The Case Against Trump for Fraud

Trump speaks with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) outside of the Oval Office after a tree-planting ceremony in recognition of Earth Day on April 22, 2020, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Drew Angerer/via Getty Images)

The House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack appeared to make the case on Monday that in addition to committing seditious conspiracy, Donald Trump and his campaign possibly engaged in fraud following the election, through the guise of an “election defense fund.” The committee drove home this critical point at the close of the hearing: the fund, which raised over $250 million on the false election premise that Trump was peddling to his supporters, did not actually exist.

The majority of the hearing was led by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), who showed through video exhibits and testimony that Trump used his daily claims of non-existent voter fraud in the media to raise millions from small donors through constant pressure and email requests. According to Committee testimony, Trump then funneled the money to his own business properties as well as his own Save America political action committee.

With these latest allegations from House Committee Members that Trump intentionally deceived his donors into donating money to a fund that did not exist — based on claims about a stolen election that his top advisors told him were nonsense — the panel has credibly alleged that Trump engaged in fraud.