Special Counsel Jack Smith Grants Immunity To 2 GOP Fake Electors, Ramping Up Probe Into Efforts To Overturn 2020 Election

Special Counsel Jack Smith has granted limited immunity to two Republican fake electors in exchange for their testifying to a federal grand jury in Washington.

Since last spring, Smith has been reviewing documents and gathering testimony from Republicans who signed false certificates to the federal government, which claimed that they elected Donald Trump in several states that President Joe Biden took in the 2020 election.

At least half a dozen witnesses have testified before a federal grand jury over the last two weeks.

The two fake electors who were given immunity were Michael McDonald, Nevada’s Republican Party Chairman, and Jim DeGraffenreid. After a long battle with witnesses, most of whom declined to answer questions under the Fifth Amendment, the special counsel’s office is now picking up the pace in their investigation of state-wide efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

It is not yet clear if Trump will be a target in the fake elector’s portion of Smith’s probe. However, prosecutors have been moving to obtain evidence of Trump’s actions and conversations during and after the 2020 election. These motions have included subpoenaing former Vice President Mike Pence, who gave insight into the events of January 6th, 2021, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol.

Special counsel has also taken an interest in members of Trump’s former legal team, many of whom helped the former president in promoting theories of voter fraud.

Trump’s legal woes seem to be piling up as investigators continue inquiring about the 2020 election. Earlier this month, Smith indicted Trump on 37 counts for mishandling classified documents and attempting to obstruct justice. He was arrested and arraigned in the federal courthouse in Miami, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial for his case is set to begin as soon as August 14.

Multiple 2020 election witnesses are scheduled to appear before a grand jury in the coming weeks.

Article by Ava Lombardi