Trump Lawyers Face Reprimand for Voter Fraud Claims

It looks like some of former President Donald Trump's claims about voter fraud are finally being taken seriously — only perhaps not in the way he expected. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Linda Parker held a hearing in which she condemned the "bad faith" voter fraud suits supported by Sidney Powell, a former Trump attorney, among other lawyers.

The Case

As a former part of the Trump campaign, Powell is one of many attorneys facing possible sanctions for their roles in bringing forth lawsuits incorrectly accusing the 2020 presidential election of being "stolen." Parker reprimanded the lawyers for filing and continuing to pursue the lawsuit in "bad faith" after they became aware that the basis for the suit was incorrect and they had no grounds to sue.

Powell initially rose to prominence for her role in alleging election fraud in Michigan, culminating in her filing a lawsuit last November on behalf of Michigan Republicans. The suit aimed to award the state's electoral votes to Trump because supposed voter fraud had wrongfully awarded Biden the election. Parker dismissed the case the next month for being baseless and not timely.

Parker is expected to issue a written ruling soon that will clarify whether Powell and her colleagues will face legitimate judicial sanctions or simply a reprimand. This comes months after Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel recommended disciplinary action against the attorneys involved with the "frivolous" and typo-ridden suit.

Draining the Swamp

This isn't the only time pro-Trump lawyers have found themselves in hot water in recent months. Powell herself was sued for defamation in January 2021 by a voting machine manufacturer for her claims that the company had rigged the 2020 election. The $1.3 billion lawsuit is still proceeding, though Powell and other defendants are attempting to have the case dismissed on the basis that their accusations were protected by free speech rights.

Another prominent Trump attorney (or, more accurately, attorney-no-longer) is Rudy Giuliani, whose law license was suspended in June 2021 for his lies that Trump was the victor of the presidential race. Giuliani is also named in the defamation suit filed by Dominion Voting Systems.

Related Resources:

• What Is Electoral and Voter Fraud? (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)
• Voter Suppression and Voter ID Laws (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)
• Are California GOP's Fake Ballot Drop Boxes Legal? (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)