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☆ Supreme Court keeps Trump on Colorado ballot, rejecting 14th Amendment push
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( John Fritze | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“The Supreme Court had the opportunity in this case to exonerate Trump, and they chose not to do so. Using the 14th Amendment to derail Trump’s candidacy has always been seen as a legal longshot, but gained significant momentum with a win in Colorado’s top court in December, on its way to the US Supreme Court. But in Colorado, a series of decisions by state courts led to a case that Trump ultimately appealed to the US Supreme Court in January. The Colorado Supreme Court, on a sharply divided 4-3 vote, affirmed the findings about Trump’s role in the US Capitol attack but said that the ban did, in fact, apply to presidents. Trump is appealing, and a state court paused those proceedings while the Supreme Court dealt with the Colorado case.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, John Roberts, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh –, “, ” Trump, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Amy Coney Barrett, Steve Vladeck, Sotomayor, Kagan, Barrett, Jackson, ” SCOTUS, Trump’s, State Jena Griswold, ” Griswold, ”, Norma Anderson, Trump “, Roberts, Kavanaugh, lobbed, Jonathan Mitchell, Barack Obama, ” Kagan, Jason Murray, CNN’s Marshall Cohen, Devan Cole Organizations: CNN, GOP, Trump, University of Texas School of Law, US Capitol, Republican, Colorado, State, U.S, Democrats, Citizens, Colorado Supreme, Biden Locations: Colorado, Washington, U.S ., “ Colorado, Colorado’s, Maine and Illinois, Minnesota , Michigan , Massachusetts, Oregon, Maine, An Illinois, United States

☆ 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

In Florida, Trump’s attorneys told Judge Aileen Cannon his Mar-a-Lago classified documents case should wait until after the 2024 election. But both hearings could have a significant impact on when – or whether – Trump will face trial in each of those two cases. The only case that appears set: Trump’s New York criminal trial will begin March 25, which Trump’s attorneys said was a “firm” date in court Friday. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis attends a hearing on the Georgia election interference case on Friday in Atlanta. When Trump’s attorneys argued for the hearing, Cannon pushed them to describe how they could narrow its scope and asked them to lay out specifically what a hearing would examine.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Aileen Cannon, Scott McAfee, Fani Willis, Nathan Wade, – Trump, Jack Smith’s, Willis, Wade, McAfee, Craig Gillen, Alex Slitz, “ We’ve, ”, Gillen, David Shafer, “, ” Gillen, Cannon, Jack Smith, –, Todd Blanche, ” Blanche, Jay Bratt, ” Bratt, ” Cannon, Trump, David Harbach, Biden, Harbach, Emil Bove, ” McAfee, Terrence Bradley, Donald Trump, Steve Sadow, Bradley –, What’s, they’ve, They’ve, Sadow, Bradley, ” Sadow Organizations: CNN, Trump, Fulton, Georgia Republican, “ Prosecutors, ”, Justice Department, Prosecutors, Biden White, FBI Locations: Florida, Georgia, Fulton County, Washington, York, Atlanta

☆ Trump appeals judge’s decision that disqualified him from Illinois ballots
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington CNN —Former President Donald Trump has appealed an Illinois judge’s decision that disqualified him from the state’s upcoming Republican primary ballot. The surprise court ruling this week throws into question whether votes cast for Trump will be counted. Porter issued her decision Wednesday night and paused the decision for two days, so Trump could appeal. Trump’s lawyers asked her on Thursday to extend the pause until all of their potential appeals are exhausted in Illinois courts. The justices seemed likely to reverse that decision, teeing up a conflict with the Illinois ruling.

