Donald Trump’s election fraud lawyers – who describe themselves as an “elite strike force team” – have alleged that the vote was hacked and ballots switched from the president to Joe Biden, thanks to technology developed in Venezuela.

Rudy Giuliani, Mr Trump’s personal lawyer, leading the team, said that the election had been rigged by “a company owned by affiliates of Chavez and Maduro”.

They were angered by the use of Dominion, a Canadian-based company.

He was also upset at a Venezuelan firm, Smartmatic, being used - despite them only operating in Los Angeles County.

“You couldn’t possibly believe that the company owning this election machinery was an ally of Hugo Chavez, is an ally of Nicolas Maduro, and an ally of George Soros. What do we have to do to get you to the truth?” said Mr Giuliani.

“This is real. It is not made up. There is no one here who engages in fantasy. I know crimes – I can smell them.”