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Trump on Trial: A Model Prosecution Memo for Federal Election Interference Crimes

Second Edition

Norman Eisen, Noah Bookbinder, Donald Ayer, Joshua Stanton, E. Danya Perry, Debra Perlin, Kayvan Farchadi, and Jason Powell

Published at Just Security

July 2023

ii

Table of Contents

Introduction ................................................................................................................................1

Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................7

Section I: Facts ..................................................................................................................7

Section II: Application of Law to the Facts ....................................................................10

Section III: Defenses .......................................................................................................12

Conclusion ......................................................................................................................12

I.

Facts ......................................................................................................................................13

A.

Act One: Trump’s Rejection of the Truth and Embrace of Schemes

.........................13

1.

Spreading Election Lies ........................................................................................14

2.

Weaponizing the Department of Justice ...............................................................25

3.

Pressuring State Officials .....................................................................................40

4.

False Electoral Slates ............................................................................................50

a.

The Origins of the False Electors Scheme .....................................................51

b.

Putting the Plan into Action ...........................................................................54

B.

Act Two: Pressuring the Vice President to Refuse to Count Electoral Votes ............65

C.

Act Three: Summoning a Violent Mob and Doing Nothing to Disperse It................72

1.

Using the Mob on January 6 to Increase the Pressure on Pence ..........................73

2.

The Roots of Insurrection .....................................................................................82

3.

Failing to Take Action to Stop the Violence and Targeting Pence ......................92

II.

Potential Crimes ................................................................................................................102

A.

18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 1001: The Conspiracy to Submit Fabricated Electoral Slates to Congress ....................................................................................................102

1.

The “Offense Prong”: Conspiracy to Make a False Statement

..........................105

a.

Conspiracy ....................................................................................................107

b.

Offense Against the United States ................................................................107

i.

Background on 18 U.S.C. § 1001 ..............................................................107

ii.

Elements of 18 U.S.C. § 1001 ...................................................................109

(a)

Made the Statement, or Made or Used the Document............................110

(b)

The Statement or Document Was False .................................................113

(c)

Materiality ..............................................................................................114

(d)

Knowingly and Willfully ........................................................................115

iii (e)

Made or Used for a Matter Within the Jurisdiction of a Department or Agency of the United States ...............................................................117

(f)

Document Required by Law ...................................................................118

c.

Overt Acts .....................................................................................................119

2.

The “Defraud Prong”: Conspiracy to Defraud the United States

.......................120

a.

Conspiracy ....................................................................................................120

b.

Obstructing a Lawful Function of the Federal Government ........................121

c.

Deceitful or Dishonest Means ......................................................................123

i.

Trump and His Allies Knew That Trump Lost a Secure and Fair Election ...................................................................................................125

ii.

Trump and Team Used Dishonest Means .................................................128

d.

Overt Acts .....................................................................................................130

3.

Potential Targets, Subjects, or Witnesses Under § 371 ......................................131

B.

18 U.S.C. § 1512: The Scheme to Obstruct the Counting of Presidential Electors on January 6 ...............................................................................................137

1.

Criminal Intent: To Act “Corruptly”

..................................................................139

a.

Corrupt Purpose ............................................................................................141

b.

Independently Corrupt Means ......................................................................142

c.

Section 1512(c)(2) Does Not Require Proof of Consciousness of Wrongdoing

—

But Trump and His Collaborators Knew Their Behavior Was Wrong ...................................................................................................144

2.

Obstruct, Influence, and Impede ........................................................................146

3.

Official Proceeding .............................................................................................149

4.

Conspiracy ..........................................................................................................150

C.

18 U.S.C. § 2383: Insurrection and Giving Aid or Comfort to Insurrectionists .........................................................................................................153

1.

Background of 18 U.S.C. § 2383 .......................................................................155

2.

Elements of 18 U.S.C. § 2383 ............................................................................157

a.

Insurrection Element ....................................................................................157

b.

Incite, Assist, Engage, or Give Aid or Comfort ...........................................165

i.

Trump Engaged in the Insurrection, and Assisted and Provided Aid to the Insurrectionists .................................................................................165

ii.

Trump Incited the Assembled Mob to Insurrection at His January 6 Rally .......................................................................................................173