Persons: Donald Trump, Tracie Porter, Trump, Porter, ”, It’s, they’ll Organizations: Washington CNN, Illinois State, Republican, GOP, Trump, Illinois Locations: Illinois, Cook County, Colorado, insurrectionists, Maine

☆ Illinois judge removes Trump from ballot because of ‘insurrectionist ban’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —In a surprise move, an Illinois judge has removed former President Donald Trump from the state’s ballot based on the 14th Amendment’s so-called “insurrectionist ban.”The decision is paused, giving Trump a short period of time to appeal. “The Illinois State Board of Election shall remove Donald J. Trump from the ballot for the General Primary Election on March 19, 2024, or cause any votes cast for him to be suppressed.”The judge stripped Trump from the Illinois ballot one month after the anti-Trump challenge was dismissed by the Illinois State Board of Elections. Illinois is now the third state where Trump was booted from the ballot, after Colorado and Maine. But those decisions were paused pending the appeal of the Colorado case to the US Supreme Court. Trump can appeal the judge’s decision in Illinois state courts.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Tracie Porter, Colorado’s, “, ” Porter, Donald J, ”, Porter, Jose Luis Magana, Nicholas Nelson, ” Nelson, Adam Merrill, ” Merrill, CNN’s Katelyn Polantz, Eric Bradner Organizations: CNN, Trump, Colorado Supreme, Illinois State, AP Trump, GOP Locations: Illinois, Colorado, Cook, Maine, Michigan , Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, ” Illinois

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

☆ House Republicans seek to downplay FBI informant charges that undermine Biden impeachment inquiry
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Annie Grayer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —House Republicans leading the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden tried to downplay the importance of an FBI informant whose claims they once championed after he was charged with fabricating foreign bribery allegations involving the president and his son. Special counsel David Weiss charged the FBI informant, Alexander Smirnov, with lying to the FBI and creating false records. The indictment is just the latest setback to House Republicans who are struggling to build momentum to impeach the president. In the wake of the charges, President Joe Biden called out the informant for lying and said Republicans should end their impeachment inquiry. In the wake of the charges, Republicans have seized on the idea that Smirnov was initially presented as a credible witness.

Persons: Joe Biden, David Weiss, Alexander Smirnov, Smirnov, Biden, Jim Jordan, Jordan, James Comer, Comer, Jason Smith, Joe Biden corruptly, Hunter, Donald Trump’s, Alejandro Mayorkas, ”, Jamie Raskin, “, Johnson, Scott Brady, Brady, ” Brady, Tony Bobulinski, ” Comer, Raskin, Hunter Biden, James, CNN’s Marshall Cohen Organizations: CNN — House Republicans, FBI, Republicans, CNN, Fox, of Homeland, House Republicans, Hunter Biden, CHS, GOP Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian

‘I’m not on trial,’ Willis saysWillis seized several opportunities to defend herself. She said at the beginning of her testimony that she was “very anxious” to defend herself, “so I ran to the courtroom.”“You think I’m on trial,” Willis said, in her sharpest pushback of the day. Video Ad Feedback Hear what legal expert thinks about Fani Willis' testimony 03:39 - Source: CNNWhen did the relationship start? Bryant-Yeartie said she observed “hugging, kissing, close affection” between Willis and Wade prior to 2022, when they claimed their romantic relationship began. Trump lawyer Steven Sadow asked Willis about the breakup, eliciting an answer that revealed sexist remarks that Wade allegedly made to Willis in the past.

Persons: Donald Trump, Fani Willis, Scott McAfee, Trump’s, Willis, Nathan Wade, Trump, Willis ’, Wade, Willis didn’t, McAfee, ” Willis, “ You’ve, Ashleigh Merchant, ‘ I’m, ’ Willis, “, “ I’m, ”, Michael Roman, Robin Bryant, Bryant, Yeartie, Clinton, salaciously, ” Wade, reimbursements Wade, there’s, smirking, Craig Gillen, ” Gillen, Gillen, Steven Sadow, ’ ” Willis, Sadow, Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, CNN’s Zachary Cohen, Jason Morris, Nick Valencia, Hannah Rabinowitz, Maxime Tamsett, Shirin Faqiri, Jim Rogers, Sarah Davis, Eva Roytburg, Fabiana Chaparro Organizations: CNN, Trump, Electoral College, Trump –, GOP Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, San Francisco, Miami, Belize, Bahamas, New York, Atlanta, York

☆ Former Biden family business associate recycles unproven allegations to House panels
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Annie Grayer | Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

