The State Bar of California has released 11 disciplinary charges against former Chapman University law professor John Eastman for his involvement with the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection on Capitol Hill and attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

The charges include making false and misleading statements regarding election fraud in his speech before the insurrection. 

The California State Bar released a statement claiming that his speech provoked the crowd to assault and breach the Capitol in order to prevent former Vice President Mike Pense from presenting the electoral count.

“The 11 charges arise from allegations that Eastman engaged in a course of conduct to plan, promote, and assist then-President Trump in executing a strategy, unsupported by facts or law, to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election by obstructing the count of electoral votes of certain states,” reads a Jan. 26 news release from the California State Bar.

These charges come after the Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol recommended Eastman face federal criminal prosecution for obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to defraud the U.S.

State Bar of California’s Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona emphasized the importance of free and fair elections in a recent statement.

“For California attorneys, adherence to the U.S. and California Constitutions is their highest legal duty,” Cardona said. “The Notice of Disciplinary Charges alleges that Mr. Eastman violated this duty in furtherance of an attempt to usurp the will of the American people and overturn election results for the highest office in the land — an egregious and unprecedented attack on our democracy — for which he must be held accountable.”  

The state bar is seeking Eastman’s disbarment, and the California Supreme Court will determine whether or not to impose the recommendation.

Eastman drafted memos that described strategies to block President Joe Biden from taking office, including a plan for Pence to declare that electoral votes from certain states would not be counted. 

Eastman first began receiving public criticism from the Chapman community in August 2020 after he released an opinion on Newsweek that questioned then-California Sen. Kamala Harris’ eligibility for the vice presidency given her parents’ citizenship status at the time of her birth. The piece was widely condemned by Chapman students, faculty and outside scholars alike.

In December 2020, Eastman filed a Supreme Court case aiming to overturn the general election results. Over 150 faculty members signed a statement calling Eastman’s brief “a disgraceful attack on American democracy,” arguing the university’s values are not in alignment with Eastman’s actions.

Chapman announced Eastman’s retirement on Jan. 13, 2021. He released a resignation letter the next day recounting his relationship with the university and claimed he has been the subject of false, defamatory statements.

READ MORE ABOUT JOHN EASTMAN:

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Chapman response to Eastman’s opinion ignites backlash

Opinion | Professor Eastman responds

‘This is not who we are’: Chapman professor represents Trump in lawsuit

John Eastman’s impression on Chapman: a timeline

Chapman University subpoenaed over former law professor’s emails

John Eastman email exchange reveals acknowledgement of illegality

John Eastman’s attempt to block Chapman subpoena fails

Jan. 6 committee recommends John Eastman face criminal charges two years after Capitol insurrection