Former US federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann has called for stronger laws to punish political lies that damage elections and weaken democratic systems. He argues that false election claims should not be treated as normal political speech when they create real harm to public trust and election outcomes. Speaking from Paris, where he teaches at New York University, Weissmann said the United States needs deep structural reforms to repair its political system. He said old norms are not enough anymore. He believes new legal tools are needed to protect democracy from deliberate deception. Weissmann is promoting his new book, Liar’s Kingdom: How to Stop Trump’s Deceit and Save America. In it, he proposes a Truth in Elections Act. The plan is based on existing law, including the Stolen Valor Act of 2005. That law punishes people who lie about military honors to gain money or benefits. He said similar ideas could be used for election lies when intent and harm are proven in court. He also said any new law must respect free speech rights under the US Constitution. But he believes courts can balance free speech with protection against harmful lies. He said the legal system already limits speech in some areas, such as defamation law, when harm is clear. Weissmann pointed to other countries as examples. In Brazil, former president Jair Bolsonaro faced legal consequences after spreading election fraud claims that fueled unrest. In the United Kingdom, politician Phil Woolas lost his parliamentary seat in 2010 after making false claims about a rival candidate. Weissmann said these cases show that democracies can act against dangerous political deception. He also spent years working inside major investigations. He was a senior figure in Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 US election. That investigation examined foreign influence and political contacts linked to Donald Trump. Weissmann is now a legal analyst and professor, and he appears on MS Now. He said the US is still dealing with the impact of false claims about the 2020 election. He linked those claims to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. He noted that Trump has privately acknowledged that he lost that election. Weissmann compared the current political climate to rebuilding after a major disaster, similar to the restoration of Notre Dame after the 2019 fire. He said rebuilding trust in US institutions will take time and major changes. He believes courts remain one of the strongest places where facts still matter and truth can be tested. He also criticized what he sees as growing loyalty-based appointments in government. He said experience should matter more than political loyalty in key roles. He pointed to Kash Patel in leadership at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other disputed appointments as examples of this trend. He also referenced past disputes involving former FBI director James Comey. Political tension has also reached the US Department of Justice, especially in cases involving lawyers tied to election disputes and disciplinary actions. Weissmann said these fights show deep divisions inside American institutions and growing political pressure on legal systems. He also said he has faced personal targeting. His name has appeared in executive orders linked to political disputes. One order affected the law firm Jenner & Block for employing him. Although a federal judge blocked parts of the order, Weissmann said the impact still created fear across institutions. He warned that such actions can lead to silence inside law firms and universities. He compared the effect to the McCarthy era, when people avoided political risks to protect their careers. He said institutions may settle lawsuits or avoid challenging government actions because of fear. Weissmann said even when courts protect rights, the pressure outside the courtroom can still shape behavior. He added that some law firms withdrew support from him after political pressure, and a publisher backed away from releasing his book. Despite this, he said he continues his work and teaching. He believes courts remain one of the few spaces where due process works and facts are tested carefully. He said election challenges brought by Trump in 2020 were rejected in court, showing that legal systems can still uphold truth. Weissmann acknowledged his proposals are not perfect. But he argued that stronger protections are needed to stop intentional lies from damaging democracy. He said the United States must be more creative and willing to redesign how it handles election deception.