A former Biden family business associate levied critical but unproven allegations against President Joe Biden in a closed-door House interview Tuesday, resurrecting claims he has lobbed since 2020. He further said he believed the multi-million-dollar business deals secured by Joe Biden’s son and brother only materialized “because Joe Biden was in high office.” He said, “the Biden family business was Joe Biden, period,” and specifically mentioned Joe Biden’s alleged role in a lucrative proposed deal with a Chinese energy conglomerate. “He had two encounters with President Biden in back-to-back days in May of 2017 that seemed extremely casual,” Raskin said. Despite providing information to the FBI, federal prosecutors haven’t cited his materials in the sweeping tax indictment filed against Hunter Biden. The Justice Department has accused Hunter Biden of tax evasion and other financial crimes over many years.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden, Tony Bobulinski, Trump, —, “ Joe Biden, ” Bobulinski, Joe Biden’s, ”, “, Bobulinski, Jamie Raskin, ” Raskin, Hunter, Hunter Biden, Rob Walker, Walker, ” Walker, “ You’re, Bobulinski’s, Raskin, pounced, Robert Hur’s, Jasmine Crockett, haven’t, Republicans ’ Organizations: CNN, Street, Maryland, Justice Department, FBI, IRS, Republicans, Fox News, Democratic, Bobulinski, GOP, The Locations: China, Los Angeles, Jasmine Crockett of Texas

☆ Why a Supreme Court easy out in Trump ballot battle could lead to post-election chaos
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( John Fritze | Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —When it comes to deciding whether former President Donald Trump should be booted from Colorado’s ballot, the easiest path the Supreme Court could take now may wind up causing the most chaos early next year. In the ballot litigation, Trump is appealing a decision from the Colorado Supreme Court in December that he incited the attack on the US Capitol as electoral votes were being counted in 2021. Arguments at the US Supreme Court last week focused less on whether there was an insurrection and more on technical questions about whether states may enforce the ban. A political fight over eligibility would likely be limited to Congress, but it could sweep the Supreme Court back into the thicket, as well. “Depending on just how horrendously ugly the situation could get, the court might feel compelled to become involved,” Foley said.

Persons: Donald Trump, ”, Gerard Magliocca, Trump, Magliocca, Jack Smith, John Roberts, Van Jones, “, Edward Foley, ” Foley, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Joe Biden, Jason Murray, ” Jackson, ” Murray, Murray, Derek Muller, –, Muller, Katelyn Polantz Organizations: CNN, Trump, Indiana University, Democratic, “, DC Circuit, Colorado Supreme Court, Capitol, US, Electoral College, The Ohio State University, Notre Dame Locations: Colorado, United States

☆ Trump says he would encourage Russia to ‘do whatever the hell they want’ to any NATO country that doesn’t pay enough
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Kate Sullivan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“NATO was busted until I came along,” Trump said at a rally in Conway, South Carolina. But his comments Saturday are his most direct indication he does not intend to defend NATO allies from Russian attack if he is reelected. NATO has a target that each member country spends a minimum of 2% of gross domestic product on defense, and most countries are not meeting that target. As president, Trump privately threatened multiple times to withdraw the United States from NATO, according to The New York Times. Trump has described NATO as “obsolete” and has aligned himself with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who wants to weaken the alliance.

Persons: Donald Trump, ” Trump, “, ‘ Everybody’s, ’, ‘, ”, Joe Biden’s, Biden, chief’s, Andrew Bates, Trump, haven’t, Vladimir Putin, Putin, CNN’s Kaanita Iyer, Daniel Dale, Marshall Cohen, Veronica Stracqualursi, Jim Acosta, Kevin Liptak Organizations: CNN, NATO, American, Atlantic Treaty Organization, The New York Times Locations: Russia, Conway , South Carolina, United States

☆ Who is Norma Anderson? The Colorado Republican leading the 14th Amendment challenge
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“I didn’t realize I would go down in history as Anderson versus Trump,” she told CNN in an interview. The case she’s referring to – now Trump v. Anderson – revolves around Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bans insurrectionists from holding public office. “And I said absolutely.”But before embarking on the unprecedented case against Trump, Anderson made plenty of history of her own. While there, from 1997 to 1998, she was the majority leader of the lower chamber. A lifelong Republican, Anderson left the Colorado legislature in 2006, as the state’s politics started shifting.

