Kurt Olsen proposed seizing Venezuelan voting data to prove 2020 election was rigged

Kurt Olsen: Kurt Olsen is a Washington lawyer and former Navy SEAL who built a career in product-liability law before becoming a prominent advocate for claims that the 2020 U.S. presidential election was stolen. He advised Trump allies, represented candidates like Kari Lake in election challenges, and collaborated with figures such as Mike Lindell on fraud allegations involving voting machines and foreign interference. In the news, Olsen served as White House election-security chief and proposed traveling to Caracas with Tulsi Gabbard to seize Venezuelan voting-machine data he believed could prove foreign manipulation of the 2020 election, an idea ultimately rejected by senior officials. Tulsi Gabbard: Tulsi Gabbard served as Director of National Intelligence, leading the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) during key phases of investigations into 2020 election claims under the Trump administration. She coordinated intelligence efforts and was involved in operations examining voting equipment for potential vulnerabilities or tampering. In the news, Gabbard was the proposed companion for Olsen’s rejected mission to Caracas to obtain Venezuelan voting-machine data and had attended related events like the Fulton County raid while overseeing broader ODNI involvement in the effort. Plan Rejection: Senior ODNI officials rejected Olsen’s proposal to travel to Caracas with Gabbard due to vagueness around equipment seizure and methods, citing concerns over the operation’s feasibility after the capture of Venezuelan President Maduro. Ongoing Concerns: Election officials in states like Colorado have passed laws to counter potential federal interference in voting equipment ahead of midterms, reflecting fears that theories promoted by Olsen could erode trust and prompt future actions. Investigation Scope: Olsen’s probe expanded from a single voting machine in Puerto Rico to involve multiple federal agencies including ODNI, Justice Department, DHS, and FBI, though it ultimately found no evidence of foreign manipulation of U.S. voting systems.