyers and laypeople—who were willing to support his cause. GOP members, Trump campaign staff, and allies, both official and unofficial, all joined in this endeavor. Ronna McDaniel, in her position at the Republican National Committee, notably helped coordinate alternative slates of electors. Even after the Capitol attack, congressional figures such as Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley voted against certifying Joe Biden’s victory, providing comfort to the insurrectionists. Scott Perry, a Pennsylvania congressman, played an early role, connecting Trump with Jeffrey Clark, an official from the Justice Department involved in alarming attempts to overturn the election. Feeling nervous about his involvement in the broader effort after the Capitol attack, Perry even petitioned Trump for a preemptive pardon.
This scheme involved a colorful cast of fringe players across multiple states, including conservative media personalities, state lawmakers, a bail bondsman, and a former publicist for the rapper Ye. Some of them acted merely as media surrogates, while others took on more active roles, such as pressuring poll workers. At the heart of this intricate plan were the 84 fake electors, Trump supporters from seven states won by Biden who signed electoral certificates claiming that Trump had won, despite the truth. In Georgia, three out of 16 of these fake electors were indicted, and the same fate befell all 16 in Michigan. Others in different states were equally involved. Kelli Ward, a former chairwoman of the Arizona Republican Party and ex-state senator, chose to plead the Fifth when questioned by the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack.
Then there were the insurrectionists, who resorted to violence when Trump’s legal and political maneuvers failed. They ransacked the seat of government, calling for the blood of elected leaders like Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Some of the rioters were more dedicated than others, with members of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys spending weeks planning how to use force to keep Trump in office. Several of them have been convicted of seditious conspiracy. In total, over 1,090 individuals have been indicted on federal and District of Columbia charges related to the insurrection.
Given the sheer magnitude of this scheme, there were numerous witnesses who observed Trump and his crew’s attempted actions. Many of these witnesses have provided information voluntarily or otherwise to the ongoing investigations. A significant portion of these individuals consists of defectors from Trumpworld—people who once belonged to his inner circle but have since publicly distanced themselves from him. Their criticism of the former president has been scathing, ranging from well-known figures like Mike Pence to lesser-known figures like Cassidy Hutchinson. However, some individuals, despite their cooperation with investigators, remain loyal to Trump and continue to propagate his election fraud falsehoods. Jason Miller, for example, still holds a prominent position within the Trump camp.
Fortunately, not everyone joined Trump’s deplorable crusade. Some key members of his party and those working for them resisted, refusing to bow to his outrageous demands and saving the nation from an even more severe constitutional crisis. For example, Aaron Van Langevelde, a Republican on Michigan’s state certification board, refused to delay the certification of the statewide results, despite pressure from Trump. This refusal ensured that the dominoes didn’t fall. In Arizona, Rusty Bowers, the Republican speaker of the state House, and Clint Hickman, the chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, both resisted attempts to pressure them. Hickman even ignored calls made through the White House operator. Republican governors like Doug Ducey of Arizona and Brian Kemp of Georgia also stood firm against Trumpist intimidation. Kemp declined Trump’s request to call a special legislative session aimed at changing the election results. And let’s not forget Brad Raffensperger, the secretary of state of Georgia, whom Trump implored to “find” the votes needed for his victory. As troublesome as this situation was, it could have been much worse. We were fortunate this time, but there are no guarantees for the future.
While Trump’s staff members frequently change, and their status within his favor may shift abruptly, many individuals from his administration and his assault on the 2020 election could potentially seek jobs if he wins in 2024. These individuals possess valuable knowledge about the weaknesses in our electoral process and the obstacles that hindered their attempt to overturn the previous presidential election.
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