Andrew Weissmann Urges Truth in Elections Act, Releases Book on 2020 Election Lies
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 24
Andrew Weissmann Urges Truth in Elections Act, Releases Book on 2020 Election Lies
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 24
Summary
Andrew Weissmann said the US should enact a Truth in Elections Act to punish politicians whose election lies damage democracy, arguing existing law shows false speech can be regulated without violating the first amendment.
In 'Liar’s Kingdom,' released now, the former Mueller prosecutor points to Trump’s false 2020 stolen-election claims and the January 6 attack as proof that public deceit can inflict institutional harm beyond ordinary political rhetoric.
Weissmann cited the 2005 Stolen Valor Act, Brazil’s action against Jair Bolsonaro and a 2010 UK case unseating Labour MP Phil Woolas as models for policing damaging election falsehoods.
He said fear already chills speech through defamation law and newsroom standards, and argued courts remain the best forum to test political lies because facts and due process still hold there.
Weissmann, twice named in Trump executive orders, said the broader damage is intimidation: lawyers withdrew from representing him and a publisher dropped his book after Trump targeted Jenner & Block.
Who becomes the ultimate judge of truth if laws are passed to criminalize political speech during election campaigns?
If federal voter lists have high error rates, how can new verification rules guarantee eligible citizens won't be barred from voting?
Andrew Weissmann’s "Truth in Elections Act": Legal Solutions for Election Lies and the Future of U.S. Democracy
Overview
Amid ongoing concerns about the integrity of U.S. democracy, former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann has become a leading advocate for stronger measures against political deception. In his book 'Liar’s Kingdom: How to Stop Trump’s Deceit and Save America,' Weissmann highlights the dangers posed by unchecked political lies, especially since the 2020 presidential election. To address this, he proposes the 'Truth in Elections Act,' a legislative effort aimed at holding individuals accountable for false statements made during elections. This initiative reflects a growing call for transparency and accountability to protect the foundations of American democracy.