In Las Vegas court on Monday, December 18, 2023, six Republicans pleaded not guilty to two felony charges each. The charges were related to their involvement as fake electors in the 2020 election, where they signed certificates falsely stating that former President Donald Trump won Nevada over Joe Biden. The court proceeding was conducted via teleconference, with a screen showing the participants. An AP photo by Ty O’Neil captured the moment.
According to individuals familiar with the payment, a nonprofit organization associated with former President Trump covered the legal expenses amounting to $100,000 for the six individuals dubbed as the “fake electors” in Nevada.
PPO, short for Personnel Policy Operations, paid the fees to aid the electors who supported Trump and were charged for falsely declaring that he won the state in the 2020 presidential election. Fortunately, the case was dismissed on Friday when the judge ruled that the Nevada attorney general’s office had filed it in the wrong venue.
According to Joshua Whitehouse, the director of strategy at the nonprofit organization, there is a vast and robust community of America First patriots who are dedicated to assisting each other and thwarting any unfair exploitation of our legal system. As he explained to The Hill, the PPO plays a significant role in facilitating this network as one of its primary hubs.
PPO subscribes to the Reagan-era philosophy that claims “personnel is policy.” The organization’s goal is to offer assistance and resources to America First civil servants and their advisors who hold conservative values. PPO’s mission aligns with the conservative Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, which seeks to promote right-wing policies and prepare for a potential second term of the Trump presidency.
Last fall, Troup Hemenway became a senior advisor and associate director of personnel placement for Project 2025, where he now serves as the president. Before that, he worked in the Presidential Personnel Office (PPO) under the Trump administration. Interestingly, the legal fundraising group shares the same acronym as PPO, and several other leaders from PPO, including Whitehouse, also hold positions within Project 2025.
According to Hemenway, the funds provided by PPO are not given directly to the defendants, but are instead paid towards their legal fees. Hemenway also confirmed that the group has made a significant contribution in the six-figure range to support the legal defense of the Nevada patriots.
He added that they will persist in their efforts to combat lawfare in the United States with the objective of reinstating American supremacy.
According to an individual associated with the organization, the Courage Under Fire Legal Defense Fund provided financial aid to Trump allies, including John Eastman, Jeffrey Clark, and Peter Navarro, in their legal disputes. The fund’s existence was initially reported by The Washington Post in May.
An attorney for Durand James Hindle III, one of the pro-Trump electors who assisted in facilitating the payment, was asked for comment by The Hill. Brian Hardy represents Hindle in this matter.
On Friday, the case against the alternate electors in the Silver State was dismissed, just before they were scheduled to head to trial in January. This is the first instance where any slate of pro-Trump electors has had their case thrown out.
According to The Hill, the Nevada attorney general’s spokesperson, John Sadler, stated on Friday that the office plans to appeal the decision without delay.
Hindle, Michael McDonald, Jesse Law, Jim DeGraffenreid, Shawn Meehan, and Eileen Rice faced felony charges of offering a false instrument for filing and uttering a forged document. The penalties for these charges can result in up to four or five years of imprisonment.
During the 2020 election, President Biden secured a victory in Nevada with over 33,000 votes. However, Trump’s lawyers orchestrated a plan that involved former Vice President Mike Pence in certifying pro-Trump electors in key states, instead of acknowledging the Electoral College votes that were cast for Biden.
On the day of the formal certification of the election, January 6, 2021, Pence declined to overturn the results, despite pressure from some members of his party. Unfortunately, shortly after the certification process had begun, a violent mob stormed the Capitol, causing chaos and destruction.
Criminal charges are being pressed against fake electors in Michigan, Georgia, and Arizona in connection with the plot.
A number of lawyers who worked for President Trump have faced charges for their involvement in his attempts to sway the 2020 presidential election in his favor. This includes the former president himself, who is facing state and federal charges. Despite the allegations against him, he has pleaded not guilty in both cases.