What did Donald Trump do today?

He got real electoral votes from people under criminal indictment for casting fake electoral votes.

Today was the day that state electors cast their votes for president. As expected, Trump won—but he did so with the votes of people under criminal indictment in at least three states: Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Nevada. Those people pretended to be legitimate electors in 2020 and submitted forged documents casting "votes" for Trump, in an attempt to cause legal confusion and to give Trump sympathizers in Congress an excuse to delay or deny certification of President Biden's victory.

In other words, it was part of the larger conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 election and keep Trump in power by illegal means. Trump's personal attorneys and campaign officials were involved in coordinating the scheme. They were among those who were convicted of crimes as a result, not counting the fake electors in five states. 

Trump himself was indicted by a federal grand jury for his role in the conspiracy, although unlike many of his co-conspirators, he will escape punishment. While the case against him could still be revived after his term ends, he is widely expected to pardon himself—something he threatened to do even during his first term as evidence of his criminal actions mounted.

Why does this matter?

• It's bad if even ceremonial votes are cast by people who attacked Americans' right to free and fair elections.

• Criminal conspiracies to overturn elections are bad even if the perpetrators get away with it.