applies literal meanings to his words

OK (wordnerd here :)

Think of the words "it was not stolen" in this context:

A criminal robbed a bank and was able to "get away" physically with bags of cash. But it was electronically marked, and he was both "caught" on camera and followed to his hideout, which the good guys have surrounded. So he's not going to "get away" with it after all, but instead has been "caught" in the act and will also be physically "caught."

Until it's recovered, it's correct to say the money "WAS stolen" (stolen = verb) and that it "IS stolen" (stolen = adjective). This is where we are right now with the election.

Once it's restored, it will still be correct to say "it WAS stolen"; but not "it IS stolen".

Technically, one could say that Lin misspoke when he said of the election "it was not stolen"; he might have instead said "it was not permanently stolen." Still, everyone with brain cells rubbing together knows what he meant.

Syntax like "People are going to jail" in English can mean either that this is occurring right now, or will in the future. Either, taken literally, is good news. Nothing to be skeptical about here IMHO.

applies literal meanings to his words

OK (wordnerd here :)

Think of the words "it was not stolen" in this context:

A criminal robbed a bank and was able to "get away" physically with bags of cash. But it was electronically marked, and he was both "caught" on camera and followed to his hideout, which the good guys have surrounded. So he's not going to "get away" with it after all, but instead has been "caught" in the act and will also be physically "caught."

Syntax like "People are going to jail" in English can mean either that this is occurring right now, or will in the future. Either, taken literally, is good news.