Codefendants Allege Trump Ordered Their False Elector Actions, Want Federal Trial

Three individuals claim that their actions surrounding the contentious false elector effort were under the guidance of then-President Donald Trump.

This association should shield them from state legal consequences, they argue.

David Shafer, a former state GOP chair; Shawn Still, now a state senator; and Cathleen Latham, a local GOP official; constitute the trio of deceptive electors presenting the argument.

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Recall the events leading up to the infamous Jan. 6, 2021 riot, where Trump exerted pressure on then-Vice President Mike Pence to acknowledge and tally unofficial electoral votes.

Shafer, Still and Latham are now advocating for their cases to be transferred from state jurisdictions to a federal court situated in the Northern District of Georgia, Politico reports.

Their defense rests on the premise that their actions were based on counsel from campaign and party legal advisors and had the federal government's endorsement. They believe that this association provides them immunity under the Constitution's supremacy clause.

Previously, Trump had utilized these unauthorized slates to stir controversy, leading to criminal investigations in multiple states.

For instance, in Michigan, all 16 false electors are now facing felony charges. Evidence presented by the House Jan. 6 select committee and special counsel Jack Smith revealed that Trump had liaised with RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel prior to the Dec. 14 vote.

He introduced her to attorney John Eastman, a pivotal figure in the false elector initiative, emphasizing the necessity for "alternative" slates.

While these individuals' actions have captured significant attention, others like Mark Meadows, Trump's former chief of staff, and Jeffrey Clark, a past Justice Department official, have also been thrust into the limelight.

Both made last-ditch emergency efforts to prevent their arrests by the Fulton County district attorney. U.S. District Court Judge Steve Jones has set hearings in late August and mid-September to evaluate their respective situations.

Meadows is currently seeking to move the Fulton County, Georgia, prosecution against him to federal court with the hope that he can get the case dismissed under federal law.

Trump, who faces 13 charges in Georgia, is also reportedly trying to move the case to federal court.

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This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.