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☆ Trump is unindicted co-conspirator in 2020 Michigan fake electors probe, investigator testifies
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Nessel, a Democrat, charged 16 fake Republican electors from Michigan last summer. Shock answered “yes” when the lawyer asked about Trump, Meadows, Giuliani and Ellis. Trump, Giuliani, Meadows and Ellis aren’t facing charges in Michigan. Investigators in December interviewed pro-Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro, who played a leading role in the fake electors plot. State prosecutors in Michigan, Georgia and Nevada have now charged at least some of the fake electors in their states.

Persons: Donald Trump, general’s, Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Jenna Ellis, Dana Nessel, Howard Shock, Shock, Ellis, Trump, Meadows, Ellis aren’t, Giuliani, Ted Goodman, Kenneth Chesebro Organizations: CNN, Trump, Trump White House, Michigan, Giuliani, Prosecutors Locations: Michigan, Lansing, Meadows, Giuliani, Ellis, Michigan , Georgia, Nevada, Arizona and Wisconsin, New Mexico, Pennsylvania

☆ Mike Roman: Former Trump campaign official subpoenaed in Arizona probe of efforts to overturn 2020 election
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Zachary Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A former Trump 2020 campaign official has been subpoenaed by officials in Arizona as part of the criminal investigation focused on efforts to overturn Joe Biden’s win, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The official, Mike Roman, is also one of Donald Trump’s co-defendants in the Georgia election subversion case. He’s being subpoenaed by prosecutors as part of a separate state-level probe overseen by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat. The subpoenas suggest the probe is accelerating ahead of the 2024 presidential election, when Trump is expected to again face Biden as the Republican nominee. Among those who have been interviewed by Arizona prosecutors in recent months is pro-Trump attorney Kenneth Chesebro.

Persons: CNN —, Joe Biden’s, Mike Roman, Donald Trump’s, He’s, Kris Mayes, Mayes, Trump, Biden, she’s, ” Mayes, “ We’re, Roman, Kenneth Chesebro, Trump’s unindicted, Jack, Chesebro Organizations: CNN, Trump, Arizona, Republican, ABC News, Prosecutors, Communications, Capitol Locations: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan , Georgia, Nevada, Wisconsin

☆ Trump DA Fani Willis' credibility has been shot over messy testimony — but perjury charges are very unlikely: legal experts
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

DA Fani Willis' credibility has been damaged following a misconduct hearing, legal experts said. Willis' 'credibility is shot'Legal experts have long said that the hearing, and the relationship between Willis and Wade, doesn't look good for Willis. Rahmani said the distraction of it all is enough that Willis should recuse herself from the Trump case. On trips they took together, Willis and Wade testified that Willis paid Wade back for her portion in cash. Ms. Yeager heard District Attorney Willis tell Mr. Bradley: 'They are coming after us.

Persons: Fani Willis, Willis, Donald Trump, —, Trump, Wade, it's, Rahmani, Ashleigh Merchant, Trump codefendant Mike Roman, Nathan Wade, Wade —, Daysha Young, Andrew Evans, Alex Slitz, doesn't, Sarah Krissoff, Cozen O'Connor, Krissoff, Scott McAfee, McAfee, Terrence Bradley, Merchant, Bradley, Manny Arora, Cindi Lee Yeager, Cobb County , Georgia —, Trump codefendant David Shafer, Yeager, John Bazemore, Elijah Nouvelage, Mr, Trump codefendant Cathleen Latham, Arora —, Kenneth Chesebro, Arora, Adam Abbate, Abbate Organizations: Service, Fulton, West, Trial, Trump codefendant, Trump, codefendants, Merchant, Wade, Business, USA, Network, Reuters, District Attorney, AP, Washington Post Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, California, Atlanta, Manhattan, Fulton, Cobb County , Georgia

