Kurt Olsen
Olsen is a practitioner with no prior election-law experience who entered the 2020 effort to overturn the presidential result, accumulated a judicial sanctions record across federal and state courts, and was later appointed to a White House election-security post. From that post he drafted the criminal referral that produced a federal warrant for the Fulton County 2020 ballots, after DOJ had spent months seeking the same materials through civil process. His career connects the original 2020 legal campaign to the 2025-2026 enforcement action.
Kurt B. Olsen (b. August 20, 1962) is a product-liability defense attorney who spent his career outside election law before pivoting abruptly in late 2020 to become one of the principal legal architects of the effort to overturn the presidential election result 1. In December 2020, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton appointed him special counsel for Texas v. Pennsylvania, the Supreme Court action seeking to invalidate electoral votes in four states; SCOTUS rejected the case unanimously for lack of standing 2. After that rejection, Olsen contacted acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen by phone to relay Trump's demand that the DOJ file its own Supreme Court complaint — by noon that day — to nullify electors in six swing states 2. He spoke with Trump by phone at least twice on the evening of January 6, 2021, after the Capitol attack 2.
In October 2025 Trump appointed Olsen White House Director of Election Security and Integrity, in a special government employee capacity 3. In that role, Olsen drafted the criminal referral to the Department of Justice that triggered the FBI's January 28, 2026 seizure of approximately 700 boxes of Fulton County 2020 general election materials — physical ballots, ballot images, tabulator tapes, and voter rolls 3. DNI Tulsi Gabbard was personally present at the raid at Trump's direction 3. See the Fulton County ballot seizure dossier for warrant and litigation details.
Federal courts have sanctioned Olsen for the litigation he filed along the way: a district court imposed $122,200 in attorneys' fees under FRCP Rule 11 and 28 U.S.C. § 1927 for frivolous claims with misleading statements about Arizona voting processes in the Kari Lake / Mark Finchem lawsuit, a penalty the Ninth Circuit affirmed in March 2025 4. The Arizona Supreme Court separately sanctioned Kari Lake's attorneys — Olsen among them — for repeating claims courts had found unequivocally false 4.
Background and Career
Kurt B. Olsen was born August 20, 1962 and attended the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1984 1. He served as a Navy SEAL before transitioning to law 1. In 2003 he co-founded Klafter Olsen & Lesser LLP in New York, where his practice concentrated on product liability defense — client-side corporate litigation with no election-law component 1.
In 2009 Olsen filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the Northern District of New York (case 09-11708, terminated 2015) 1. At the time he had never handled an election case 1. After his election-related work became public in early 2021, his firm partners removed his name; the entity was renamed Klafter Lesser LLP in February 2021 1.
2020 Election Overturn Campaign
January 6, 2021 Communications
White House Role and Fulton County Ballot Seizure
Key Relationships
All Connections
8 total
All Connections
8 totalOlsen drafted criminal referral from WH; Gabbard personally present at resulting FBI Fulton County raid Jan 2026
Olsen advised Trump on overturning 2020 election. Spoke with Trump at least twice on evening of Jan 6 2021. Trump appointed Olsen WH Director of Election Security Oct 2025. Olsen drafted criminal referral leading to Fulton County ballot seizure.
Gabbard as DNI present at FBI raid resulting from Olsens criminal referral. Both operating in election enforcement space - Olsen from WH, Gabbard from ODNI.
Lindell established network of election denialists including Olsen. LittleSis identifies Olsen as stop-the-steal attorney and associate of Mike Lindell.
Paxton appointed Olsen as special counsel for Texas v Pennsylvania Supreme Court case Dec 2020 seeking to overturn Biden electoral victory.
Olsen represented Kari Lake in AZ election challenges. Filed lawsuit challenging electronic voting machines April 2022. Both sanctioned for frivolous claims.
Both involved in Gabbard election security operations per Wall Street Journal
Ed Martin (Weaponization Working Group) publicly stated working with Olsen on election integrity on War Room podcast Jan 2026
All Findings
5 total
All Findings
5 totallegal (1)
Olsen sanctioned by federal courts: District court imposed USD 122,200 in attorneys fees against Olsen and co-counsel under FRCP Rule 11 and 28 USC 1927 for filing frivolous election claims with misleading statements about Arizona voting processes (Kari Lake/Mark Finchem lawsuit). Penalty affirmed by Ninth Circuit in March 2025. Arizona Supreme Court also sanctioned Lake attorneys for repeating unequivocally false election claims in court (2023). Ethics complaints filed by LDAD and States United Democracy Center.
intelligence (3)
Kurt Olsen, a prominent figure in 2020 election challenges, is working from inside the White House to re-examine claims that the 2020 election was stolen.
Olsen named White House Director of Election Security and Integrity Oct 2025 as special govt employee. Drafted criminal referral to DOJ leading to FBI seizure of Fulton County 2020 ballots Jan 2026. Working with Ed Martin (Weaponization Working Group). Spoke with Trump 3 times on Jan 6. Sanctioned by AZ Supreme Court for false statements in Kari Lake lawsuit.
Olsen 2020-2021 election overturn activities: Advised TX AG Ken Paxton on Texas v. Pennsylvania Supreme Court case (Dec 2020) to toss Biden electoral victory - appointed special counsel. SCOTUS unanimously rejected for lack of standing. After rejection, Olsen called acting AG Jeffrey Rosen telling him Trump wanted DOJ to file Supreme Court complaint by noon today to invalidate electors in six swing states. Spoke with Trump by phone at least twice on evening of Jan 6, 2021 after Capitol attack. Connected to Mike Lindell election denier network. Testified as defense witness for John Eastman.
identity (1)
Kurt B. Olsen (b. Aug 20, 1962): Naval Academy 1984, former Navy SEAL. Co-founded Klafter Olsen and Lesser LLP in 2003 in New York, specializing in product liability defense. Filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy 2009 (NDNY case 09-11708, terminated 2015). Had NEVER worked in election law before 2020. Firm partners removed his name and renamed to Klafter Lesser LLP in Feb 2021 after his election denial activities.