The Eastman memos, also known as the "coup memo",[6][7] are documents by John Eastman, an American law professor retained by then-President Donald Trump advancing the fringe legal theory that a U.S. Vice President has unilateral authority to reject certified state electors. This would have the effect of nullifying an election in order to produce an outcome personally desired by the Vice President, such as a result in the Vice President's own party's favor, including retaining himself as Vice President, or if the Vice President is himself the presidential candidate, then to unilaterally make himself president.
The Trump campaign engaged Eastman with a formal retainer agreement signed December 5 for services in litigating the election outcome.[8][9] The memos have been described as an instruction manual for a coup d'état.
^Trump, Donald J.; Crate, Bradley T.; Eastman, John Charles (December 5, 2020). "Re: Engagement Letter for Legal Services"(PDF). New York City: Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. Retrieved May 12, 2024 – via courtlistener.com.