☆ Newly Released Messages Detail Roots of the ‘Fake Electors’ Scheme
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Luke Broadwater | Maggie Haberman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Just five days after Election Day in 2020, a conservative lawyer named Kenneth Chesebro emailed a former judge who was working for the Trump campaign in Wisconsin, James R. Troupis, pitching an idea for how to overturn the results. Through litigation, Mr. Chesebro said, the Trump campaign could allege “various systemic abuses” and, with court proceedings pending, encourage legislatures to appoint “alternative” pro-Trump electors that could be certified instead of the Biden electors chosen by the voters. “At minimum, with such a cloud of confusion, no votes from WI (and perhaps also MI and PA) should be counted, perhaps enough to throw the election to the House,” Mr. Chesebro wrote to Mr. Troupis, referring to the swing states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Mr. Troupis quickly brought Mr. Chesebro into the Trump legal team, directed him to lay out the plans in a series of memos now central to the indictment of Mr. Trump and a month later — with the help of Reince Priebus, the former White House chief of staff — secured a meeting with Mr. Trump at the White House.

Persons: Kenneth Chesebro, Trump, James R, Chesebro, Biden, ” Mr, Troupis, Mr, Reince Priebus, — Organizations: Trump, “, WI, White House, White Locations: Wisconsin, Wisconsin , Michigan, Pennsylvania

☆ Text messages shed new light on scope of fake electors plot after 2020 election
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Marshall Cohen | Zachary Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

This undercuts his recent testimony to state prosecutors in which he said the fake electors were contingent on winning the litigation. Chesebro told Troupis in late 2020 that it was “really not necessary” to link the GOP electors to ongoing litigation. “I have sent it to the White House this afternoon. The real decision makers,” Troupis responded, though he didn’t identify who at the White House received the memo. In the December 6, 2020, memo, Chesebro laid out the plan to put forth slates of Republican electors in seven key swing states that Trump lost, including Wisconsin.

Persons: Kenneth Chesebro, Donald Trump, Jim Troupis, Wisconsin’s, Chesebro, Trump, Troupis, ” Chesebro, Weeks, Alex Jones, Jones, “, ” Memo, Jim, Justin Clark, ” Troupis, Reince Priebus, Wisconsinites, The Trump, CNN’s Katelyn Polantz Organizations: CNN, Trump, Michigan, “, Capitol, White, White House Locations: Wisconsin, Georgia

Chesebro’s social media presence Pro-Trump attorney Kenneth Chesebro told Michigan investigators that he doesn’t have any social media accounts, including Twitter. But CNN uncovered a secret Twitter account that Chesebro used to anonymously post about the 2020 election in real-time. Yet in his interview with Michigan investigators, Chesebro said the very opposite, claiming that the entire electors plan was contingent on the courts. Michigan investigators secured Chesebro’s cooperation in December, after previously charging the 16 fake electors in that state with multiple felonies. Chesebro distances himself from the plotIn his interview with Michigan investigators, Chesebro repeatedly tried to downplay his knowledge of the electors plan.

Persons: Kenneth Chesebro, Chesebro, ”, Robert Langford, Danny Wimmer, Dana Nessel, “, ” Chesebro, Trump, BadgerPundit, Mike Pence, Joe Biden, Pence, hadn’t, Jack, “ Chesebro, Ryan Goodman, ” Goodman, Manny Arora, Arora, Wimmer, John Eastman, Alex Jones, I’d, Gore, Laurence, “ it’s, Eastman, Boris Epshteyn, Donald Trump, won’t, Biden, ” BadgerPundit, Jefferson, ” CNN’s Selwyn Rocha Organizations: CNN, Trump, Twitter, Michigan, CNN CNN, BadgerPundit, Chesebro, Republican, Pro, CNN CNN Twitter, Wayback Machine, New York University, Michigan Attorney, Bush, Trump International Hotel, Atlantic, ”, Biden, Eastman, Pence, Capitol Locations: Michigan, Georgia, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada, “, Chesebro, Gore, cryptocurrency, Washington ,, Bush, Trump’s, Washington