Persons: Norma Anderson, Donald Trump, ”, –, Anderson –, Trump, Anderson, State Jena Griswold, Griswold, “, ” Anderson, Nikki Haley, Coloradans, Obama, Melina Mara, weren’t, FDR, “ I’ve Organizations: CNN, Trump, Anderson, Colorado Supreme, US, Citizens, Colorado, State, statehouse, Colorado statehouse, Historical Commission, Republican, Democratic, Former, Washington Post, Getty Locations: Colorado, Washington, Denver, Jefferson, Former Colorado

☆ Trump 14th Amendment Supreme Court oral arguments: What to watch
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( John Fritze | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The court scheduled 80 minutes for the arguments that will kick off shortly after 10 a.m. Though the 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868, the court has never before wrestled with a claim based on the insurrection clause. The case, Trump v. Anderson, is on appeal from the Colorado Supreme Court, which in December ruled that the former president is no longer eligible to serve. Trump is simultaneously juggling four criminal prosecutions – including one that could reach the Supreme Court in coming days dealing with whether he can claim immunity from criminal prosecution. While the stakes for Trump are enormous, they are also significant for the Supreme Court.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Bush, Gore, ”, Kermit Roosevelt, ” Trump, Anderson, Trump, Michael Gerhardt, John Roberts, Elena Kagan, Roberts, Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Kagan, Barack Obama, “ Roberts, ” Gerhardt, “, ” CNN’s Marshall Cohen Organizations: CNN, GOP, Trump, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, Supreme, Colorado Supreme, Capitol, University of North, Republican, New, Interplay Locations: Colorado, Maine, University of North Carolina, Iowa, New Hampshire

If the Supreme Court ultimately rules against Trump it would almost certainly end his campaign for another term. But because the court expedited the earlier stages of the Trump ballot case, it is likely the court will want to move quickly to decide the case, potentially within a matter of weeks. If Trump is removed from the ballot in Colorado, Roberts predicted that states would eventually attempt to knock other candidates out of future elections. Trump and his allies raised the case during their written arguments to the Supreme Court. “It’s by the chief justice of the United States a year after the 14th Amendment,” Kavanaugh said in a reference to Chase.

Persons: Donald Trump, John Roberts, –, Trump, Bush, Gore, George W, Brett Kavanaugh, Trump’s eligibly, Roberts, “ It’ll, ” Roberts, “, United States …, Kavanaugh, Griffin, Salmon Chase, ” Kavanaugh, Chase, CNN Jackson, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Joe Biden, ”, ’, ” Jackson, Elena Kagan, ” Kagan, – Jackson, Sonia Sotomayor, Kagan –, Jackson, didn’t, Jonathan Mitchell, ” Mitchell, Jason Murray, Jack Smith, Murray, Sharp, Kagan, “ It’s, Shannon Stevenson, Stevenson, Carlos Samour, could’ve Organizations: CNN, Trump, Capitol, United, Confederacy, Supreme, Union, Colorado, Colorado Supreme, Democratic Locations: Colorado, United States

☆ Pro-Trump network OAN’s president solicited more info after receiving ‘stolen’ Smartmatic passwords, court documents allege
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The revelation builds on CNN’s previous reporting that OAN President Charles Herring forwarded the purported Smartmatic passwords to ex-Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell within days and later passed it to Mike Lindell. OAN denies defaming Smartmatic or anyone else, and its lawyers say nobody at OAN broke the law in connection with the alleged passwords. In a recent court filing, Smartmatic publicly disclosed – for the first time – the original email that OAN received on January 5, 2021, containing the alleged passwords. If you come across any addition (sic) information, please pass along,” according to emails made public in court filings. OAN handed over the emails to Smartmatic last year, but later claimed they were privileged and should be returned.

