John Eastman: A Man Who Sought to Overturn the 2020 Election

In the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, many eyes turned to John Eastman, a conservative lawyer who played a key role in Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the results. Eastman, a professor at Chapman University, presented a six-point plan to then-Vice President Mike Pence on how he could reject electors from battleground states and hand the election to Trump. These efforts ultimately failed, and Eastman now faces potential criminal charges related to his involvement in the events of January 6th, 2021.

Eastman, a native of California, graduated from the University of Chicago Law School and began his career as a clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. He later worked in the Reagan administration and served as a law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. In 2010, he joined Chapman University, where he taught constitutional law.

Eastman is a staunch conservative who has written extensively about the importance of judicial restraint and the role of the courts in American society. He is also a vocal critic of the Warren Court, which he believes overstepped its authority in areas such as school prayer and criminal justice. In recent years, Eastman has become increasingly involved in Republican politics, and he has been a frequent guest on conservative talk shows.

Eastman's involvement in the 2020 election began after Trump lost the popular vote to Joe Biden by more than 7 million votes. Trump and his allies quickly began making unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud, and Eastman emerged as one of the leading proponents of these claims. He wrote several legal memos arguing that Pence had the authority to reject electors from battleground states and hand the election to Trump. These memos were widely criticized by legal experts, who said they were based on a misinterpretation of the law.

On January 6th, 2021, Eastman spoke at a rally in Washington, D.C., where he urged Trump supporters to march to the Capitol and "stop the steal." He later met with Trump and other top advisers in the Oval Office, where he outlined his plan to reject electors from seven battleground states. Pence ultimately refused to go along with Eastman's plan, and the Electoral College certified Biden's victory.

In the months since the election, Eastman has been subpoenaed by the House Select Committee investigating the January 6th attack. He has also been sued by the state of New Mexico for his role in the effort to overturn the election. Eastman has pleaded the Fifth Amendment in both cases, refusing to answer questions about his involvement in the events leading up to January 6th.

Eastman's role in the 2020 election has been widely condemned by legal experts and elected officials from both parties. He is seen as a symbol of the extreme elements that have taken hold of the Republican Party in recent years. It remains to be seen whether Eastman will be criminally charged for his role in the effort to overturn the election, but his legacy is likely to be one of shame and disgrace.