Fact Check: Indictment totals from the 2020 election scandal rival Watergate and Iran-Contra.

Fact Check: "Indictment totals from the 2020 election scandal rival Watergate and Iran-Contra."

What We Know

The claim that "indictment totals from the 2020 election scandal rival Watergate and Iran-Contra" suggests a comparison of the number of indictments associated with these significant political scandals in U.S. history.

Watergate Scandal: The Watergate scandal, which involved a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and subsequent cover-up efforts by the Nixon administration, resulted in numerous indictments. A total of 69 individuals were indicted, with 48 convictions, including high-ranking officials such as the Attorney General and several White House aides (source-4).
Iran-Contra Affair: The Iran-Contra scandal involved secret U.S. arms sales to Iran to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua, leading to 14 indictments, including several senior officials in the Reagan administration. Ultimately, only a few convictions were secured, and many charges were later dismissed or pardoned (source-4).
2020 Election Scandal: The 2020 election saw various allegations of fraud and foreign interference. Notably, two Iranian nationals were indicted for a cyber-enabled campaign aimed at undermining voter confidence and intimidating voters. This indictment is part of a broader narrative of foreign interference in the election (source-1). However, the total number of indictments related to the 2020 election scandal is not clearly defined in the available sources, making it difficult to quantify in comparison to Watergate and Iran-Contra.

Analysis

The claim's validity hinges on the comparison of indictment totals across these three historical contexts.

Source Reliability: The information regarding Watergate and Iran-Contra comes from historical analyses and documented legal proceedings, which are generally reliable. The source discussing the indictments related to the 2020 election is a government press release, which is credible but may not provide a comprehensive overview of all indictments related to the election (source-1).
Comparative Context: While the Watergate scandal resulted in a significant number of indictments (69), the Iran-Contra affair had fewer (14). The 2020 election's indictments, particularly the one involving the Iranian nationals, do not provide a comparable scale. The total number of indictments related to the 2020 election remains unclear, and thus the claim lacks sufficient evidence to confirm that it rivals the previous scandals.
Potential Bias: The sources discussing the 2020 election may have a political bias, as they originate from government announcements. Historical analyses of Watergate and Iran-Contra are more neutral, focusing on documented events and outcomes.

Conclusion

Needs Research: The claim that "indictment totals from the 2020 election scandal rival Watergate and Iran-Contra" cannot be substantiated with the current evidence. While Watergate clearly had a higher number of indictments, the total for the 2020 election remains ambiguous. More comprehensive data on indictments related to the 2020 election is required to make a valid comparison.

Fact Check: Indictment totals from the 2020 election scandal rival Watergate and Iran-Contra.