Few legal wins so far as Trump team hunts for proof of fraud

During a Pennsylvania court hearing this week on one of scores of election lawsuits brought by President Donald Trump, a judge asked a campaign lawyer wher he h found any signs of fraud found among 592 ballots challenged.

answer was .

“Accusing people of fraud is a pretty big step,” said lawyer, Jonathan Goldstein. “We’re all just trying to get an election done.”

Trump has t been so cautious, insisting without evidence that election was stolen from him even when election officials nationwide from both parties say re has been conspiracy.

On Wednesday, Trump took aim at Philelphia, Democratic stronghold that helped push President-elect Joe Biden over 270 Electoral College votes needed to win race. president accused a local Republican election official Al Schmidt, of igring "a mountain of corruption & dishonesty.” Twitter ded a label that said election fraud claim is disputed.

Trump loyalists have filed at least 15 legal challenges in Pennsylvania alone in an effort to reclaim state’s 20 electoral votes . re is action, too, in Georgia, Arizona, Neva and Michigan.

In court, his lawyers must walk a precarious line between vocating for ir client and upholding ir professional oath.

Legal ethicists and pro-democracy activists have questioned participation of lawyers in this quest, as Trump clings to power and President-elect Joe Biden rolls out his nda.

“This may be an attempt to appease ego in chief, but re are real world consequences for real people that come out of that,” said Loyola Law School professor Justin Levitt, a former Justice Department elections official. “ attempt to soo president’s ego is t a victimless crime.”

Schmidt told CBS' “60 Minutes” that his office has received death threats simply for counting votes.

“From inside looking out, it feels all very deranged,” Schmidt said in an interview that aired Sunday. “Counting votes cast on or before Election Day by eligible voters is t corruption. It is t cheating. It is democracy.”

Untold voters, however, are accepting Trump’s claim about a rigged election and are donating to his legal fund.

A law firm involved in election suits, Ohio-based Porter Wright Morris & Arthur, appeared to take down its Twitter feed Tuesday after it was inundated with attacks. firm did t return messs seeking comment.

A second firm, Jones Day, said it was representing t Trump campaign but Pennsylvania GOP, in litigation before U.S. Supreme Court over three-day extension to accept mail-in ballots.

Nationally, strategy is being run by Trump allies such as Rudy Giuliani, president’s personal attorney; political operative David Bossie, who is t an attorney; and Jay Sekulow, a le lawyer during president’s impeachment trial this year. Bossie recently tested positive for COVID-19.

Election law expert Rick Hasen said he would expect to see top-drawer Supreme Court litigators involved, such as two former solicitors general, Paul Clement or odore Olson, if Trump h a strong case.

“re are certain names of elite lawyers that signal to Supreme Court that something is serious,” said Hasen, a professor at University of California, Irvine. Inste, “ campaign anunced that it was putting Rudy Giuliani and David Bossie in charge.”

low point of effort undoubtedly came Saturday, when Giuliani held a news conference outside Four Seasons Total Landscaping in Philelphia just after race was called for Biden. Standing in show of a sex shop and a crematorium, just down ro from a state prison, Giuliani called a disgruntled poll watcher to microphone to discuss “shenanigans” in city.

Political observers tuning in from nearby Trenton, New Jersey, immediately recognized man as a convicted sex offender and perennial candidate for office.

In ar he-scratching moment, as campaign tried to stop vote count in Philelphia last week, a judge tried to get to bottom of a Republican complaint over observer access in room where election workers were processing mail-in ballots.

“I am asking you as a member of bar of this court, are people representing Donald J. Trump for president (campaign) … in that room?” U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond asked.

“re’s a nzero number of people in room,” campaign lawyer Jerome Marcus replied.

Diamond me two sides forge an agreement and threatened to charge m with contempt if y didn’t keep peace.

Some of suits filed on Trump's behalf appear to be hastily thrown toger, with spelling errors (“ballet” for “ballot”), procedural mistakes and little to back up ir claims. Judge have been skeptical.

In Michigan, Judge Cynthia Stephens dismissed one filing as “inmissible hearsay within hearsay.” When Trump’s lawyers appealed, next court kicked filing back as “defective.”

campaign has so far scored just one small victory, allowing ir observers to stand a little closer to election workers processing mail-in ballots in Philelphia.

Senate Majority Leer Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., insists president is “100% within his rights" to look into fraud allegations and pursue his legal options. Attorney General William Barr has authorized Justice Department to investigate “clear and apparently-credible allegations of irregularities.”

Eir way, experts doubt suits can reverse outcome in a single state, let alone election. Trump aides and allies have privately mitted as much, suggesting challenges are designed more to stoke his base.