Trump's Attorney Defends 2020 Election Actions As Exercise of Free Speech — Ex-President Was 'Aspirational,' Not 'Criminal'

On Sunday, an attorney for former president Donald Trump contended that Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results were “aspirational” rather than criminal.

What Happened: John Lauro, defending Trump against four felony charges related to the 2020 election, stated that Trump’s pressure campaign on various officials was protected speech under the First Amendment, The Washington Post reports.

Lauro emphasized that Trump’s requests, including asking Vice President Mike Pence to pause the election certification process, were merely aspirational and not actionable.

He reportedly said on CNN’s “State of the Union” program, “you can not only advocate for a position, but you can take action, you can petition, you can ask even your vice president to pause the vote.”

“Asking is aspirational. Asking is not action. It's core free speech," said the Trump lawyer.

Despite these claims, a federal grand jury charged Trump on Tuesday with multiple counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States.

See Also: Trump’s Third Indictment Supported By Majority Of Voters, But They Worry About Violent Protests If…

Why It Matters: This recent indictment adds to the growing list of legal challenges Trump faces. Trump was indicted for his alleged attempts to reverse the 2020 Presidential election outcome.

On Sunday, the former president asked for the recusal of the 2020 election subversion case judge Tanya Chutkan saying there was no way he could get a “fair trial” with her assigned to the “ridiculous freed of speech/fair elections case.”

The former president has consistently portrayed these investigations as politically motivated, leveraging them in his campaign appeals. Despite these challenges, Trump’s popularity remains strong among his base, suggesting that these legal issues might not deter his potential 2024 presidential bid.

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