ACCESSING CLASSIFIED FILES
Decrypting documents...
Your connection is being monitored
Back to Individuals
critical risk
John Eastman
Former Chapman University Law Professor
Architect of Election Overthrow Legal Theory
Overview
John Eastman authored the "Eastman Memos" proposing that Vice President Pence could unilaterally reject electoral votes on January 6, 2021, a theory rejected by virtually every constitutional scholar across the political spectrum. He has been indicted in Georgia, disbarred in California, and identified by the January 6 Committee as central to the legal architecture of the coup attempt.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
Authored two memos outlining how Vice President Pence could reject electoral votes or delay certification on January 6
Legal theory rejected by federal judge J. Michael Luttig and virtually all conservative constitutional scholars
Spoke at January 6 rally alongside Giuliani, telling crowd that Pence should act
Indicted in Georgia RICO case for efforts to overturn the 2020 election
Disbarred by California State Bar in 2024 for ethical violations related to election overthrow effort
Pressured Pence directly in Oval Office meeting on January 5, 2021 to reject electoral votes
Acknowledged in emails that his theory would likely be struck down 9-0 by the Supreme Court
Related Investigations (8)
2020 Election Overturn ConspiracyElection Interference
Tier 2
criticalTrump Federal Election Conspiracy ChargesElection Interference
Tier 4
criticalFake Electors SchemeElection Integrity
Tier 1
criticalGinni Thomas January 6 InvolvementJudicial Corruption
Tier 4
criticalGreen Bay SweepElection Interference
Tier 1
criticalGeorgia Election RICOElection Integrity
Tier 1
criticalJanuary 6 Insurrection: The Assault on American DemocracyConstitutional Crisis
Tier 1
criticalStop the Steal MovementElection Interference
Tier 4
criticalKnown Associates & Connections
Donald Trump
Developed legal theory at Trumps request to overturn 2020 election
Rudy Giuliani
Collaborated on post-election legal strategy and spoke together at January 6 rally
Mark Meadows
White House Chief of Staff who facilitated Eastmans access to Trump and Pence
Sources & Documentation
3 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
January 6 Committee: Eastman Memo Analysis and Testimony(2022)
Fulton County DA: State of Georgia v. Trump et al.(2023)
California State Bar: In re Eastman - Disbarment Decision(2024)
Personal Information
- Born
- 1960-04-21
- Birthplace
- Lincoln, Nebraska
Education
- •B.A., University of Dallas (1983)
- •M.A., Claremont Graduate University
- •J.D., University of Chicago Law School (1995)
Key Timeline
1999
Joined Chapman University law faculty
2020-12
Drafted first memo proposing Pence could reject electoral votes
2021-01-04
Revised memo into expanded version with step-by-step plan for January 6
2021-01-05
Met with Pence in Oval Office to press theory directly
2021-01-06
Spoke at rally near White House; continued pressuring Pence by text during attack
2021-01
Resigned from Chapman University under pressure from students and faculty
2023-08
Indicted in Georgia RICO case alongside Trump and others
2024-03
Disbarred by California State Bar