States United Democracy Center Applauds California Bar for Holding Trump Attorney John Eastman Accountable 

Published: 1.26.23

Los Angeles, CA — The States United Democracy Center released the following statement in response to today’s announcement by the State Bar of California of 11 disciplinary charges against Trump attorney John Eastman for his role in efforts to overturn the 2020 election. States United initially filed an ethics complaint against John Eastman to the California Bar in October 2021 and continued to file supplemental materials as more information on Eastman’s activities came to light.  

Christine P. Sun, Senior Vice President of Legal at the States United Democracy Center: 

“John Eastman was a mastermind of the plot to try to overturn the 2020 election. He abused the legal system and violated the oath he swore as an attorney, in an attempt to block the will of the people and prevent the peaceful transfer of power. As the State Bar of California’s Chief Trial Counsel accurately said today, this was an attack on our democracy itself, and Eastman must be held accountable. We applaud the Office of Chief Trial Counsel for pursuing consequences for Eastman’s actions, including disbarment. 

Eastman devised strategy, drafted legal memos, and advised President Trump and Vice President Pence with the purpose of circumventing the electoral count. As the Office’s Notice of Disciplinary Charges spells out, Eastman knew, or should have known, that his efforts were not supported by the facts or the law. And on January 6, 2021, his lies helped provoke the crowd that later attacked the Capitol. 

John Eastman betrayed our democracy and repeatedly, willfully violated his professional responsibility to uphold our Constitution. He should never be allowed to practice law again. 

Accountability is one of the strongest tools we have to prevent another attack on our democracy like the January 6 attack. We encourage other state bars to follow the State Bar of California’s example and take similar steps against attorneys involved in the plot to overturn the 2020 election.” 

The States United Democracy Center initially filed a bar complaint against John Eastman in October 2021. Learn more about our other efforts to hold democracy violators accountable here. 

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 About the States United Democracy Center 

The States United Democracy Center is a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. We connect state officials, law enforcement leaders, and pro-democracy partners across America with the tools and expertise they need to safeguard our democracy. For more information, visit https://statesuniteddemocracy.org/.