Some might not reach trial this year, while one is set to begin in a matter of weeks. In all, Trump faces 40 felony charges in the classified documents case. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon set a trial date of May 20, 2024, though she has signaled that it may be pushed back. The Trump campaign called the charges “fake” and asked why it took two and a half years to bring them. That case is set to be first to proceed to trial, with a judge setting jury selection for March 25.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jack Smith, Trump, cavalierly, Walt Nauta, Carlos De Oliveira, De Oliveira, Aileen Cannon, Joe Biden’s, Mike Pence, Biden, it’s, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Melania Trump, Barron, GEORGIA Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, Fani Willis Organizations: WASHINGTON, Trump, Pentagon, Nauta, U.S, Capitol, United, New York, White House, Electoral College Locations: Florida, Trump’s Florida, Washington, United States, U.S, New York, GEORGIA, Georgia, Fulton County

The vast majority — nearly $40 million — went to law firms working on his personal legal problems. But significant portions of their donations went to law firms defending Trump in civil cases involving his real-estate empire and its top executives, including Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump. Only about $861,000 was spent on law firms working exclusively on political issues. Where there were gaps, we contacted law firms and individual lawyers who received money from the PACs. In 2021 and 2022 combined, Trump spent $16 million on legal fees through the Save America PAC.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, —, MAGA, Trump's, Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, Stormy Daniels, Jean Carroll, Robert, Clifford S, Michael Cohen, — Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders, Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel, Frederick —, Madaio, Alina Habba, Michael Madaio, Hillary Clinton, James Comey, Mary Trump, general's, Carroll, Trump —, Joe Tacopina, Chad Seigel, Christopher Kise, Jesus M, Suarez, Eli Bartov, Bryan Woolston, Silverman Thompson Slutkin, White, Evan Corcoran, Todd Blanche, Cadwalader, Taft, Blanche, Attorney Alvin Bragg's, Daniels, Susan Necheles, John Lauro, who's, Steven H, Drew Findling, Jennifer Little, Jesse R, it's, Jim, John Rowley, Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, Allen Weisselberg, Weisselberg, perjured, ArentFox Schiff, Jeff McConney, Stanley Woodward, Stanley Brand, Carlos de Oliveira, John S, Irving of, Boris Epshteyn, Kenneth Chesebro, Troutman Pepper, Ivanka, Newsmax, Harmeet, Dhillon, Bradley T, Morvillo Abramowitz, David Pecker, Elkan Abramowitz, Greenberg Traurig, Ballard Spahr, Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Corey Lewandowski, Robert Mueller's, Jones, Andrew Kelly, It's, Forbes, defaming Carroll, he's Organizations: Service, Trump, Save America PAC, Make, Trump Organization, Politico, Reuters, New, Associates, Democratic National Committee, The New York Times, Times, Continental LLP, Inc, AP, Attorney, Capitol, Law, Taft, Brand Woodward Law, Irving of Earth & Water Law, Ivanka Trump, Republican National Committee, Save, MAGA, Curve Solutions, National Enquirer, Republican, MAGA PAC, Bloomberg Locations: New York, Georgia, Carroll, Manhattan, Florida, York, Washington, DC, Wickersham, Attorney Alvin Bragg's Manhattan, Fulton County , Georgia, codefendants, MAGAworld, Robert Mueller's Russia

The ruling comes in a lawsuit by Democrats that originally sought $2.4 million in damages from all 10 Republicans who submitted a document to Congress falsely declaring Trump as the 2020 election winner in Wisconsin. But Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington said they can be questioned, although he put limitations on the Evers interview. The fake elector plan hatched in seven battleground states was central to the federal indictment filed against Trump earlier in August that alleged he tried to overturn results of the 2020 election. Trump's attorney Chesebro, who is a defendant in the Wisconsin lawsuit, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of conspiracy to commit filing false documents after being charged with participating in efforts to overturn Trump’s loss in Georgia. Trump has continued to spread falsehoods about the 2020 election.

