The indictment is yet another illustration of how wide-ranging the effort to undo Trump’s loss was.


** News Roundup: Familiar Names in the Fulton County Indictment
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This week’s criminal charges against former President Trump aren’t the first he’s faced for attempting to overturn his 2020 election loss. But the indictment handed down this week in Fulton County, Georgia, also names 18 other defendants who allegedly helped in his efforts.

The indictment ([link removed]) — the first count of which is a sweeping racketeering charge for the alleged conspiracy — also mentions 30 unindicted co-conspirators, and touches upon several elements of the scheme to overturn democracy, including the fake-electors plot, the attempted corruption of the U.S. Justice Department, and the alleged breach of voting equipment in Coffee County.

It’s yet another illustration of how wide-ranging the effort to undo Trump’s loss was, and many of the names should be familiar to those who have paid attention to the post-2020 election denial movement that spurred partisan investigations and voting machine breaches in other states.
* The Fulton indictment charges all five of the identified co-conspirators ([link removed]) named in the Justice Department’s indictment from last month: Rudy Giuliani, Jeffrey Clark, Kenneth Chesebro, John Eastman, and Sidney Powell.
* We previously obtained records ([link removed]) showing a senior DOJ official’s handwritten notes on an email rejecting Clark’s plot to falsely tell state officials that the department was investigating “significant concerns” that could change the election results. On Clark’s draft letter to Georgia officials, a note says, “Rejected by OAG, ODAG + OLC,” referring to DOJ leadership under then-acting AG Jeffrey Rosen.
* We also previously obtained an audio recording ([link removed]) of the December 2020 phone call between Trump and Georgia’s chief election investigator, in which he pressured her to find “the right answer.”
* Our investigation of the Arizona Senate’s biased “audit” of Maricopa County’s election revealed early communications ([link removed]) between Giuliani and Senate President Karen Fann.
* We also uncovered details of the involvement of Trump campaign aide Mike Roman in the audit operation ([link removed]) . Roman is one of the defendants charged in Fulton County.


The Washington Post took a look ([link removed]) at the clues pointing to the potential identities of the Georgia unindicted co-conspirators who were tied to the Coffee County breach, offering other familiar names like Doug Logan, Stefanie Lambert, Phil Waldron, and others.
* Last week, we published text messages ([link removed]) from the spring of 2021 that reveal a discussion of the plan to illegally access and tamper with voting machines in Michigan. The messages were exchanged by Logan and Lambert, the latter of whom was criminally charged in Michigan earlier this month for her alleged role in the effort.
* The records also suggest that data forensics firm SullivanStrickler — a firm hired by Trump’s attorneys ([link removed]) to examine the machines in Coffee County — was also involved in the Michigan scheme.


Here are other headlines related to investigations of the former president’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election:
* Weary of harassment, Black female election workers in Ga. welcome Trump charges (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Texas woman charged with threatening to kill judge in Trump election case (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* Arizona 'audit' leader wants texts with Michigan lawyer indicted over voting machines to stay secret (Arizona Republic ([link removed]) )
* Georgia and Colorado election security breaches part of same ongoing threat, Griswold says (Colorado Newsline ([link removed]) )
* How Trump uses supporters’ donations to pay his legal bills (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* Special counsel obtained Trump DMs despite ‘momentous’ bid by Twitter to delay, unsealed filings show (Politico ([link removed]) )
* Trump supporters post names and addresses of Georgia grand jurors online (NBC News ([link removed]) )
* Trump’s lawyers seek April 2026 start to Jan. 6 trial (New York Times ([link removed]) )

On the Records

DeSantis Aide’s Communications with Right-Wing Media
Before joining Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign, Christina Pushaw ([link removed]) had served as the Florida governor’s press secretary, where she was known for her aggressive approach on social media ([link removed]) , hostility toward mainstream journalists ([link removed]) , and promotion of far-right policies. American Oversight recently obtained several examples of communications with conservative media from Pushaw’s time at the governor’s office:
* On April 6, 2022 ([link removed]) , Pushaw shared with Breitbart a local news article about an undocumented immigrant who caused a deadly car crash while driving under the influence. Pushaw wrote, “Notice how this media report OMITS any mention of the suspect’s immigration status.” A Breitbart editor wrote, “[L]et’s go huge on this ASAP.” The site published a story about the incident later that day.
* In an email ([link removed]) from Jan. 3, 2022, a Fox News producer asked Pushaw if she could speak on TV about Covid-19. She wrote that she was unable to make it but suggested they invite Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo instead. The producer wrote, “I worry the doctor isn't political enough — the segment is more political than medical." Pushaw assured them that Ladapo “has been calling out the Biden Admin” and has “spoken about the harms of closing schools and making other irrational and harmful policies based on fear.”
* The documents contain many other examples of Pushaw’s friendly ties with right-wing outlets, including a February 2022 email ([link removed]) in which she sent an embargoed press release to a list of far-right outlets like Breitbart, the Federalist, Epoch Times, and the Daily Wire.


