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☆ 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

☆ 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

That happened Sunday when Trump posted on social media, in capital letters, that Powell “was not my attorney, and never was." Smith's indictment notes Trump privately told others that he thought her election fraud ideas sounded “crazy." Campaigning in New Hampshire on Monday, Trump appeared to refer to Powell and Cheesbro as “good people” and said prosecutors worked to “hound” and “scare” them. Steve Sadow, Trump's lead attorney in the Georgia case, expressed confidence that Powell’s plea wouldn’t hurt Trump, saying last week that any truthful testimony offered would be "favorable to my overall defense strategy." The Georgia indictment accuses Powell in a plot to illegally access a county's voting equipment.

Persons: — Sidney Powell, Donald Trump, Kenneth Chesebro, Trump, Joe Biden, —, “ It's, it’s, John Fishwick, Powell, “ She's, — Powell, Chesebro, That's, Fani Willis, winnow, ”, Anthony Michael Kreis, Jack Smith, Smith, “, Jessica Roth, “ They're, Jack Smith's, Powell “, Rudy Giuliani, Jenna Ellis, ” Kreis, she'd, Giuliani, Ellis, Hugo Chavez, Biden, Kreis, Cheesbro, Steve Sadow, Trump's, he's, John Eastman, Randall Eliason, you've, ___ Tucker, Jill Colvin Organizations: ATLANTA, White, Trump, Western, of, Georgia State University, Cardozo School of Law, Twitter, Fulton County, Biden, Georgia Republicans, George Washington University, Associated Press Locations: Fulton County , Georgia, U.S, of Virginia, Fulton County, Georgia, Germany, New Hampshire, Washington, Derry , New Hampshire

The pleas are a stark display of the reality that the Georgia case against Trump and his co-defendants is getting stronger. For two prominent Trump co-defendants – Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro – the looming five-month trial, potentially resulting in a yearslong prison sentence, appears to have spurred them into flipping. Chesebro directly implicated Trump in a criminal conspiracy, and his plea establishes for the first time that the fake electors plot was illegal. Trump is the only person charged thus far in the federal case, but both Chesebro and Powell are unindicted co-conspirators. Sadow brushed off the threat of possible testimony from Chesebro and Powell at Trump’s eventual trial on the Georgia election subversion charges.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jack Smith, Trump, – Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro –, Trump Chesebro, Chesebro, Powell, Powell’s, Steve Sadow, Trump’s, Chesebro’s, ”, “, Fani Willis, Michael Cohen, Cohen, Sadow, ” Sadow Organizations: CNN, Trump, Justice, White, Prosecutors, Justice Department Locations: Fulton County , Georgia, Georgia, “, Coffee County , Georgia, Fulton, New York, Chesebro

Chesebro was the third of 19 codefendants in the Georgia case to make a deal, a monumental legal and personal blow to Trump, who highly prizes loyalty among his associates. Another former Trump lawyer, Sidney Powell, entered into a plea deal Thursday, following a September deal by a lesser-known bail bondsman, Scott Hall. While other defendants – especially Trump – have pushed for later trial dates, Chesebro insisted on his right to a speedy trial. Jury selection for his case started Friday, and Chesebro entered into the plea deal hours after potential jurors filed into the courthouse. The Chesebro deal could be the third domino to fall against Trump and other high-level defendants such as former Trump lawyer and New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Persons: Kenneth Chesebro, Donald Trump's, Chesebro, Trump, Joe Biden, Sidney Powell, Scott Hall, –, Fani Willis, Willis, Rudy Giuliani, Joyce Vance, ”, MAGA, Michael Cohen, Arthur Engoron, Engoron, Chris Kise Organizations: Trump, Biden, Biden's, U.S . Capitol, Act, New York, MSNBC Locations: Georgia’s Fulton County, Georgia, Fulton County, New York