Persons: Tony Evers, Donald Trump's, Trump, Jim Troupis, Kenneth Chesebro, Joe Biden’s, Troupis, Evers, Barnes, “, ”, Matthew Fernholz, that’s, ” Fernholz, Frank Remington, Remington, “ I’m, ” Remington, it’s, ” Evers, Biden, Josh Kaul, hasn't, Chesebro Organizations: —, — Wisconsin Gov, Democratic, Democrats, Republicans, Gov, The Wisconsin Department of Justice, U.S, Senate, Trump, Government, Biden Locations: MADISON, Wis, — Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Dane, Georgia

☆ Live updates: Trump lawyers argue in Georgia 2020 election case motions hearing
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Dan Berman | Andrew Menezes | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Fulton Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee departs after presiding over a hearing at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta on November 15. But it’s in Georgia where he and his alleged co-conspirators face a combined 41 state charges for trying to overturn legitimate election results in the 2020 presidential election. This is the first time Trump’s attorneys will appear in court in the Fulton County case, though their client won’t be with them. Trump hasn’t yet been in the Atlanta courthouse – he previously waived his right to an arraignment hearing – though he was processed at the Fulton County jail in late August. Read more about the Georgia election subversion case.

Persons: Scott McAfee, Arvin Temkar, Donald Trump’s, Trump, ” Drew Findling –, Steven Sadow, Jennifer Little, Sadow, “, ” Sadow, Kenneth Chesebro, Sidney Powell, Chesebro, Powell, McAfee Organizations: Reuters, Trump, United Locations: Fulton, Atlanta, Georgia, United States, Fulton County

Atlanta CNN —Former President Donald Trump’s attorneys in the Georgia election subversion case are set to defend their client in a Fulton County courtroom for the first time on Friday as they try to have the charges thrown out on First Amendment grounds. This is the first time Trump’s attorneys will appear in court in the Fulton County case, though their client won’t be with them. Trump hasn’t yet been in the Atlanta courthouse – he previously waived his right to an arraignment hearing – though he was processed at the Fulton County jail in late August. She used a similar legal strategy in a 2014 RICO case in Fulton County, according to a source familiar with the matter. Despite his mounting legal debt and the fact that he is almost 80, sources close to Giuliani said he intends to fight the Georgia case.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, ” Drew Findling –, Steven Sadow, Jennifer Little, Sadow, “, ” Sadow, Scott McAfee, Kenneth Chesebro, Sidney Powell, Chesebro, Powell, McAfee, Trump’s, Fani Willis, ” Willis, Jack Smith, Smith, ”, Willis ’, Eastman, John Eastman, Fulton, Donald Trump, Willis, Mark Meadows, Jeffrey Clark, Clark, Meadows, ” “, Bob Cheeley, Cheeley, Robert Cheeley, Cheeley’s, Buddy Parker, Rudy Giuliani –, haven’t, Giuliani, Allyn Stockton Jr, David Shafer, ” Shafer, Rudy Giuliani’s, Robert Costello, Giuliani groped, CNN Giuliani, Brian Tevis, David Wolfe, CNN’s Paula Reid, Evan Perez, Marshall Cohen Organizations: Atlanta CNN —, Trump, United, Fulton, Republican, Prosecutors, Washington Post, “, U.S, CNN, Trump Trump, Trump White House, Secret, Justice, Appeals, DC, Georgia’s, Senate, Atlanta Public Schools, Georgia Republican Party, Georgia State Senate, Electoral College, New, Atlanta Locations: Georgia, Fulton, Atlanta, United States, Fulton County, Washington , DC, Meadows, ” Meadows, Washington, Trump, State of Georgia, New York, Aidala, Stockton, Rabun County

☆ Trump Georgia election case judge will issue protective order for evidence after media leak
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A Georgia judge said Wednesday he will issue a protective order barring the public release of sensitive evidence exchanged between prosecutors and lawyers representing former President Donald Trump and his co-defendants in their election interference criminal cases in that state. "Until we decide what's going to be relevant and admissible, this case should be tried and not in the court of public opinion," said Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee at a hearing on the proposed order. At Wednesday's hearing, the attorney Jonathan Miller, who is representing the defendant Misty Hampton, told McAfee that he gave the videos to "one media outlet." Miller said the public had the right to know what the four co-defendants had told the Fulton County District Attorney's Office, arguing that the statements they made "help my client." ABC News had first reported statements that Ellis and Powell made in their so-called proffer videos, while The Washington Post first reported statements made by Chesbro and bail bondsman Scott Hall in their own proffer sessions.

