President Donald Trump has stocked his administration with people who promoted his false 2020 election conspiracy theories, according to the Associated Press. The appointments include lawyer Kurt Olsen, who pushed the Justice Department to back Trump’s claims about the election and now leads a sweeping probe of the 2020 vote, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, who helped Trump attempt to overturn his loss to Democrat Joe Biden.
The appointments mark a consolidation of power for the election denial movement, which once operated on the margins of American politics. Election officials across the country, particularly those in Democratic-controlled states, are preparing for federal pressure around the 2026 midterm elections when control of Congress is on the line.
The Core Appointments
The most concrete example of this shift is Olsen’s role leading the vote probe. In 2020, Olsen was among those who pushed the Justice Department to back Trump’s false election claims. That effort failed. Now, operating from within the federal government, Olsen oversees an investigation rooted in claims already scrutinized by election authorities.
Bondi, the attorney general, has moved from Trump ally to executive position. She told the Justice Department that its personnel work to execute the president’s demands. The message, reported by the Associated Press, signals a department subordinated to presidential will rather than operating as an independent law enforcement body.
The Fulton County Seizure
This arrangement translated into action in late January, when federal agents seized ballots and election records from Fulton County in Georgia. The county, a Democratic stronghold that includes Atlanta, has long been a focal point for election conspiracy theorists aligned with Trump. The search warrant affidavit shows the seizure was based on 2020 claims that election officials have long since investigated and addressed.
A Movement Consolidates
Joanna Lydgate, chief executive officer of States United Democracy Center, which tracks those who promote election conspiracy theories, sees these appointments as a turning point. “The election denial movement is now embedded across our federal government, which makes it more powerful than ever,” she said.
“Trump and his allies are trying to use all of the powers of the federal government to undermine elections, with an eye to the upcoming midterms,” Lydgate added.
Looking Forward
Election officials across the country are preparing for the implications. Those in states controlled politically by Democrats are particularly concerned about federal pressure. The 2026 midterm elections, when control of Congress is on the line, represent the first major electoral test of how the administration will apply its election denial framework from the seat of federal power.