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Trump Allies Planned 2020 Election Subversion, Esquire Investigation Reveals

  //politics-government.news-articles.net/content/ .. on-subversion-esquire-investigation-reveals.html
  Published in Politics and Government on Wednesday, January 7th 2026 at 14:51 GMT by Esquire

The Rise of "Thugocracy": How Trump and Allies Exploited Legal Loopholes and Weak Oversight to Attempt a Fraudulent Power Grab

Esquire’s lengthy investigation, “Thugocracy: Fraud, Trump, and the Plot to Steal the 2020 Election,” details a meticulously planned and executed scheme, orchestrated by Donald Trump and his allies, to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The article paints a picture far beyond simple election denial, revealing a complex web of legal maneuvering, fraudulent document creation, and the exploitation of lax oversight, all aimed at installing Trump as president despite losing the popular and electoral vote. The piece meticulously lays out how this wasn’t a spontaneous uprising, but a calculated operation the author, Charles P. Pierce, labels a “Thugocracy” – rule by those who disregard laws and norms for personal gain.

The core of the scheme revolved around the creation of a slate of “fake electors” in key swing states – Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. While the idea of alternate electors isn’t inherently illegal (it’s a contingency plan meant for situations where the official count is genuinely in dispute), the Trump campaign knowingly and fraudulently presented these electors as the official results, even while recounts and audits were ongoing and consistently confirmed Joe Biden’s victory. The article details how these fake electors met in secret, signing documents claiming to be the legitimate electoral votes, and then sent these to the National Archives, attempting to force Vice President Mike Pence to recognize them during the January 6th joint session of Congress.

Crucially, the Esquire piece highlights the crucial role of lawyers and legal strategists in enabling this scheme. Figures like Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Jenna Ellis, and Sidney Powell weren’t simply voicing unsubstantiated claims; they actively crafted the legal arguments and strategies to support the fraudulent effort. Eastman, in particular, is presented as a key architect of the “coup memo” – a document outlining a plan for Pence to reject legitimate electoral votes and declare Trump the winner. The article links to reporting from the Washington Post which reveals the extent of Eastman's aggressive strategy, which included falsely claiming Pence had unilateral authority to overturn the election, a position even his own legal counsel refuted.

The Esquire investigation meticulously details the logistical and legal groundwork laid in each state. In Arizona, the article points to the pressure campaign on county officials to delay certification of the vote and the highly partisan “audit” conducted by Cyber Ninjas, a firm with no experience in election audits. The audit, as previously documented by numerous outlets including CNN, found no evidence of widespread fraud but nonetheless fueled conspiracy theories and provided a pretext for challenging the results. In Georgia, the focus was on pressuring Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” enough votes to overturn Biden’s victory, a phone call that is now the subject of a criminal investigation. The article links to the released audio of this call, a stark illustration of Trump’s direct attempt to interfere with the electoral process.

Michigan and Wisconsin saw similar attempts, with the article emphasizing the coordinated effort to present fabricated evidence of fraud to state legislatures and courts. The piece highlights the reliance on affidavits from individuals with dubious credibility, often based on hearsay and conspiracy theories. Pennsylvania, arguably the most important battleground state, was targeted with a barrage of lawsuits challenging absentee ballots and election procedures.

What distinguishes this article from simple recount of events is its focus on the intentionality and sophistication of the operation. This wasn’t simply a chaotic scramble; it was a carefully planned attempt to exploit the inherent vulnerabilities of the American electoral system. The Esquire piece details how Trump’s team specifically targeted states with Republican-controlled legislatures, hoping to pressure them into ignoring the certified results and appointing their own slate of electors. They understood the process, the legal loopholes, and the potential for delaying tactics.

The article also underscores the inadequacy of oversight and the potential for future abuse. The Electoral Count Act of 1887, which governs the process of counting electoral votes, is notoriously vague and open to interpretation, providing fertile ground for manipulation. The January 6th Committee acknowledged this weakness and recommended reforms to clarify the law and prevent future attempts to subvert the election.

Finally, the Esquire investigation details the ongoing legal ramifications. Several individuals involved in the scheme, including Eastman, Giuliani, and Meadows, are facing investigations and potential criminal charges. While the full extent of accountability remains to be seen, the article emphasizes the importance of holding those responsible for attempting to undermine the democratic process accountable, not just for the sake of justice, but to deter future attacks on the integrity of American elections. The “Thugocracy,” as the author calls it, attempted to dismantle the foundations of democratic governance and, the article argues, the fight to preserve it is far from over.