Persons: Donald Trump, Scott McAfee, Jenna Ellis, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, Jonathan Miller, Misty Hampton, McAfee, Miller, Ellis, Powell, Chesbro, Scott Hall Organizations: Attorney's Office, ABC, The Washington Post Locations: Georgia, Fulton County

New details unearthed in snippets of recorded interviews with four of Donald Trump’s co-defendants who pleaded guilty in the Georgia election interference case spell trouble for the former president and others indicted in the sprawling racketeering scheme. The confidential taped proffers with Fulton County prosecutors were leaked on Monday to ABC News and The Washington Post. “Whether you're talking about racketeering or you're talking about a drug conspiracy, the same principles always apply,” Copeland says. A lot of times the state looks bottom up – the smaller fish will talk about the bigger fish. “In this particular case, it really is an interesting assortment of folks who have come forward, especially from the attorneys' part,” she adds.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Jenna Ellis, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, Scott Hall, Fani Willis, ”, Amy Lee Copeland, Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Powell, Chesebro, Joe Biden, Ellis, Dan Scavino, we’re, ’ ” Ellis, “ Ms, that’s, ” Copeland, Ellis ’, ’, Willis, We've, it's, Bob Chealy, “, codefendants, ” Willis Organizations: ABC News, The Washington Post, Trump, White Locations: Georgia, Fulton, Savannah, Arizona, Powell , Georgia, Coffee County

☆ Fulton County prosecutors ask for emergency seal of evidence after video leak in election subversion case
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Nick Valencia | Jason Morris | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Portions of proffer videos – the legal term for videotaped conversations some of Trump’s co-defendants had with prosecutors – were leaked to several news outlets on Monday. The Fulton County district attorney’s office did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment about the emergency protective order or leaked videos. The videos provide some new details about efforts by those close to Trump to reverse the election in his favor. In the months since the motion, the district attorney’s office did not follow up to ask for an official ruling. “Instead, defendants must come to the District Attorney’s Office to view confidential video recordings of proffers.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump’s, –, Jenna Ellis, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, bondsman Scott Hall, Fani Willis, Harrison Floyd’s, ” Todd Harding, Harding, Ellis, Dan Scavino, Trump, ’, ’ ” Ellis, Powell, Chesebro, “, ” Powell Organizations: Atlanta CNN, ABC News, The Washington Post, Trump, Fulton, White, Office Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, Trump, Arizona, Fulton

☆ Trump's free speech defense may fall short in election subversion trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Andrew Goudsward | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Trump’s defense lawyers, in a flurry of legal motions, have argued that the case by Special Counsel Jack Smith "attempts to criminalize core political speech and political advocacy." At trial, legal experts say Trump will likely not be allowed to argue to a jury that his conduct was protected by his First Amendment right to free speech because such legal questions are resolved by the judge. Those claims complement his political case as an anti-establishment crusader whose movement is opposed by powerful foes seeking to silence him. Criminal defendants can use the defense to argue they sought legal opinions and did not intend to break the law. Three former Trump lawyers have already pleaded guilty in Georgia, including Kenneth Chesebro, who drafted memos crafting the fake elector scheme.