☆ Kenneth Chesebro: Pro-Trump lawyer pleads guilty in Georgia election subversion case, implicates Trump in fake elector conspiracy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Marshall Cohen Nick Valencia Maxime Tamsett Fabiana Chaparro | Marshall Cohen | Nick Valencia | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

It comes one day after former Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell also pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Fulton County prosecutors recommended that he serve 5 years of probation and pay $5,000 in restitution, and Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee imposed that sentence at Friday’s hearing. Three defendants have now pleaded guilty in the sprawling racketeering case: Chesebro, Powell and Georgia-based bail bondsman Scott Hall. Powell and Hall both admitted their roles in the January 2021 breach of election systems in rural Coffee County, Georgia. At a hearing earlier this week, Fulton County prosecutors and attorneys for Chesebro haggled over how many politically charged questions should be included.

Persons: Kenneth Chesebro, Donald Trump, Fani Willis, Trump, Sidney Powell, Chesebro, Scott McAfee, Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Powell, Mike Pence, Joe Biden’s, “, Daysha Young, bondsman Scott Hall, Hall, McAfee, misapplied, Jack Smith, Steve Sadow, ” Sadow, Jan, impartially, MAGA, Donald Trump’s, ”, “ MAGA, “ MAGA Republicans ”, Chesebro’s Organizations: Atlanta CNN, Trump, Fulton, Giuliani, Eastman, Prosecutors, Hall, Justice, CNN, “ MAGA Republicans Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Fulton, Powell, Coffee County , Georgia, Washington , DC

☆ Sidney Powell: Former Trump attorney pleads guilty in Georgia election subversion case
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Former Donald Trump attorney Sidney Powell has pleaded guilty in the Georgia election subversion case, one day before her trial was set to start. As part of her guilty plea, Powell is admitting her role in the January 2021 breach of election systems in rural Coffee County, Georgia. Bail bondsman Scott Hall last month pleaded guilty and agreed to testify at future trials. Legal jeopardy elsewhereBeyond the Georgia case, Powell is still facing legal headaches. She is an unindicted co-conspirator in the federal election subversion case that special counsel Jack Smith filed against Trump.

Persons: Donald Trump, Sidney Powell, Powell, Trump, Bail bondsman Scott, ’, They’ve, ”, Elie Honig, you’re, Honig, Misty Hampton, Hampton, Judge McAfee, Kenneth Chesebro, Chesebro, Jack Smith Organizations: CNN, GOP, Trump, Trump . Fulton, Voting Systems Corporation, ” CNN, “ News, Dominion Voting Systems Locations: Georgia, Coffee County , Georgia, Fulton, Venezuela, Coffee

CNN —Trump-era Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark, who was charged in the Georgia election subversion indictment, will face off in court Monday against Fulton County prosecutors at a hearing over his attempt to move his case to federal court. Clark’s participation in any legal, factual, or policy deliberations at the Justice Department were in his role as a senior official of that Department,” his lawyers wrote. Her team said Clark “went dangerously outside of any actual role” and “exceeded the scope of his own authority” at the Justice Department. These actions are part of Trump’s federal election subversion charges, in which Clark is an unindicted co-conspirator. State prosecutors subpoenaed former Justice Department official Jody Hunt to testify at Monday’s hearing.

Persons: CNN — Trump, Jeffrey Clark, Steve Jones, Mark Meadows, Donald Trump, Clark, “ Mr, Trump, hasn’t, Fani Willis, Clark’s, Clark “, Georgia –, Meadows, didn’t, “, Ed Meese, Reagan, ” Meese, Jody Hunt, Trump . Hunt Organizations: CNN, Fulton, US, Trump White House, Justice Department, Trump, Prosecutors, Department, Former, Attorneys, Justice Department’s Civil, Trump . Locations: Georgia, Atlanta, ’, Fulton County, Clark

☆ Opinion: Biden impeachment inquiry is a Trump vendetta and nothing more
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Hilary Krieger | Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

That should be no surprise considering that a consistent proponent of this inquiry was former President Donald Trump. I make that judgment based on my work as a scholar of impeachment and also as a practitioner who helped lead the first Trump impeachment and trial as counsel to the House Judiciary Committee. McCarthy bitterly — and now hypocritically — criticized former Speaker Nancy Pelosi for announcing the first Trump impeachment before a vote (she later scheduled one). That includes examples like the inquiry into President Richard Nixon and the second Trump impeachment. The proposed Biden impeachment is a revenge mission and nothing more.

