John Lauro’s Media Blitz on Sunday Sparks Debate Over Trump’s Alleged Attempts to Undermine 2020 Election Results

On Sunday, former President Donald Trump’s attorney, John Lauro, made the rounds on several news outlets to deny allegations that Trump knowingly spread lies about the 2020 election being stolen. Lauro insisted that Trump’s attempts to pressure election officials were simply “free speech.”

During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” Lauro argued that Trump’s actions were a “technical violation of the Constitution” but did not break any criminal laws. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) — who was also the lead manager in Trump’s second impeachment — called Lauro’s argument “deranged.”

CNN’s Dana Bash asked Lauro about Trump’s alleged effort to have then-Vice President Mike Pence delay Electoral College voting after unsuccessfully pressuring him to reject the votes altogether. This prompted a laugh from Bash, who was seemingly incredulous at Lauro’s suggestion that there was a “peaceful transfer of power” following the 2020 election.

Raskin later pointed out that the Constitution “in six different places opposes insurrection,” and is designed to stop people from trying to overthrow the government. He added that Trump’s actions were “a direct attack on the Constitution and the rule of law.”

Lauro’s media blitz was met with criticism from both sides of the aisle. While some argued that Trump’s actions were a violation of the Constitution, others felt that Lauro’s attempts to downplay the former president’s actions were misguided.