being official, that is from the state agency responsible for official electoral votes, usually the Secretary of State.

The letters accompanying the list of electors weren't sent with fake letterhead, seal, etc., to appear as coming from an official source. Didn't read all of them, but the letters essentially said, "If for some reason, you do not accept the 'official electors,' here is a list of people we would like you to consider (followed by a bunch of trump lovers)."

So, why would they think enough Electoral Votes would not be accepted? Well, on Jan 6, 2017, seven Democratic Representatives tried to challenge trump's electoral votes just like GOPers in 2021 (sans the attack on the Capitol). It didn't work in 2017 because then VP Biden properly shut the them down. (We would have been better off if trump was not installed, but that's another matter.)

So, they didn't really commit fraud because they never tried to pass off the electors as official. Immoral, Unethical, should be a law, etc., all apply. But probably not criminal.

Link to 2017 challenge: https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/06/politics/electoral-college-vote-count-objections/index.html


If trump runs in 2024 -- which is highly unlikely, IMO -- we are going to have to beat him at the polls unless they have other evidence. Even, if he doesn't run, someone like him will.