Persons: Norman Eisen, Trump, Obama, Kevin McCarthy’s, Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, Biden, ” Trump, impeaching Biden, Paul Morigi, McCarthy, McCarthy’s, —, Nancy Pelosi, Devon Archer, Archer, Hunter, House Republicans ’ “, ”, Hunter Biden, “, Richard Nixon, Nixon, Joe Biden, Trump’s Organizations: Democrats, White, CNN, CNN —, Social, Republicans, Biden, House Republicans, Committee, Twitter Locations: Czech Republic, —, Ukraine, Ukrainian, States, United States

REUTERS/Lindsay DeDario/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 8 (Reuters) - A Georgia grand jury recommended criminal charges against Republican U.S. The six were among 39 people the special grand jury recommended charging in its Dec. 15 report, which had been sealed for nine months. Wood, a conservative lawyer who promoted conspiracy efforts about the election, denied wrongdoing and said he was surprised to find out the special grand jury recommended charges against him. The grand jury voted 20-1 in favor of indicting Trump with respect to the national effort to overturn the election. The special grand jury report remained secret at Willis's request while she determined what charges to bring.

Persons: Donald Trump, Lindsay DeDario, Lindsey Graham, Trump's, Graham, Kelly Loeffler, David Perdue, Michael Flynn, Boris Epshteyn, Lin Wood, Cleta Mitchell, Fani Willis, Willis, Trump, Loeffler, Perdue, Flynn, Epshteyn, Wood, Mitchell, Rudy Giuliani, Brian Kemp, indicting Graham, indicting Trump, Robert McBurney, Andrew Goudsward, Jasper Ward, Sarah N, Lynch, Makini Brice, Joseph Ax, Andy Sullivan, Noeleen Walder, Howard Goller Organizations: U.S, Republican, REUTERS, Republican U.S, Trump, Trump's, Supreme, Trump loyalists, Democratic, Reuters, Biden, Thomson Locations: Erie , Pennsylvania, U.S, Georgia, South Carolina, Fulton County, Jasper

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump reacts as he holds a campaign rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S., July 29, 2023. The special grand jury was convened in 2021 at the request of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to aid in her investigation. The special grand jury did not have the power to issue charges. Despite his legal troubles, he remains the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination next year. The grand jury report had stayed secret at Willis's request while she determined what charges to bring.

Persons: Donald Trump, Lindsay DeDario, Donald Trump's, Georgia's, Fani Willis, Rudy Giuliani, Lindsey Graham, Brian Kemp, Willis, Trump, Joe Biden's, Robert McNurney, Joseph Ax, Scott Malone, Daniel Wallis Organizations: U.S, Republican, REUTERS, Trump, Republican U.S, Thomson Locations: Erie , Pennsylvania, U.S, Fulton County, Georgia

☆ Rudy Giuliani files new legal challenge to Georgia election interference case
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Rudy Giuliani has filed a new legal challenge against the criminal charges he’s facing in Georgia over his attempts to subvert the 2020 presidential election. And he faces defamation suits from Dominion and Smartmatic, voting technology companies that he falsely said rigged the 2020 election. In a separate case, a judge ruled that he defamed two Georgia election workers, and a jury will decide what he owes damages. Georgia election workers want another $100,000 in attorneys’ feesThe Georgia election workers who won a defamation lawsuit against Giuliani for his bogus fraud claims in the 2020 election say they are entitled to another $104,000 in attorneys’ fees stemming from the discovery disputes that arose in the case. Last month, Howell determined that Giuliani had lost the lawsuit brought by Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss after he failed to provide information sought in subpoenas.

