RNC legal strategy/ 2024 election legal battles/ Trump election challenges/ election integrity initiative/ Republican legal team/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ After failed attempts to overturn the 2020 election, the Republican National Committee is rebuilding its legal strategy ahead of the 2024 election. With Trump continuing to claim election fraud, the RNC is organizing a more professional legal team and launching an “election integrity” initiative to ensure oversight and transparency.
RNC Election Legal Strategy Quick Looks:
- RNC’s new approach: The Republican National Committee is revamping its legal operation with a focus on professionalism after 2020 election failures.
- Trump’s continued claims: Despite Trump’s denial of the 2020 loss, the RNC insists its legal efforts will follow the law.
- Legal team: The RNC has recruited experienced attorneys, distancing itself from the chaotic legal efforts of 2020.
- Election integrity initiative: The RNC aims to oversee election procedures with poll monitors and a new legal framework.
RNC Rebuilds Legal Strategy After Trump’s 2020 Election Failures
Deep Look:
RNC Rebuilds Legal Operation After 2020 Election Setbacks, Prepares for 2024 Battle
In preparation for the 2024 election, the Republican National Committee (RNC) is overhauling its legal approach after the chaotic and unsuccessful attempts by Donald Trump’s allies to overturn the 2020 election results. Many of the lawyers involved in those efforts faced sanctions, criminal charges, or costly lawsuits. Now, with Trump still denying his 2020 loss and casting doubt on the upcoming election, the RNC is determined to create a more organized and professional legal framework to oversee election integrity.
Learning from 2020’s Legal Failures
In 2020, the Trump campaign’s legal challenges were widely dismissed by courts, many of them led by inexperienced or controversial lawyers. These efforts were rooted in baseless claims of widespread voter fraud, a narrative that led to the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Trump supporters, frustrated by the court defeats, stormed the Capitol in a violent clash with law enforcement.
Now, the RNC is working to avoid a repeat of that disarray. RNC Chairman Michael Whatley emphasized the importance of establishing a “fully professional operation” for 2024, adding that the party aims to maintain credibility by ensuring that all legal challenges are based on sound arguments.
“What we have seen in court over the course of the last six months… is a testament to making sure that we’re working with the states and courts to get a truly responsible program up and running,” Whatley said in an interview with the Associated Press.
Building a New Legal Team
The RNC has recruited a lineup of experienced attorneys to lead its legal efforts. Among them are Steven Kenny, who previously worked at the prestigious law firm Jones Day; Gineen Bresso, a former chair of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission; and Josh Helton, a veteran of Mike Huckabee’s 2016 campaign. These attorneys are tasked with ensuring that voter ID requirements are met, addressing concerns about non-citizen voting, and scrutinizing mail-in and absentee voting rules.
David Warrington, who represented Trump during the congressional investigation into January 6, has also joined the legal efforts, filing lawsuits aimed at protecting election integrity. The RNC’s current strategy involves filing lawsuits ahead of the election to clarify election rules, rather than waiting until after the results come in, as was the case in 2020.
Election Integrity Initiative
The RNC has launched a coordinated “election integrity” program that includes recruiting thousands of lawyers, poll workers, and polling-place monitors. The goal is to ensure that election laws are followed and to provide oversight throughout the process. While the RNC insists that its efforts are focused on transparency and legal compliance, Democrats have expressed concerns, accusing Republicans of trying to undermine trust in the electoral process.
Democrats warn that the initiative could lead to chaos if Trump or his allies dispute the results. Legal challenges based on unfounded claims could once again inflame tensions and cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election. To counter the RNC’s efforts, Democrats have assembled their own team of seasoned attorneys, including Marc Elias, a prominent election lawyer. They’ve already filed lawsuits challenging election rules in key battleground states like Georgia, where they fear new rules could delay or obstruct the certification process.
Familiar Faces Resurface
Some figures from Trump’s 2020 legal challenges have reappeared in the lead-up to 2024. Cleta Mitchell, who was involved in a controversial phone call where Trump pressured Georgia officials to “find” enough votes to overturn the election, is now spearheading lawsuits over overseas voting rules. Mitchell has specifically focused on military and overseas voters, pushing back against rules that she claims could lead to ballot disqualification.
Christina Bobb, a former conservative media host now heading the RNC’s election integrity division, has been indicted by Arizona’s attorney general for her role in advancing Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud. Bobb has denied involvement in the efforts to present Trump electors, and her legal team is fighting the charges.
Rebuilding Credibility
The RNC’s new legal operation comes with the challenge of rebuilding credibility. In 2020, many of Trump’s legal efforts were led by figures like Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, both of whom were disbarred and criminally charged for their roles in spreading misinformation about the election. Giuliani was also ordered to pay $148 million to two Georgia poll workers who sued him for defamation. These consequences, legal experts say, should serve as a deterrent for lawyers tempted to repeat similar tactics in 2024.
Despite the RNC’s efforts to distance itself from the legal chaos of 2020, Trump remains at the center of the party’s messaging. Although Trump has stated that he hasn’t seen evidence of widespread fraud in 2024, he continues to raise doubts about the electoral process. He has urged his supporters to turn out in large numbers, claiming that the result needs to be “too big to rig.”
Conclusion: A New Legal Strategy for 2024
As the 2024 election approaches, the RNC is positioning itself with a more structured and professional legal operation. However, the challenge remains: even the most credentialed legal team will struggle if the arguments are based on unfounded claims. With Trump’s influence still strong and both parties preparing for legal battles in battleground states, the upcoming election could once again be shaped by a wave of litigation.