Persons: Charles Herring, Sidney Powell, Mike Lindell, Joe Biden, Smartmatic, OAN, defaming Smartmatic, Eric Coomer, Herring, tipster, –, ”, Powell, …, It’s, ’ Smartmatic, OAN “, Carl Butzer, “, Moxila Upadhyaya, OAN’s, Charles Babcock, Upadhyaya, Babcock, Oprah Winfrey, Bill O’Reilly, Phil Organizations: CNN, America, Trump, Voting Systems, Court, Fox News Locations: DC

☆ What to know about Trump and the 14th Amendment’s ‘insurrectionist ban’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Here’s what you need to know for the high-stakes hearing:What does the 14th Amendment say? The 14th Amendment says Americans who take an oath to uphold the Constitution but then “engaged in insurrection” are disqualified from holding future public office. A liberal-leaning watchdog group called CREW filed the lawsuit in September in Colorado state court. The US Supreme Court is reviewing a decision from the Colorado Supreme Court, which said in a landmark 4-3 ruling in December that the “insurrectionist ban” applies to Trump. It would be unprecedented to apply the 14th Amendment “insurrectionist ban” to a presidential candidate.

Persons: Donald Trump, “, ”, United States …, Norma Anderson, State Jena Griswold, Griswold, Trump, SCOTUS, isn’t, rioter, hasn’t Organizations: CNN, Trump, Capitol, United, Republican, Colorado, State, GOP, Supreme, Democrat, US, Colorado Supreme Locations: United States, Colorado, trailblazing GOP, Denver, Maine, Minnesota, Michigan , Illinois , Massachusetts, Oregon, New Mexico

☆ How using the 14th Amendment against Trump went from a ‘pipe-dream fantasy’ to the Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

‘A sheer coincidence’The journey to the Supreme Court unknowingly began even before the insurrection itself. (In the Cawthorn case, the group partnered with a retired GOP state Supreme Court justice.) CREW appealed to the Colorado Supreme Court, whose members were all appointed by Democratic governors, though they originate from a pool of candidates recommended by a bipartisan panel. Trump appealed the Colorado ruling to the US Supreme Court in early January and oral arguments are set for Thursday. “It’s embarrassing, and it shows the imbalance on our state Supreme Court,” Buck told CNN.

Persons: Donald Trump, “, –, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Madison Cawthorn, coalescing, ”, Donald Sherman, Gerard Magliocca, ” Magliocca, United States …, Trump, Donald Trump’s, Jack Dempsey, Mitch McConnell, ” He’d, hadn’t, James Bopp, Greene, didn’t, Ron Fein, resoundingly, Bopp, ” Fein, Couy Griffin, ” Sherman, Griffin, ” Griffin, Trump’s, William Baude, Michael Stokes Paulsen, J, Michael Luttig, ‘, Sherman, Winston Pingeon, Pingeon, Sarah Wallace, ” Donald Sherman, State Jena Griswold, FDR, Norma Anderson, “ I’ve, Wallace, Magliocca, disqualifying Trump, Carlos Samour, vindicating, Ken Buck, Ken Buck of Colorado, denialism, Buck, ” Buck, …, ” CNN’s Scott Bronstein Organizations: Washington CNN, Trump, Liberal, Rep, Madison, Citizens, Indiana University, United, Capitol, AP Police, National Guard, Republican, Republicans, GOP, Amnesty, ”, Cowboys, Trump Republicans, Federalist Society, Colorado Supreme, US Capitol Police, Responsibility, Ethics, Abaca Press, Colorado, State, Colorado Legislature, Court, Democratic, Dissenting, US Supreme, Supreme, CNN Locations: Colorado’s, Colorado, Thursday’s, America, Washington, United States, DC, Colorado and Maine, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, North Carolina, Cawthorn, Georgia, New Mexico, Denver, “ Colorado, Israel, Michigan, Minnesota, Washington ,, Dissenting Colorado, Oregon, Illinois, Ken Buck of

Trump has pledged to appeal and has until Monday to ask the Supreme Court to temporarily block the ruling. Perhaps to speed things along, the appeals court established a quick schedule for Trump to respond to Tuesday’s ruling, giving Trump until February 12 to file an emergency stay request with the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court, however, can take as long as it likes at each step. The cases are entirely separate – this is a criminal prosecution against Trump, and the upcoming Supreme Court case is a civil attempt to remove Trump from state ballots. Further, the appeals court’s findings and explanations in Tuesday’s ruling are not binding on the Supreme Court.

