A bombshell legal filing from special counsel Jack Smith unsealed Wednesday contains new evidence in the election subversion case against Donald Trump, highlighting Trump’s fake electors plot and attempts to sow confusion after the election. The filing alleges that Trump and his private operatives sought to create chaos at polling places to prevent votes from being tabulated, with Trump dismissing concerns about false claims of voter fraud surviving courtroom scrutiny.
Following his election loss in 2020, Trump was able to regain control over the party and its media wing by exploiting what attorney Kenneth Chesebro referred to as the “cloud of confusion.” Chesebro played a key role in the fake electors plot by having Republican electors submit bogus Electoral College certificates claiming the loser of the election was actually the winner. The goal was to subvert the federal government’s function by stopping Biden electors’ votes from being counted and certified.
Chesebro’s memos about so-called “alternate electors” were influential within Trumpworld leading up to January 6, aiming to create chaos and benefit from disorder. The hope was that VP Mike Pence, overseeing the certification, would accept the bogus certificates and overturn Biden’s victory. The House January 6 committee later obtained memos showing Chesebro’s central role in the plan, shedding light on the extent of the coup attempt. The legal system slowly achieved accountability by releasing documents related to the plot in 2024.
The strategy of sowing chaos and confusion, dubbed the “cloud of confusion,” was used by figures like Trump, Chesebro, Sean Hannity, and Tucker Carlson. By labeling critical news coverage as “hoaxes” or “fake,” they aimed to disrupt public perception and critical thinking skills. This tactic cascaded into denialism about various issues, from the border crisis to the January 6 attack, obscuring the truth and disorienting the public.
The “cloud of confusion” tactic was a key element in Trump’s potential reelection toolkit, affecting media coverage and public perception. The shadow of confusion tainted every story about Trump during his presidency, with echoes of autocratic strategies aiming to disorient the public. The confusion strategy impacted individuals like “Rally Runner,” who was radicalized by trusting unreliable news sources like Trump and Carlson, ultimately participating in the Capitol riot and facing legal consequences.
The cloud of confusion reached even deeper into individuals like Rally Runner, as seen in Daniel Donnelly Jr.’s case. Initially a fan of Tucker Carlson, Donnelly was later betrayed by Carlson’s doubt and denial of his involvement in the Capitol attack. Donnelly’s story highlights how the cloud of confusion distorted truth and led to repercussions for individuals caught up in the chaos. The manipulation and disorientation caused by figures like Carlson and Trump demonstrate the lasting impact of the cloud strategy on public perception and accountability.