Persons: CNN — Rudy Giuliani, Scott McAfee, Giuliani, Fani Willis, Willis, “, Beryl Howell, Howell, Ruby Freeman, Shaye Moss Organizations: CNN, Trump, Fulton, “, New, New York City, Dominion, Giuliani Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, New York

A special grand jury in Georgia recommended criminal charges against three U.S. senators and more than a dozen additional allies of former President Donald Trump as part of its investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election – individuals who were not ultimately indicted in the sweeping racketeering case. The special grand jury report, which has been sealed for nine months and was made public Friday, sheds light on the scope of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ two-year investigation into Republican efforts to subvert the 2020 election results in Georgia. Trump blasted the breadth of the special grand jury report on Friday. In addition to the three GOP senators, the special grand jury also recommended charges against 21 additional individuals, including former national security adviser Mike Flynn, Trump lawyers Cleta Mitchell, Boris Epshteyn and Lin Wood, a slew of Georgia lawyers and state Republicans and others. To be sure, Willis may have several reasons for not indicting an individual against whom the grand jury recommended charges, including that they are helping the district attorney's office or that the individual has a strong defense.

Persons: Donald Trump, Sen, Lindsey Graham of, Kelly Loeffler, David Perdue, Fani Willis ’, ”, Willis, Trump, taints Fani Willis, Hunt, Mike Flynn, Cleta Mitchell, Boris Epshteyn, Lin Wood, Graham Organizations: Republican, Donald Trump View, GOP Locations: Georgia, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Fulton County, State, State of Georgia, U.S

☆ Takeaways from the full Georgia special grand jury report on 2020 election subversion
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Jeremy Herb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The Fulton County special purpose grand jury investigating former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia recommended charges against 39 people, the unredacted grand jury report made public Friday shows. The lengthy list of recommended charges underscores how widespread the special grand jury’s investigation was into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The indictment also included 30 unindicted co-conspirators alleged to have taken part in the conspiracy, including some people the special grand jury recommended charges against. The special grand jury report was only a recommendation, and the district attorney decided which charges to bring to a grand jury last month before the indictment was returned. The charges against the fake electors were among the most contested in the special grand jury report.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Fani Willis, South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham, David Perdue, Kelly Loeffler, Michael Flynn, Boris Epshteyn, Cleta Mitchell, Trump, ” Willis, Willis ’, Willis, Graham, Loeffler, Perdue, Brad Raffensperger, Raffensperger, Graham “, ” Graham, “, ”, ” Loeffler, Brian Kemp, Burt Jones, Wills, Jones, Pete Skandalakis, – David Shafer, Cathy Latham, Sen, Shawn Still – Organizations: CNN, Trump, South Carolina Republican, Georgia Gov, Gov, of Locations: Fulton, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, South Carolina, of Georgia

☆ Takeaways from the first Fulton County hearing on the Trump election subversion case
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Jeremy Herb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Here are takeaways from Wednesday’s hearing:Judge skeptical of a quick and joint trialMcAfee expressed skepticism about Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ desire to hold a joint trial for all 19 defendants in October. “It just seems a bit unrealistic that we can handle all 19 (defendants) in 40-something days,” McAfee said. Trump is at the center of the Fulton County prosecutors’ alleged conspiracy, even as they charged 18 other co-defendants for taking part in efforts to overturn the 2020 election result. Special counsel Jack Smith took a different approach in his federal election subversion case, charging Trump alone and including six unindicted co-conspirators – several of whom are now Trump’s co-defendants in Fulton County. Scott Grubman, an attorney for Chesebro, suggested Trump’s presence in the Fulton County case could cloud how a jury views the other defendants.

