As President Donald Trump begins his new term, he has filled key government positions with individuals who previously supported his unfounded claims about the 2020 election being stolen from him. These appointees, who range from top Justice Department officials to government lawyers, had previously helped promote conspiracy theories about voting irregularities that Trump used to explain his defeat to Joe Biden.
Among the most notable appointments is Kurt Olsen, an attorney who previously tried unsuccessfully to convince the Justice Department to support Trump’s disputed election claims in 2020. Olsen now heads a comprehensive investigation into that election, with authority to examine voting records and procedures from four years ago.
The investigation’s most significant move occurred in January when federal agents confiscated voting materials and election documentation from Fulton County, Georgia. This Democratic-leaning county, which encompasses Atlanta, has frequently been targeted by Trump supporters who question election results. Court documents reveal the search was justified using many of the same disputed claims from 2020 that had already undergone extensive investigation.
Election administrators nationwide, particularly in Democratic-controlled states, are preparing for potential disruptions as this year’s congressional elections approach.
“The election denial movement is now embedded across our federal government, which makes it more powerful than ever,” stated Joanna Lydgate, who leads the States United Democracy Center, an organization that monitors election conspiracy promotion. “Trump and his allies are trying to use all of the powers of the federal government to undermine elections, with an eye to the upcoming midterms.”
The president has transformed federal agencies to serve his personal agenda, with Attorney General Pam Bondi—who previously assisted Trump’s efforts to challenge his 2020 defeat—announcing that all Justice Department personnel must fulfill the president’s directives. Despite facing numerous challenges including economic concerns and immigration enforcement, Trump continues asserting he actually won the 2020 presidential race.
Trump’s administration includes various categories of election conspiracy supporters: longtime allies like Bondi who stood by him during his election challenges, individuals who played smaller roles in promoting 2020 election falsehoods, and others who have spread debunked theories that convinced millions of Republicans the election was fraudulent.
