An “advocacy” group known as the 65 Project was formed to challenge the lawyers involved in President Trump’s legal efforts to contest the fraudulent 2020 election, filing more than 80 ethics complaints against them.
America First Legal, a pro-Trump nonprofit founded by former Trump adviser Stephen Miller, filed a bar complaint on October 28 against Michael Teter, the lead attorney for the 65 Project. The complaint accuses Teter of participating in a politically motivated campaign to intimidate conservative lawyers, stating that he is targeting them “based solely upon their representation of a disfavored client.”
In response, Teter argued that the complaint underscores “the fear among those who would like to use the courts to subvert democracy.” The entity in Utah that handles attorney misconduct complaints, where Teter is licensed, did not comment on the matter.
These competing accusations highlight the significant role lawyers continue to play as the nation approaches another contentious election. Several attorneys involved in Trump’s efforts to challenge the 2020 “results” have faced severe consequences, including license suspensions and criminal indictments.
The 65 Project, named for the number of lawsuits it says were filed in attempts to “overturn” Joe Biden’s 2020 “win,” aims to dissuade lawyers from pursuing claims of election fraud. In September, the group announced plans to spend at least $100,000 on ads in legal journals across battleground states, cautioning attorneys against risking their law licenses by representing Trump in such cases.
America First Legal criticized these ads while announcing its complaint against Teter. Gene Hamilton, the group’s executive director, stated that “seeking the personal destruction and financial ruin of another lawyer – simply because of the client he represented or the cause he took up – runs counter to… the letter and spirit of the law governing the activities of lawyers.”
One of the group’s notable election-related actions this year includes an August lawsuit demanding that counties in Arizona investigate approximately 44,000 voters who registered without proof of citizenship. A judge declined to grant the requested ruling before the election, and America First Legal is appealing.
Records indicate that, between 2022 and 2023, at least four attorneys have faced disciplinary action following complaints from the 65 Project, though some cases were dismissed. For instance, the State Bar of Georgia confirmed dismissing two complaints after an investigation, while Pennsylvania’s Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel did not respond to requests for comment. According to Teter, at least three complaints were rejected by disciplinary boards in Georgia and Pennsylvania.
The 65 Project’s website and court documents show that at least 12 attorneys targeted by their complaints have not faced any penalties and are actively participating in election-related litigation on behalf of Trump’s allies.
Financial records reveal that America First Legal received $44.4 million in contributions in 2022, though the 65 Project’s annual budgets are not publicly disclosed. Both groups have refrained from sharing information about their funding sources. Teter noted that the 65 Project is supported by “individuals and organizations that are interested in ensuring that the legal system is not used and abused to subvert democracy.”