Persons: Donald Trump, it’s, Kenneth Chesebro, Sidney Powell, Scott McAfee, Powell –, McAfee, Fani Willis ’, Willis, ” McAfee, Nathan Wade, What’s, ”, Judge, Powell, Chesebro, Sydney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro Getty, Kenneth Chesbro “, Cheseboro, Michael Moore, ” Moore, ’, Manny Arora, ” Arora, Arora, Trump, Brian Rafferty, Rafferty, “, Will Wooten, ” Wooten, Jack Smith, –, Scott Grubman, ” Grubman, Grubman, Meadows, Mark Meadows, – Robert Cheeley, Jeffrey Clark, Shawn Still – Organizations: CNN, Trump, Chesebro, RICO, McAfee, White House Locations: Fulton County , Georgia, Fulton County, Georgia, Coffee County , Georgia, Coffee County, Fulton, Chesebro

Those charges center around a voting system breach in Coffee County, Georgia, a rural, Republican district that voted overwhelmingly for Trump in 2020. Willis’ indictment describes the breach, and Powell’s alleged involvement, as central to the broader conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. Powell has also been identified by CNN as one of Trump’s un-indicted co-conspirators listed in Smith’s federal election indictment. New details about Smith’s ongoing investigation indicate federal prosecutors are scrutinizing a series of voting breaches following the 2020 election that state investigators have been probing for more than a year. Network of operativesIn addition, special counsel prosecutors have also heard from other witnesses about efforts to breach voting equipment in other states.

Persons: Jack Smith, indicting Donald Trump, Smith, Joe Biden, Sidney Powell, Powell’s, Powell, Fani Willis, Willis ’, Smith’s, Donald Trump, Al Drago, Biden, ”, Hugo Chavez, Bernie Kerik, Kerik, Tim Parlatore, Parlatore, Mike Ryan, Bill Bachenberg, Ryan, Bachenberg, Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman –, Jocelyn Benson, Benson, Stefanie Lambert, Nalio Chery, “, ” Benson, Lambert, Trump Organizations: Washington CNN, Trump, CNN, Biden, Republican, Republican National Committee, Bloomberg, Getty, The Coalition, Good Governance, Systems, Network, FBI, Smith’s, Michigan Michigan, Reuters, Pennsylvania, American, Pennsylvania Senate Locations: Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, Atlanta, Coffee County , Georgia, Washington , DC, Republic, Coffee, Antrim County , Michigan, Coffee County, Detroit , Michigan, Dieu, Antrim County, Fulton County , Pennsylvania, Fulton County

Another has an ally in Congress vowing to support his legal defense. On Thursday, Trump’s legal team formally asked a judge to sever his case from his co-defendants who want a speedy trial, according to court filings. The prospect of a costly legal defense has prompted some defendants to find other ways to raise money. Paying the legal bills of his co-defendants in Georgia could help the former president keep them all unified as they fight the Fulton County charges. None of the defendants has pleaded guilty, but it is common for criminal defendants facing mounting legal bills to end their cases without the time-consuming costs of a trial.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Walt Nauta, Carlos De Oliveira, Newsmax, ” Trump's, Will Lanzoni, ” Trump, haven’t, Trump’s, Eric, Don Jr, Jenna Ellis, John Eastman, Mike Pence, Donald Trump, Jae C, AP Eastman, Jeffrey Clark, Cathy Latham, grumbling, Ellis, “, ” Ellis, Matt Schlapp’s, ” Schlapp, Al Drago, Ron DeSantis, isn’t MAGA, Jenna, –, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, Fani Willis, Giuliani, Rudy Giuliani, Erik S, Shutterstock, Andrew Giuliani, Brian Tevis, It’s, I’ll, ” Tevis, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Chip Roy, Mark Meadows, ”, ” Roy, Roy, Harrison Floyd, Floyd –, ” Floyd, Ricky Fitchett, ZUMA, Floyd, Todd Harding, he’s, De Oliveira Organizations: CNN, Trump, Save, Save America PAC, AP, Justice Department, Trump Republican, Republican National Committee, Bloomberg, Getty, Florida Gov, Inc, Shutterstock CNN, Giuliani Defense, Texas Republican, Trump White House, Zuma, America, PAC Locations: Georgia, Fulton, Atlanta , Georgia, Los Angeles, Georgia The Georgia, Fulton County, York, Bedminster , New Jersey, New Jersey, Bedminster, Texas, Philadelphia

