The 'Big Lie' was concocted for one reason only: The GOP knows it cannot win legitimate elections.

Throughout the J6 televised hearings, with all of the evidence presented, and the testimony given, we've learned that the Trump administration developed an elaborate plan to overturn the legitimate election from Joe Biden. There is absolutely no evidence that there was widespread voter fraud by the Democrats, allegations roundly rejected by the courts and members of Trump's staff who refused to go along quietly.

Yet there are plenty of seditionists in the GOP, 147 in the House and Senate to be specific, who have helped Trump convince and brainwash his cultlike followers since 2020. There are also members of the GOP in states like Michigan, Arizona, and Georgia who perpetuate this myth. Trump himself is still on the road conducting his hate rallies, still telling 'The Big Lie' and still grifting off the American people even as his legal woes pile on.

As of this writing, Trump's election deniers are running for offices that will determine the outcome of the 2024 election, most notably Secretary of State and Attorney General. Some of them are actively under investigation themselves for serious election breaches relative to overturning the 2020 election, while others are already charged. 

To put it simply, after its failed coup attempts, both peaceful and violent, the GOP realizes that it will be much easier to win if they are charge of the election outcome from the beginning, rather than to try to overturn it once it's all over. 

Predictably, many Trump extremists running are threatening to refuse to concede if they are on the losing end. Laura Loomer has refused to concede in a Florida primary against another member of her own party. We haven't even gotten to the final show before the absurdity starts.

Below we talk about the investigations into the GOP election shenanigans in more detail.

The alternate electors plot was planned for seven swing states, not just Georgia. You can read American Oversight's investigation here.

Fani Willis and the Georgia Grand Jury is out in front of the pack. Vox gives us a great synopsis here.

The investigation into election interference by Donald Trump and his allies in Georgia has been underway since February of 2021. Fani Willis, Fulton County's DA has empaneled an 'investigative grand jury' which is different from a regular grand jury in that it is focused on one subject rather than returning indictments on a collection of potential crimes.

Rudy Giuliani failed in an attempt to quash his subpoena and testified for about six hours. Giuliani has also been advised that he is a "target" of the probe, which means he could be charged. Giuliani spoke at legislative hearings in Georgia making false claims of "widespread election fraud" in the state.

Others are also being called to testify, including current Governor, Brian Kemp. Kemp's motion to quash his subpoena was denied today (August 29, 2022) by the judge presiding over the case. However, Kemp will not have to testify until after the midterms. Senator Lindsay Graham was also sent a subpoena, which he has managed to temporarily block.

Willis also received another legal victory today (August 29, 2022) when a judge rejected an effort by Trump attorney Kenneth Chesebro to block his testimony using attorney-client privilege. The judge ruled that not all the information he could provide is covered by attorney-client.

The J6 Committee is also interested in Chesebro, who was instrumental in developing the strategy to keep Trump in power even though he lost the election. Chesebro was also in contact with other Trump attorneys, most notably John Eastman, to discuss appointment of the false alternate electors.

This is the investigation where the infamous taped phone call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger plays a key role. You can hear the full taped audio here. While no decision has yet been made, Fani Willis has not ruled out calling Donald Trump to testify.

The 16 "fake" electors which were part of the Trump scheme have all received letters advising them that they are all potential "targets" of the probe as well.

“The idea that Mr. Biden didn’t win the election is a big lie. It’s a big lie because you have to disbelieve all kinds of evidence to believe in it. It’s a big lie because you have to believe in a huge conspiracy in order to believe it. And it’s a big lie because, if you believe it, it demands you take radical action. So, this is one way we have really moved forwards towards authoritarianism and away from democracy. It’s coming to a peak right now.”

-Timothy Snyder, Historian

The tale of Tina Peters, county clerk and recorder in Mesa County in western Colorado, is one of the most twisted election tales in this entire debacle. A grand jury indicted Peters and her deputy to a bunch of criminal and misdemeanor charges relative to a security breach in her office during the summer of 2021. As you may guess, this action was inspired by the rhetoric of Donald Trump's "Biden Stole My Election" tour.

Tina Peters racked up seven criminal indictments and three misdemeanor charges, including attempting to influence a public servant, identity theft, and criminal impersonation, among other things. You can read her indictments here. At one point she was on the lam for leaving the state without permission, but turned herself in. She was then later denied a request to travel outside the state again.

Her deputy, Belinda Knisley, was indicted on six charges, including attempting to influence a public servant and conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation. Knisley then said Peters 'directed' her actions. As part of a plea deal that includes testifying against Peters and others, Knisley will receive a reduced sentence to two years probation. 

Meanwhile, in Michigan, another flat-out in-your-face breach is also alleged. Trump-endorsed candidate Matt DiPerno, the Michigan GOP's nominee for Attorney General, is one of nine people under investigation for illegally accessing voter equipment.

It is alleged that the group accessed and compromised tabulators from clerk's offices in northern and western Michigan counties and then delivered them to Oakland County. DiPerno's opposing candidate, Dana Nessel, the current Attorney General, has requested a special prosecutor to handle this case because of the obvious conflict of interest. State Representative Daire Rendon and Sheriff Dar Leaf are also implicated in this case.

Even before this allegation, there was a rupture in the Michigan GOP. The old guard GOP opposes the elevation of Trump-backed DiPerno for Attorney General and Kristine Karamo for Secretary of State. Both are "Big Lie" proponents.

We will be following the progress of both of these cases closely.

Couy Griffin is the first public official removed from office for his participation in the insurrection. You can read the judge's ruling here.

In New Mexico, a judge has removed the first public official from office over his participation in the January 6, 2021, insurrection. State District Court Judge Frances Mathew ruled that Couy Griffin, Otero County commissioner and found of Cowboys for Trump, violated Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution when he participated in the Capitol insurrection. 

Furthermore, the judge wrote in his decision that Griffin is "constitutionally disqualified" from running for or holding office in the future.

The action was taken in response to a civil suit filed by a group of citizens against Griffin.

While Griffin stated he was there merely as moral support, the films prove otherwise. He is shown climbing a barricade turned on its side to gain access to the Capitol. Somehow, he wanted everyone to believe he thought they were "steps."

Griffin also asserted that the judge did not have jurisdiction to remove him as he was elected by the people. The judge pushed back by pointing out that Griffin himself was usurping the will of the people of the United States by attempting to prevent the certification of a free and fair election on January 6, 2021.

Griffin has confirmed that he will appeal this ruling, so we will be watching this case closely as it moves forward.