Persons: Donald Trump, Octavio Jones, Jack Smith, Trump, Democrat Joe Biden, Trump . Trump, Jonathan Turley, Mike Pence, “ He’s, ”, Ty Cobb, “, Arthur Engoron, Mr Kise, Engoron, Christopher Kise, Tanya Chutkan, Kristy Parker, ” Trump, William Barr, Kenneth Chesebro, Andrew Goudsward, Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, Republican, Florida Freedom Summit, Gaylord, Convention, REUTERS, Rights, Democrat, Trump ., George Washington University, Trump, Protect Democracy, Capitol, Prosecutors, Thomson Locations: Florida, Kissimmee , Florida, U.S, Washington, New York, Georgia

☆ Developments in Trump’s galaxy of legal problems, explained
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Zachary Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

CNN —Try to keep track of the galaxy of former President Donald Trump’s legal problems. The trial marks the first of Trump’s criminal cases expected to proceed. Federal criminal court in Florida: Mishandling classified materialTrump has pleaded not guilty to 37 federal charges brought by Smith over his alleged mishandling of classified documents. A federal judge threw out the lawsuit in November 2022. A New York judge dismissed The New York Times from Trump’s lawsuit regarding disclosure of his tax returns and ordered Trump to pay the newspaper’s legal fees.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Teddy Roosevelt, Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Barnes, Doris A, Lawrence H, Budner Theodore Roosevelt, Congress Trump, Letitia James, Judge Arthur Engoron, Donald Jr, Eric, Ivanka, Sarah B, Wallace, Jack Dempsey, Jean Carroll, Jack Smith’s, Joe Biden, Tanya Chutkan, Obama, Chutkan, Stormy Daniels, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Daniels, Michael Cohen, Juan Merchan, Fani Willis, Brad Raffensperger, Jenna Ellis, John Bazemore, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, Ellis, Powell, Chesebro, Smith, Allen Weisselberg, Weisselberg, Peter Strzok, Michael Cohen’s, Cohen, William Barr, Judge Lewis Liman, Mary Trump Organizations: CNN, Trump, White House, New York Republican, White, Progressive, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist, Congress, New, . New York, Colorado voters, Capitol Police, Minnesota’s, Federal, Iowa Republicans, Supreme, Prosecutors, Manhattan, Attorney, Fulton, Georgia, Republican, Department of Justice, . Justice Department, Reuters, National Archives, Trump Organization, Former Trump Organization, US Capitol Police, Metropolitan Police, FBI, Justice Department, New York Times Locations: New York, Colorado, Washington , DC, Florida, Michigan, Washington ,, Washington, Colorado’s, Denver, Manhattan, Iowa, DC, York, Georgia, Coffee County , Georgia, Atlanta, nemeses, Trump's, Lago, Mar, Bedminster , New Jersey, Rikers

Former President Donald Trump faces a key week ahead, and yet again the drama won’t be on the campaign trail but in the courtroom as the GOP front-runner’s children prepare to testify before a judge. Ivanka Trump was initially listed as a co-defendant, but a New York appeals court dismissed that status, finding that the claims against her were too old. Chutkan had imposed a narrow gag order on Trump earlier this month, barring him from making public statements targeting prosecutors, court staff and potential witnesses. But she paused the gag order to allow Trump’s defense team time to argue why his speech should not be restricted. The ACLU has sided with Trump, arguing that the gag order is a violation of First Amendment free speech protections.

Persons: Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, –, Letitia James, shouldn’t, Engoron, Trump, who’s, Michael Cohen, Tanya Chutkan, I’m, Chutkan, Jack Smith, Smith, Mark Meadows, ”, Obama, TRUMP, ” Trump, Fani Willis, Trump’s, Sidney Powell, Jenna Willis, Kenneth Chesebro, Rudy Giulliani, he’d Organizations: GOP, Trump, Trump Organization, New York, Donald Trump View, The New, Justice, Capitol, ACLU, ABC News, White House, TRUMP Locations: Manhattan, New York, The New York, who’s, Georgia’s Fulton County, United States

☆ Opinion | Trump’s Lawyers Should Have Known Better
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Jesse Wegman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

With so many lawyers involved in the Watergate criminal scheme, the American Bar Association started requiring law schools to provide ethics instruction or risk losing their accreditation. In Fulton County, Ga., three of former President Donald Trump’s lawyers — Kenneth Chesebro, Sidney Powell and Jenna Ellis — have now pleaded guilty to crimes in service of Mr. Trump’s scheme to overturn the 2020 election and stay in the White House. All three have agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in the sprawling state RICO case against Mr. Trump. Two other Trump lawyers, Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman, still face criminal charges in the Georgia case. If Mr. Trump’s 2020 racket was “a coup in search of a legal theory,” as one federal judge put it, these lawyers provided the theory, and the phony facts to back it up.

