Former prosecutor pursued by Trump calls for crackdown on election lies: ‘Lying can be held to account’
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- Andrew Weissmann, former US federal prosecutor and FBI general counsel, urges holding politicians accountable for lies that damage democracy, proposing sweeping structural reforms and a Truth in Elections Act to combat election deceit.
- Weissmann highlights examples from Brazil and the UK where election-related lies have been legally penalized, arguing that free speech concerns should not prevent accountability for false political claims.
- He criticizes the Trump administration for prioritizing loyalty over expertise in key positions and details personal repercussions from being targeted by Trump, including executive orders labeling him unethical and attempts to silence his work.
- Weissmann emphasizes the importance of courts as venues for due process and truth, noting that legal challenges to the 2020 election results were resolved in court, contrasting with unchecked public falsehoods.
- In his new book, *Liar’s Kingdom*, Weissmann calls for creative legal solutions to prevent political deception while respecting First Amendment rights, aiming to protect democratic institutions from future attacks.