Persons: Donald Trump, “, Trump, It’s, Jack Smith, Karen LeCraft Henderson, Florence Pan, Michelle Childs, eviscerated Trump’s, Trump’s, –, Childs, Pan, Joe Biden, Henderson, George H.W, George H.W . Bush, ” “, ”, Nixon, ’, Tanya Chutkan, acquit Trump, Mitch McConnell Organizations: CNN, Trump, Electoral, Electoral College, Capitol, GOP, Justice Department, DC Circuit, United Locations: George H.W ., Washington ,, United States

☆ UK judge dismisses Trump’s suit against ex-spy behind controversial Russia dossier
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Zahid Mahmood | Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON CNN —A London judge has dismissed Donald Trump’s lawsuit against retired British spy Christopher Steele over his controversial 2016 dossier that contained unverified and salacious allegations about Trump’s ties to Russia. A judge from the London High Court dismissed the data privacy lawsuit against Steele and his company, Orbis Business Intelligence, according to local reports. Those uncorroborated claims first emerged in the so-called Steele dossier, which Steele secretly compiled on behalf of Trump’s political opponents in 2016, and became public after a media leak in early 2017. The memos claimed Trump conspired with the Kremlin to win in 2016 and that Russia had compromising information on him. Judge Karen Steyn said Thursday that Trump’s case lacked merit and should be thrown out.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Christopher Steele, Steele, Trump, Karen Steyn, ” Steyn, ”, Antony White KC, –, ” Steele Organizations: CNN, London High Court, Orbis Business Intelligence, Kremlin, Orbis, Republican Locations: British, Russia, BuzzFeed, Trump

☆ Colorado’s secretary of state urges Supreme Court to keep Trump off ballot
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Her office did not take a position on Trump’s eligibility during the Denver-based trial last year or while the Colorado Supreme Court reviewed the case. His lawyers, and some of the dissenting justices from the divided Colorado Supreme Court, contend there were fatal flaws in the procedure and that his due-process rights were trampled. The case began when a group of Republican and independent Colorado voters sued Griswold in state court, to force her to take Trump off the ballot. Also on Wednesday, a group of police officers who responded to the attack on January 6, 2021, urged the Supreme Court to keep Trump off the ballot. So did a group of retired state Supreme Court justices, including from some states that previously dismissed similar challenges.

Persons: CNN —, Donald Trump, State Jena Griswold, Trump, Griswold, ” “, ” Griswold, Trump “ Organizations: CNN, State, Trump, Supreme, Colorado Supreme Court, Colorado Supreme, Republican, Colorado Locations: Colorado, Denver

☆ Bipartisan Illinois election board dismisses 14th Amendment case against Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The panel voted 8-0 on a bipartisan basis to dismiss the challenge, finding that it didn’t have jurisdiction to adjudicate a dispute involving the 14th Amendment. He said state courts – which have more power than the election board – should decide Trump’s eligibility. Trump attorney Adam Merrill, however, urged the state board to keep Trump on the 2024 ballot, pushing back against the findings from Erickson. This includes Missouri’s secretary of state and Texas’ lieutenant governor, though they weren’t involved in the Illinois case. CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct the vote tally by the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, “, Judge Clark Erickson, Erickson, Trump, Catherine McCrory, ” McCrory, ” Matthew Piers, ” Piers, Adam Merrill, “ Mr, ” Merrill, ”, can’t, Biden, Joe Biden, rebuffing, Biden “, Marni Malowitz, ” David Herman, ” Herman Organizations: Washington CNN, Illinois State, Trump, Capitol, Republican, United States Congress, Illinois, Citizens, GOP, Biden, United, Constitution Locations: Illinois, Colorado, Maine, Michigan , Minnesota, United States, Mexico, Texas

☆ Pro-Trump network OAN execs may have ‘engaged in criminal activities’ while promoting 2020 election lies, Smartmatic alleges
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN pieced together who was involved in the email exchanges by examining court records from three separate cases stemming from the 2020 election. Baseless 2020 smearsSmartmatic has sued OAN, Powell, and other Trump allies and right-wing outlets, seeking billions of dollars in damages for their 2020 election lies. It’s unclear if the spreadsheet has any connections to the breach in rural Coffee County - which used software from Dominion Voting Systems, and not Smartmatic, in the 2020 election. One of its correspondents, who is also an attorney, even worked with Trump’s legal team to subvert the 2020 election results. The network, the two Herrings, and some of their on-air personalities are also being sued for defamation by Dominion, which was the target of similar 2020 election lies.