Persons: Richard Nixon’s, John Dean, Nixon’s, Donald Trump’s, — Kenneth Chesebro, Sidney Powell, Jenna Ellis —, Trump, Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Chesebro, Powell Organizations: American Bar Association, House, Trump Locations: Fulton County ,, Georgia

☆ At least 6 Trump co-defendants in Georgia election interference case have talked plea deals, and the list most likely won't include Rudy Giuliani
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

So far, four people have accepted plea deals, including Jenna Ellis and Sidney Powell. The details of the plea deals were not disclosed. A Fulton County grand jury indicted Trump and 18 co-defendants in mid-August under the state's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. AdvertisementAdvertisement"That could very well be the case but not necessarily," Melissa Redmon, a former deputy district attorney at the Fulton County District Attorney's Office told Insider. So far, Redmon noted, the co-defendants who have accepted plea deals have gotten a dismissal or reduction of charges.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jenna Ellis, Sidney Powell, Rudy Giuliani, —, Donald Trump's, Robert Cheeley, Misty Hampton, Micahel Roman, Richard Rice, Rice, Trump, Kenneth Chesebro, Scott, Fani Willis, Melissa Redmon, Redmon, Powell, Trump's, Giuliani, Ted Goodman Organizations: CNN, Service, Trump, White House, Cheeley, Fulton, Attorney's Office, Attorney's, White Locations: Georgia, state's, Fulton County , Georgia, Hampton, Fulton County's, Fulton County, Fulton

☆ All the people starting to turn on Trump are really starting to add up
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The news that former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows is cooperating should concern Trump. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementThus far, most of the investigations into Trump, especially his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, have relied on lower-ranking aides. Willis previously issued a sweeping indictment against Trump and his allies for trying to overturn Georgia's 2020 presidential election results. There's also the original Trump flipper, his former fixer Michael Cohen, who testified in Trump's civil fraud trial on Tuesday.

Persons: Donald Trump, Mark Meadows, Trump, —, Donald Trump's, Jack Smith's, Mark Bederow, it's, Cassidy Hutchinson, Meadows, Brad Raffensperger, Bederow, Mike Pence, Pence, MAGA expats, Jenna Ellis, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro —, Fani Willis, Willis, Georgia's, Ellis, Rudy Giuliani, Giuliani, There's, Michael Cohen, Cohen, spiller Organizations: White House, Service, Trump . ABC News, Bloomberg, Trump, Republican, Georgia, Capitol, New York Locations: Manhattan, Meadows, Washington, DC, Fulton County

☆ Opinion | Trump’s Lawyers Are Going Down. Is He?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( David French | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

On Tuesday morning, Jenna Ellis became the third Donald Trump-allied lawyer to plead guilty in Fulton County, Ga., to state criminal charges related to Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. The Ellis, Powell and Chesebro guilty pleas represent an advance for both the state election prosecution in Georgia and the federal election prosecution in Washington. At the same time, however, it’s far too soon to tell whether the prosecution has made real progress on Trump himself. The ultimate importance of the plea deals depends on the nature of the testimony from the lawyers, and we don’t yet know what they have said — or will say. To understand the potential significance of these plea agreements, it’s necessary to understand the importance of Trump’s legal team to Trump’s criminal defense.

