2020 Fake Elector Scheme
Documented · 11/04/2020 – 01/06/2021
After Joe Biden was projected the winner of the 2020 presidential election, individuals connected to Donald Trump's campaign organized slates of Republican "electors" in seven states Biden won -- Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin -- who met on December 14, 2020, the day the states' certified electors met, and signed documents asserting the signers were the state's electors for Trump and Mike Pence. In Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin, these documents asserted without qualification that the signers were the "duly elected and qualified" electors. In Pennsylvania and New Mexico, the documents instead used conditional language, certifying the vote only in the event a court later determined the Trump/Pence slate was legally entitled to the state's electoral votes. In total, 84 people signed these documents.
Trump campaign attorney Kenneth Chesebro authored memos, beginning with a proposal for Wisconsin, that were later generalized into the plan applied across the seven contested states. The documents were sent to the National Archives, the President of the Senate, and other federal officials. The January 6th Select Committee found the Republican National Committee, at Trump's request relayed through attorney John Eastman, helped coordinate the states' recruitment of electors.
In the days before January 6, 2021, Eastman and Trump pressed Vice President Mike Pence -- in meetings that included White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows -- to use his ceremonial role presiding over the joint session to reject or delay counting of the certified electors from the seven states in favor of the alternate slates, or to recognize the alternate slates outright. Pence, through his counsel and in his own public statements, rejected this theory as contrary to the Electoral Count Act and the Constitution, and Congress certified Biden's win after the Capitol was breached and the session resumed.
The scheme is documented in the January 6th Select Committee's final report (Chapters 3 and 5), in Special Counsel Jack Smith's federal indictment of Trump (dismissed without prejudice in November 2024 following Trump's election win, per Department of Justice policy against prosecuting a sitting president, without any finding on the case's merits) and Smith's subsequent final report to Congress (which stated the evidence was, in the office's assessment, sufficient to convict but for the election outcome), in Fulton County, Georgia's RICO indictment (dismissed by the district attorney pro tempore in November 2025 for insufficient evidence against the remaining defendants), and in state prosecutions in Arizona, Michigan, and Nevada -- each of which ended in dismissal (Michigan, no appeal; Arizona and Nevada, dismissed with further proceedings possible) rather than conviction, except for one Arizona signer's guilty plea to a single misdemeanor.
Pennsylvania and Wisconsin brought no criminal charges against their certificate signers; Wisconsin's ten signers instead reached a civil consent judgment acknowledging the certificate had been used in an attempt to overturn the state's results.
In November 2025, President Trump issued federal pardons to dozens of people connected to the scheme, including many of the 84 signers and several of the lawyers involved; these pardons cover federal exposure only and do not affect separate state proceedings. As of this record's most recent review (September 2026), no participant in the scheme has been convicted of a felony after trial in any jurisdiction.
Relationships
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Arizona Mirror (02/01/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Arizona Mirror (02/01/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Arizona Mirror (02/01/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Arizona Mirror (02/01/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Arizona Mirror (02/01/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Arizona Mirror (02/01/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Arizona Mirror (02/01/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Arizona Mirror (02/01/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Arizona Mirror (02/01/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Arizona Mirror (02/01/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Arizona Mirror (02/01/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Georgia Recorder (06/29/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Georgia Recorder (06/29/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Georgia Recorder (06/29/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Georgia Recorder (06/29/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Georgia Recorder (06/29/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Georgia Recorder (06/29/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Georgia Recorder (06/29/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Georgia Recorder (06/29/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Georgia Recorder (06/29/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Georgia Recorder (06/29/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- What we know about the 16 fake electors charged in Michigan — CBS Detroit (07/19/2023) [Primary]
- Michigan Certificate of Ascertainment, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (12/14/2020) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- What we know about the 16 fake electors charged in Michigan — CBS Detroit (07/19/2023) [Primary]
- Michigan Certificate of Ascertainment, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (12/14/2020) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- What we know about the 16 fake electors charged in Michigan — CBS Detroit (07/19/2023) [Primary]
- Michigan Certificate of Ascertainment, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (12/14/2020) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- What we know about the 16 fake electors charged in Michigan — CBS Detroit (07/19/2023) [Primary]
- Michigan Certificate of Ascertainment, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (12/14/2020) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- What we know about the 16 fake electors charged in Michigan — CBS Detroit (07/19/2023) [Primary]
- Michigan Certificate of Ascertainment, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (12/14/2020) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- What we know about the 16 fake electors charged in Michigan — CBS Detroit (07/19/2023) [Primary]
- Michigan Certificate of Ascertainment, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (12/14/2020) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- What we know about the 16 fake electors charged in Michigan — CBS Detroit (07/19/2023) [Primary]
