Meeting of 2020 Trump Election Operatives Considers 2026 Litigation Strategies and Declaring a National Emergency to Interfere with the Midterms

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for March 2, 2026

Operatives active in the effort to overturn the 2020 election reportedly gathered at a recent summit convened by former Trump National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. Among the topics discussed: Legal strategies to contest the 2026 midterm election, and a presidential declaration of a national emergency to seize control of federal elections.

ProPublica is reporting that Flynn’s Gold Institute for International Strategy hosted the February 19th event, and the Washington Post reported February 26th that an activist-written proposed presidential executive order invoking the National Emergencies Act and other statutes has been circulating among this group.

In attendance was former Trump campaign lawyer and founder of the Election Integrity Network, Cleta Mitchell. Mitchell pushed the emergency declaration in podcasts last year, and was on the call when President Trump pressured Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger to “find 11,780” votes.

Also attending was Trump election lawyer Kurt Olsen, currently a special White House employee tasked with re-investigating the 2020 election, and recently behind the probable cause justification for the seizure of Fulton County, Georgia’s 2020 ballots.
The 17-page draft, obtained by Democracy Docket, sets federal rules for voter ID, proof of citizenship, and eliminates universal mail-in voting, among several mandates February 27th, President Trump denied knowing about the draft order. More tomorrow.

We’ve linked to ProPublica’s reporting and more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
ProPublica – Trump Officials Attended a Summit of Election Deniers Who Want the President to Take Over the Midterms

Washington Post – Trump, seeking executive power over elections, is urged to declare emergency

Democracy Docket – 2025 Draft Presidential Executive Order Declaring a National Emergency

American Presidency Project – 2018 Trump Executive Order 13848—Imposing Certain Sanctions in the Event of Foreign Interference in a United States Election

CBS News ‘The Takeout’ – Can Trump use emergency powers to influence federal elections?

The Hill – Trump says he’s not considering declaring a national emergency ahead of midterms
Washington Watch with Tony Perkins – Cleta Mitchell on Concerns Raised Surrounding President Trump’s Executive Order on Voter ID
Executive Functions by Bob Bauer – Trump’s Coming Confrontation with the Courts Over the Elections

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute – Affidavit Used to Obtain the Search Warrant for Fulton County FBI Raid Originated with Trump 2020 Campaign Lawyer
American Democracy Minute – (2024) Trump ‘Election Integrity’ Lawyer Cleta Mitchell Calls for the Firing of All DOJ Voting & Civil Rights Lawyers
American Democracy Minute – (2024) Claims of Widespread Voting by Noncitizens Might Be Red Meat for the Base, But It’s Complete Nonsense.

Groups Taking Action:

Protect Democracy, States United Democracy Center, American Oversight
Register or Check Your Voter Registration: