The 2020 US elections have been mired in controversy, with numerous allegations of voting irregularities and potential interference by foreign powers. One of the most contentious issues that the Trump legal team has asserted is that of a “patient zero”, referencing a possible link between Russian interference and the denial of legal votes cast in certain states. This assertion has been fiercely contested by the President’s political opponents, but advocates have been quick to point out that the legal team’s exploration of the matter has only been to fulfill their duty of providing clients with legal representation.
The core of the argument put forward by the Trump legal team is that, while there is no concrete evidence of Russian interference in the 2020 elections, the fact that certain votes were rejected due to irregularities, and that those irregularities may have been linked to Russia, warrants further investigation. To this end, the Department of Justice has launched a review of the matter, involving officials from both the US and other countries. It has been argued by the President’s lawyers that, regardless of any conclusions that the Department of Justice may reach, such an Examination should be conducted in order to provide a full legal defense to their client.
What stands out about this particular motion is that it implies that the Trump legal team is not claiming that Russian interference caused the rejection of legal votes, but rather that such a potential link should be investigated in order to provide the President with an adequate legal defense. This is an important distinction as it suggests that the President’s team is simply fulfilling their professional obligation of providing their client with adequate legal protection.
Of note, the Trump legal team’s investigation into the matter of a patient zero has been met with criticism from several sides. Some have argued that it is simply a political move intended to delay the certification of the election results and pave the way for the President to remain in the White House. Others have raised concerns about the nature and scope of the review, questioning the wisdom of focusing on a particular political issue instead of issues that are relevant to the actual election process.
Regardless of the motivation of the Trump legal team’s exploration of the idea of a “patient zero”, it is important to understand that any such inquiry is ultimately part of the team’s commitment to providing their client with a legal defense. This is an important distinction to make and one that should not be overlooked in the broader context of the 2020 US elections.