Persons: Trump, Sidney Powell, OAN, Smartmatic, “, Powell, Charles Herring, Herring, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, “ OAN, ‘, ”, Charles Babcock, Babcock, Erik Connolly, Trump’s, Robert Herring, Mike Lindell, Lindell, Charles, Lindell didn’t, Eric Coomer Organizations: CNN, America News, Smartmatic, Trump, OAN, Fox News, ” CNN, Dominion Voting Systems, Russian, Dominion, Lindell, DirecTV Locations: Philippines, Smartmatic, Coffee County, Coffee, Ukraine

☆ 14th Amendment: Illinois election board hears objection to Trump candidacy based on January 6 insurrection
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A retired judge hired by the Illinois State Board of Elections held a hearing Friday on whether the 14th Amendment’s “insurrectionist ban” applies to former President Donald Trump. Retired Illinois judge Clark Erickson presided over the roughly two-hour hearing in Chicago on Friday. The Illinois State Board of Elections, which is expected to vote Tuesday on whether to accept Erickson’s recommendation in the Trump case, is a bipartisan panel with four Democrats and four Republicans. Their decision can be appealed in Illinois state courts. At its Tuesday meeting, the election board is also slated to vote on a 14th Amendment challenge lodged against President Joe Biden by a group of conservative activists.

Persons: CNN —, “, Donald Trump, Clark Erickson, Matthew Piers, Trump, Piers, ” Piers, ’, ” Trump, Scott Gessler, President Trump, ” Gessler, ” Erickson, Joe Biden, Biden “, Biden Organizations: CNN, Illinois State, Trump, Capitol, ”, Republican, GOP, Illinois, United, Democratic Locations: Illinois, Colorado, Maine, Chicago, Michigan , Minnesota, Kankakee, United States, Mexico

CNN —The Colorado voters trying to disqualify Donald Trump from the state ballot told the Supreme Court on Friday that the violence the former president provoked on January 6, 2021, qualifies as an insurrection under the terms of the Constitution and bars him from holding future office. In the early pages of their 60-page filing, they also countered Trump lawyers’ warning of the “bedlam” that could follow if the justices were to allow states to block his name from upcoming primary ballots. The voters’ lawyers wrote that the mob “infiltrated the (US Capitol) building through shattered windows” and “erected gallows” outside, while chanting “Hang Mike Pence.” They noted that video of the day was on file at the court. The Supreme Court agreed earlier this month to hear the case of Trump v. Anderson, accepting the former president’s appeal of the Colorado Supreme Court decision that removed him from that state’s ballot. The Colorado trial judge disagreed, and her findings were upheld by Colorado’s high court, which concluded that he “intended that his speech would result in the use of violence.”

Persons: Donald Trump, ’, Trump, Jason Murray, ”, “, Daniel Hodges, Mike Pence, Joe Biden’s, Anderson Organizations: CNN, The, Trump, US Capitol Police, Capitol, Pennsylvania, Supreme, Colorado Supreme Locations: The Colorado, United States, Colorado, West Terrace, Texas

☆ In blow to Fox Corp., judge rules Smartmatic case over 2020 election lies can proceed
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Cohen already let the case proceed against Fox News — and on Wednesday, he rejected a request by Fox Corporation to throw out the claims against the parent company. The parent corporation had argued that it shouldn’t be involved in the defamation case because it only had general oversight of Fox News itself. The case is still in the discovery phase, with some major depositions taking place in the past month, including former Fox Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch. The decision boosts Smartmatic’s case against the right-wing media behemoth. A similar 2020-related lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems was also allowed to proceed against Fox and its parent company.

Persons: David Cohen, Murdoch, Cohen, Fox, Smartmatic, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, ” Smartmatic, ” Cohen, “, defaming, ”, Erik Connolly, Rupert Murdoch, cravenly, Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, couldn’t, ” Fox Organizations: CNN, Fox Corporation, Fox News, Manhattan, Fox ) Corp, Fox Corp, Fox, Dominion Voting Systems, Trump, Wednesday, Smartmatic, “ Locations: New York, York, Florida

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