Dismissing Concerns About Hand Counting Votes in Arizona
Arizona Senate Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli has been working to convince counties to ban electronic voting machines and adopt unreliable hand counts. A June 2023 email ([link removed]) we obtained shows Borrelli responding to a letter expressing concerns about hand counts with “HAHAHA.”
* In June, the Mohave County Board of Supervisors approved a measure to consider hand-counting all ballots in the 2024 election. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes sent a letter ([link removed]) to board members outlining his concerns with hand counts.
* The next day, someone from board superintendent Travis Lingenfelter’s office forwarded “correspondence from Secretary Fontes” to Borrelli. The attachment likely was Fontes’ letter. “Yes I saw it. HAHAHA,” Borrelli responded ([link removed]) .
* Earlier this month, the Mohave County Board of Supervisors voted against ([link removed]) hand-counting ballots in 2024, citing concerns about cost and accuracy.

Other Stories We're Following

Election Denial and Voting Rights
* Inside the right’s effort to build a voter fraud hunting tool (NBC News ([link removed]) )
* Meet “Eagle AI,” the Cleta Mitchell-backed MAGA mass voter challenge program (Documented ([link removed]) )
* A wide-ranging North Carolina elections bill is advancing again at the General Assembly (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Judge calls new Texas election law unconstitutional but state says it will appeal ruling (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Georgia company pursues multistate voter registration cancellations (Atlanta Journal-Constitution ([link removed]) )
* Chesapeake, Va. City Council removes early voting location in majority-Black area (Democracy Docket ([link removed]) )
* Harris County’s election chief remains in legal limbo after judge rules that lawmakers can’t dissolve the position (Texas Tribune ([link removed]) )


In the States
* Lawmakers form panel to examine 'government censorship' as Hobbs' requests draw scrutiny (Arizona Republic ([link removed]) )
* Judge rules in favor of youths in landmark Montana climate trial (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Hawaii’s top power utility accused of years of mismanagement before the deadly wildfires (NBC News ([link removed]) )
* Texas names new head of child abuse investigations after high turnover and heavy criticism (Texas Tribune ([link removed]) )
* New accusations: Ken Paxton used burner phone, secret email account, fake Uber name to hide ties to Nate Paul (Texas Tribune ([link removed]) )
* Cut this, add that: Commenters on left, right criticize draft of 2024 Arizona 'election bible' (Arizona Republic ([link removed]) )
* Advocates fight Florida law used to detain kids in crisis (The Appeal ([link removed]) )


National News
* Court watchdog files complaint against a judge who ordered 'religious-liberty training' for lawyers (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Trump co-defendant Carlos De Oliveira pleads not guilty in documents case (Washington Post ([link removed]) )


LGBTQ Rights
* U.S. exempts Baylor University from Title IX sexual harassment rules (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Veto overridden: Ban on gender-affirming care for minors takes effect in North Carolina (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Tennessee hospital faces civil rights investigation over release of transgender health records (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Nebraska judge rules in favor of abortion, gender-affirming care bans (The Hill ([link removed]) )
* States that protect transgender health care now try to absorb demand (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Indiana attorney general seeks info about gender-affirming care with subpoena-like demands (Indiana Capital Chronicle ([link removed]) )
* Fairfax County schools defy Gov. Glenn Youngkin's new 'model policies' for transgender students (Fox 5, Washington, DC ([link removed]) )
* U.S. appeals court blocks Idaho’s transgender student athlete ban (NBC News ([link removed]) )


Abortion and Reproductive Rights
* Appeals court embraces abortion-pill limits, sets up Supreme Court review (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Idaho professors say they change syllabi, self-censor abortion over fears of prosecution (ABC News ([link removed]) )
* Even after Planned Parenthood stopped performing abortions, Texas is still trying to shut it down (Texas Tribune ([link removed]) )
* Florida hits Orlando abortion clinic with $193K fine over waiting-period violations (WKMG ([link removed]) )
* Ohio Supreme Court could reinstate 6-week abortion ban ahead of Nov. vote (Ohio Capital Journal ([link removed]) )


Threats to Education
* AP African American studies canceled by Arkansas officials just before school begins (ABC News ([link removed]) )
* Florida’s new higher education law faces legal challenges (Tampa Bay Times ([link removed]) )
* Florida teachers are worried new policies could get them fired — or even criminally charged (NBC News ([link removed]) )
* Chaos reigns at New College of Florida as fall semester nears (Inside Higher Ed ([link removed]) )
* HISD terminates nearly two dozen special education contract workers, including school psychologists (Houston Chronicle ([link removed]) )
* Texas revamps Houston schools, closing libraries and angering parents (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* Cobb school board votes to fire teacher who read controversial book (Atlanta Journal-Constitution ([link removed]) )


Government Transparency and Public Records Law
* Pima County's top prosecutor seeks limits on public record requests (Arizona Daily Star ([link removed]) )
* As taxpayers pay more for DeSantis' travel and protection, new law conceals his travel (Palm Beach Post ([link removed]) )
* Nebraska governor’s use of ‘executive privilege’ to withhold records troubles transparency advocates (Nebraska Public Media ([link removed]) )


Immigration
* ‘Barbaric’ and ‘negligent’ treatment in ICE detention, inspections found (NPR ([link removed]) )
* Barrels of drinking water for migrants walking through Texas have disappeared (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Trump officials hatched the idea for the Rio Grande buoys that Texas now uses to block migrants (NBC News ([link removed]) )
* GOP invokes Noah’s Ark in court to defend Rio Grande buoy barrier (Houston Chronicle ([link removed]) )
* 3-year-old dies aboard migrant bus headed from Texas to Chicago (USA Today ([link removed]) )

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