- Michigan Certificate of Ascertainment, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (12/14/2020) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Pennsylvania Republican electors' unofficial Certificate of Vote, Dec. 14, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (FOIA release) (12/14/2020) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- Pennsylvania Republican electors' unofficial Certificate of Vote, Dec. 14, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (FOIA release) (12/14/2020) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- Pennsylvania Republican electors' unofficial Certificate of Vote, Dec. 14, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (FOIA release) (12/14/2020) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- Pennsylvania Republican electors' unofficial Certificate of Vote, Dec. 14, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (FOIA release) (12/14/2020) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- Pennsylvania Republican electors' unofficial Certificate of Vote, Dec. 14, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (FOIA release) (12/14/2020) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- Pennsylvania Republican electors' unofficial Certificate of Vote, Dec. 14, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (FOIA release) (12/14/2020) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- Pennsylvania Republican electors' unofficial Certificate of Vote, Dec. 14, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (FOIA release) (12/14/2020) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- Pennsylvania Republican electors' unofficial Certificate of Vote, Dec. 14, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (FOIA release) (12/14/2020) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- Pennsylvania Republican electors' unofficial Certificate of Vote, Dec. 14, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (FOIA release) (12/14/2020) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- Pennsylvania Republican electors' unofficial Certificate of Vote, Dec. 14, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (FOIA release) (12/14/2020) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- Pennsylvania Republican electors' unofficial Certificate of Vote, Dec. 14, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (FOIA release) (12/14/2020) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- Pennsylvania Republican electors' unofficial Certificate of Vote, Dec. 14, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (FOIA release) (12/14/2020) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- Pennsylvania Republican electors' unofficial Certificate of Vote, Dec. 14, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (FOIA release) (12/14/2020) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- Pennsylvania Republican electors' unofficial Certificate of Vote, Dec. 14, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (FOIA release) (12/14/2020) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Georgia Recorder (06/29/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Georgia Recorder (06/29/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Georgia Recorder (06/29/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Georgia Recorder (06/29/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Georgia Recorder (06/29/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Trump's fake electors: Here's the full list — Georgia Recorder (06/29/2022) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- What we know about the 16 fake electors charged in Michigan — CBS Detroit (07/19/2023) [Primary]
- Michigan Certificate of Ascertainment, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (12/14/2020) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- What we know about the 16 fake electors charged in Michigan — CBS Detroit (07/19/2023) [Primary]
- Michigan Certificate of Ascertainment, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (12/14/2020) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- What we know about the 16 fake electors charged in Michigan — CBS Detroit (07/19/2023) [Primary]
- Michigan Certificate of Ascertainment, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (12/14/2020) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- What we know about the 16 fake electors charged in Michigan — CBS Detroit (07/19/2023) [Primary]
- Michigan Certificate of Ascertainment, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (12/14/2020) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- What we know about the 16 fake electors charged in Michigan — CBS Detroit (07/19/2023) [Primary]
- Michigan Certificate of Ascertainment, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (12/14/2020) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- What we know about the 16 fake electors charged in Michigan — CBS Detroit (07/19/2023) [Primary]
- Michigan Certificate of Ascertainment, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (12/14/2020) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- What we know about the 16 fake electors charged in Michigan — CBS Detroit (07/19/2023) [Primary]
- Michigan Certificate of Ascertainment, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (12/14/2020) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- What we know about the 16 fake electors charged in Michigan — CBS Detroit (07/19/2023) [Primary]
- Michigan Certificate of Ascertainment, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (12/14/2020) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- What we know about the 16 fake electors charged in Michigan — CBS Detroit (07/19/2023) [Primary]
- Michigan Certificate of Ascertainment, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (12/14/2020) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Final Report: Investigation into New Mexico's 2020 Fraudulent Electors — New Mexico Department of Justice / Attorney General (01/19/2024) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Final Report: Investigation into New Mexico's 2020 Fraudulent Electors — New Mexico Department of Justice / Attorney General (01/19/2024) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Final Report: Investigation into New Mexico's 2020 Fraudulent Electors — New Mexico Department of Justice / Attorney General (01/19/2024) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Final Report: Investigation into New Mexico's 2020 Fraudulent Electors — New Mexico Department of Justice / Attorney General (01/19/2024) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- Final Report: Investigation into New Mexico's 2020 Fraudulent Electors — New Mexico Department of Justice / Attorney General (01/19/2024) [Primary]
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Corroborating]
12/14/2020
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- Pennsylvania Republican electors' unofficial Certificate of Vote, Dec. 14, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (FOIA release) (12/14/2020) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- Pennsylvania Republican electors' unofficial Certificate of Vote, Dec. 14, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (FOIA release) (12/14/2020) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- Pennsylvania Republican electors' unofficial Certificate of Vote, Dec. 14, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (FOIA release) (12/14/2020) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- Pennsylvania Republican electors' unofficial Certificate of Vote, Dec. 14, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (FOIA release) (12/14/2020) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- Pennsylvania Republican electors' unofficial Certificate of Vote, Dec. 14, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (FOIA release) (12/14/2020) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- Pennsylvania Republican electors' unofficial Certificate of Vote, Dec. 14, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (FOIA release) (12/14/2020) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Primary]
12/14/2020
- 2020 Electoral College Results (National Archives) — National Archives and Records Administration (01/06/2021) [Primary]
11/04/2020