Persons: Jenna Ellis, Donald Trump, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, Ellis, Powell, Chesebro, Jack Smith, Trump, I’ve, Ken White, Ezra Klein’s, ” Organizations: Trump Locations: Fulton County ,, Georgia, Washington, Trump

☆ Guilty pleas from ex-Trump attorneys deal blow to right-wing media outlets that amplified election lies
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —It’s raining “guilty” pleas in Trump-world. The rapid succession of guilty pleas not only marks a big blow to Trump, but also to the right-wing media apparatus that championed and disseminated his election lies to the masses. In the aftermath of the 2020 election, both Ellis and Powell toured across MAGA Media, becoming heroes to Trump’s fans as they sowed doubt about the legitimacy of the election. Fox News, which repeatedly hosted Ellis in the wake of the 2020 election, suddenly became disinterested in the former Trump lawyer. The result is that a good portion of the channel’s audience, made up of legions of viewers who willfully seclude themselves in right-wing media safe spaces, will likely miss the consequential news.

Persons: Jenna Ellis, Donald Trump’s, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, Trump, Ellis, Powell, they’re, ”, Donald Trump, ” Ellis, Matt Gertz, Trump’s, Rupert, Lachlan Murdoch Organizations: CNN, Salem Media, MAGA Media, Media, Fox News, Voting, Dominion Locations: Trump, Georgia, Fulton

“Mark Meadows always thought it was rigged, the whole thing was rigged,” Trump said. Trump was indicted by Smith in August in Washington, D.C., for attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election and for inciting a riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The report from ABC News comes at a precarious moment for Trump, the GOP presidential primary front-runner who faces a total of 91 criminal charges stemming from four indictments. "If I knew then what I know now, I would have declined to represent Donald Trump in these post-election challenges. He reiterated those points on social media, where Trump also posited that perhaps Meadows, after years of being pressured by Smith and other prosecutors, finally told Smith what he wanted to hear in order to secure his own immunity.

Persons: Donald Trump, Mark Meadows, “, ” Trump, Meadows, Jack Smith, Smith, Trump, Fani Willis, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, Jenna Ellis, Trump’s, Ellis, doesn’t Organizations: White, New, ABC, Justice, Washington , D.C, Capitol, Trump, ABC News, GOP, Donald Trump View Locations: Manhattan, Washington ,, Fulton County, Georgia

☆ Mark Meadows quietly testified that he told Trump the election wasn't being stolen, reports say. But his book still pushed election fraud claims.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Sarah Gray | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Unnamed sources familiar with the situation told ABC News and Bloomberg that Meadows testified before a federal grand jury hearing evidence in the election interference probe. It was not clear what Terwilliger told ABC News was inaccurate. Both ABC News and Bloomberg reported that Meadows told the grand jury he had informed Trump in the immediate aftermath of the 2020 election that claims of mass election fraud were baseless. AdvertisementAdvertisementMeadows also doubled down on the election fraud claims well after he and Trump left the White House, despite what the recent reporting says he told the grand jury. CNN noted that Meadows wrote in the book he did try to explain to Trump how he lost the election.

Persons: Mark Meadows, Jack Smith's, Meadows, Trump, —, Donald Trump's, Bloomberg —, George Terwilliger, Terwilliger, Bill Barr, who's, Alfred Hitchcock, Jenna Ellis, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro Organizations: ABC News, Bloomberg, Service, White House, CBS, ABC, White, CNN, Trump Locations: Georgia

Fani T. Willis, the district attorney of Fulton County, Ga., had no shortage of doubters when she brought an ambitious racketeering case in August against former president Donald J. Trump and 18 of his allies. It was too broad, they said, and too complicated, with so many defendants and multiple, crisscrossing plot lines for jurors to follow. But the power of Georgia’s racketeering statute in Ms. Willis’s hands has become apparent over the last six days. While Ms. Powell pleaded guilty only to misdemeanor charges, both Mr. Chesebro and Ms. Ellis accepted a felony charge as part of their plea agreements. A fourth defendant, a Georgia bail bondsman named Scott Hall, pleaded guilty last month to five misdemeanor charges.

Persons: Willis, Donald J, Trump, Willis’s, Sidney K, Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, Jenna Ellis, Chesebro, Ellis, bondsman, Scott Hall Organizations: Trump Locations: Fulton County ,, Georgia

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