David Clements (lawyer)

David Clements is a former American lawyer and a former assistant professor of the New Mexico State University. He is known for his advocacy of election conspiracy theories in the United States.

Career

David Clements was a district attorney[1] before starting a tenure-track faculty position as a professor at the New Mexico State University in the faculty of commerce.[2] He had previously run for state senate in New Mexico unsuccessfully in 2014.[3] Following his loss, Clements claimed that his primary opponent Allen Weh (a retired United States Marine Corps Colonel) had hacked his email account; in turn, Weh initiated a lawsuit against Clements for defamation.[4]

Election denialism
See also: Election denial movement in the United States

In 2021, Clements became an advocate for auditing the 2020 US presidential election, based upon subterfuge created by former president Donald Trump and his associates.[5] He was described by the Washington Post as a "self-appointed election fraud evangelist", and has advocated for methods of perpetuating election interference in future presidential elections.[6] In October 2021, he was terminated from his position at New Mexico State University due to his refusal to abide by the university's medical safety requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.[7][8] After this, he started traveling the US to provide speeches revolving around the conspiracy theory that elections in the United States had been compromised.[9] These included events sponsored by election denialist Michael Lindell.[10]

Personal life

Clements is married to his partner Erin, who has helped her husband in efforts to publicize alleged election fraud which they believe to have occurred during the 2020 presidential election in the United States.[11]

References
  1. Gilbert, David (June 16, 2022). "The GOP Just Tested Its 'Scary' Plan to Steal the 2024 Election".
  2. Jaschik, Scott. "New Mexico State Fires Professor". Inside Higher Ed.
  3. Mexican, Milan SimonichThe New (May 17, 2014). "Clements says his 'ordinary guy' outlook would have impact in Senate". Santa Fe New Mexican.
  4. "Former election foe stands by hacking allegations against Senate candidate". NM Political Report. October 18, 2016.
  5. "Suspended professor advocates for 2020 election audits". AP News. September 12, 2021.
  6. Annie Gowen (September 8, 2022). "An ex-professor spreads election myths across the U.S., one town at a time: David Clements is traveling the country trying to persuade local leaders to withhold certification of election results. If he succeeds, it could cause chaos". Washington Post.
  7. Staff, ABQJournal News (October 11, 2021). "Professor who bucked virus rules is fired". Albuquerque Journal.
  8. Staff, ABQJournal News (August 24, 2021). "NMSU professor barred from classroom in policy row". Albuquerque Journal.
  9. Robert Price (February 11, 2023). "Don't let election-denier nonsense hamstring elections division". Bakersfield.com.
  10. "With 10 weeks until midterms, election deniers are hampering some election preparations". ABC News.
  11. "Ex-academic forges a new career denying Trump's 2020 election loss". December 21, 2022 – via www.reuters.com.
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