Kenneth Chesebro, a former legal adviser for Donald Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign, has been disbarred from practicing law in New York due to his involvement in a scheme to overturn the election results. A state appeals court’s order stated that his criminal actions, including conspiring to file false documents to challenge Biden’s victory in Georgia, undermine the core principles of constitutional democracy that attorneys are sworn to uphold. Chesebro, who was admitted to practice law in New York in 2007, was first suspended last year, but the disbarment is now effective immediately.
In 2023, he reached a plea agreement with Georgia prosecutors, pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy after initially facing seven charges. This case also includes Trump and 17 other co-defendants, with Trump maintaining a not guilty stance. The proceedings have faced delays primarily due to Trump’s election win and the subsequent removal of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
The court emphasized that Chesebro’s dismissive attitude toward his actions, particularly given his background in constitutional and election law, exacerbated his misconduct. Testimonies and evidence presented during hearings supported claims that Chesebro was a key figure in devising plans to overturn the election, countering his attorneys’ assertions that he was not the “architect” of these efforts.
Chesebro’s disbarment follows a trend of penalties against Trump-affiliated attorneys; notable cases include Rudy Giuliani, who was disbarred in New York and Washington, D.C., and Jenna Ellis, who faced a three-year suspension in Colorado for similar offenses connected to election interference.
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