WASHINGTON — A new ethics complaint targets another attorney linked to efforts to challenge U.S. election outcomes, reflecting ongoing scrutiny over actions linked to former President Donald Trump’s post-election legal maneuvers. Kurt Olsen, who advised Trump in attempts to leverage the Justice Department to reverse his 2020 election defeat, is now accused of professional misconduct.
The complaint, launched by the pro-democracy entities States United Democracy Center and Lawyers Defending American Democracy, urges the Maryland Attorney Grievance Commission and the District of Columbia’s Office of Disciplinary Counsel to probe Olsen’s legal practices. Notably, his advice to Kari Lake regarding her Arizona gubernatorial campaign’s failed litigation to contest her 2022 election loss forms a part of the allegations.
According to the groups, Olsen’s role in perpetuating baseless claims about both the 2020 and 2022 election outcomes constitutes abuse of his legal privileges. “Kurt Olsen has repeatedly misused his law license to propagate falsehoods about our elections, demonstrating a recurrent disregard for ethical conduct,” stated Gillian Feiner, Senior Counsel at the States United Democracy Center. As of the latest updates, Olsen has not responded to requests for his comments on the allegations.
Olsen’s contentious legal actions include his involvement in prominent lawsuits such as Texas v. Pennsylvania and Lake v. Hobbs. The former sought to prevent several states from certifying their electoral votes in favor of Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, while the latter was an unsuccessful legal attempt to contest the Arizona gubernatorial election results favoring Governor Katie Hobbs. Both suits were dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
In a significant action reflecting the gravity of his alleged missteps, Olsen has faced disciplinary measures in Arizona for presenting false information to the state’s Supreme Court.
Further adding to Olsen’s ongoing legal engagements, he is representing Lake in her continued election-related litigations as she prepares for a U.S. Senate run, despite these legal backdrops. This includes lawsuits stemming from the January 6 Capitol riot, highlighting a series of contentious post-election activities linked directly to Olsen.
The current ethics complaint demands a thorough investigation into Olsen’s activities, advocating for immediate disciplinary action due to the potential harm posed by his continuous involvement in meritless lawsuits based on deceptive claims.
This development marks yet another chapter in the broader narrative of legal accountability following attempts to subvert the results of recent U.S. elections. It follows closely on the heels of legal repercussions for other pro-Trump lawyers.
Earlier incidents include Michigan’s legal proceedings against Stefanie Lambert, who faces charges over allegedly conspiring to unlawally access voting machines. Similarly, Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York and legal adviser to Trump, was recently disbarred in New York for perpetuating unfounded allegations about the 2020 Presidential Election results.
These successive legal challenges underscore a growing trend of legal scrutiny and disciplinary actions targeted at figures involved in controversial election-related litigation, highlighting the broader implications for legal ethics and the integrity of U.S. electoral processes.