On Tuesday Texas Attorney General Republican Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit directly to the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to throw out the election results of the four key swing states.
Paxton wants the state legislatures to then assign their electoral votes which would likely go to Donald Trump who lost his reelection in what was considered to be fair and secure election. However Trump continues to insist — despite evidence to the contrary — that he won.
At least 17 other attorney generals, all Republican, have joined with Texas in the suit — as well as more than 100 U.S. members of Congress — also all Republicans. However, more than 20 states and territories are opposing the Texas lawsuit.
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, Democrat, says it is without merit, would upend election systems nationwide and contradictory to the principles of federalism.
Texas Secession
Conservative voices who are unable to process Donald Trump's loss are speaking out in favor of state secession.
And it’s not just talk, a Texas state representative is calling for Texas secession and is planning to file a bill in the coming legislative session to further that goal.
Republican Representative Kyle Biedermann of Fredericksburg said he wants a statewide referendum on breaking away from the United States.
Kremlin Connection
Pro-secession Texans are joining others around the globe who are calling for breaking up larger nations or unions — like the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. What do these movements have in common? There is a Kremlin Connection. In 2018 a U.S. Senate report exposed a Russian disinformation campaign that targeted Texans. The report titled “Tactics and Tropes of the Internet Research Agency” documented how troll social media accounts were used to sow division, stir up social unrest and spread misinformation.
Casey Michel has been covering Russian campaigns to undermine American democracy and promote state secession — his work has appeared in Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, New Republic and others.
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