The two cases, stemming from the efforts of Mr. Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election, rely on many of the same facts, documents and witnesses. But as Monday’s court skirmishes demonstrated, the approaches of the two prosecutors in charge of the investigations — Jack Smith, the Justice Department’s special counsel, and Fani T. Willis, the district attorney in Fulton County — could not be more different. Mr. Smith took over the two federal Trump investigations with a promise to move rapidly in hopes of wrapping up legal proceedings before the 2024 election, and the indictment handed down against Mr. Trump on Aug. 1 included just four counts. While it referred to six unindicted co-conspirators, only Mr. Trump was charged. By contrast, the indictment brought by Ms. Willis includes 41 counts against the former president and encompassed allegations against his long roster of co-defendants.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Jack Smith, Willis, Smith, Mark Meadows, Trump’s Organizations: Trump, Mr, White House Locations: Washington, Fulton County ,, Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia

One of those cases, a civil trial in New York, threatens to cripple the former president's company, the Trump Organization . James is seeking $250 million in damages in the civil case. In July, the U.S. Department of Justice dropped a nearly three-year effort to protect Trump from civil liability in the suit. In May, three of Trump's children, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump, were dismissed as defendants from the case after Kaplan proposed that move. The payments were made shortly before the 2016 presidential election, in which Trump defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Joe, Letitia James, Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump, James, Kenneth Chesebro, Joe Biden, Trump's, Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani, Fani Willis, Willis, Sidney Powell, Jean Carroll, Carroll, Judge Lewis Kaplan, videophone, Roberta Kaplan, Ivanka Trump, Kaplan, Donald J, Jack Smith, unindicted, Smith, Tanya Chutkan, Stormy Daniels, Karen McDougal, Hillary Clinton, Michael Cohen, Alvin Bragg's, Cohen, Bragg, Walt Nauta, Carlos De Oliveira —, Nauta, De Oliveira Organizations: U.S, Atlanta Hartsfield, Jackson International Airport, GOP, Convention, Trump Organization, District of Columbia, DOJ, FBI, New York, Court New, Trump, Fulton County Superior Court, Fulton, Republican, Carroll, U.S . Department of Justice, Iowa, American Communications Network, Washington , D.C, Biden, Manhattan, Democratic, Daniels, Beach, White, Republican National Locations: Atlanta , Georgia, Milwaukee ., New York, Manhattan, Georgia, Atlanta, Fulton County, Washington ,, York, Fort Pierce , Florida

☆ Trump and the courts are on a 2024 election collision course
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Currently the front-runner for the GOP nomination, Trump has already pleaded not guilty in a case he’s slammed as 2024 election interference. Meadows wants to move his case to federal court, where he may have a better chance of having it dismissed. Biden has nothing to do with the trial date being set. (The fact that television coverage is not allowed in federal court could be important here). Ron DeSantis and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott are among the candidates who have equivocated over Trump’s legal quagmire – preferring to attack Democrats for “weaponizing” justice.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Tanya Chutkan’s, Mark Meadows, Meadows, Richard Nixon, H.R, Haldeman, Hillary Clinton’s, –, he’d, Trump’s, Jack Smith’s, she’s, ” Tom Dupree, George W, Bush, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Chris Christie, Smith, ” Christie, Tapper, Jack Smith, Donald Trump, “, ”, Biden, It’s, Fani Willis, Willis, president’s, Christie, Asa Hutchinson, Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, quagmire, “ weaponizing, Nikki Haley, Haley Organizations: CNN, Super Tuesday, Trump, GOP, Republican Party, White House, White, Department, Former New Jersey Gov, Republican, Tuesday, Mar, Arkansas Gov, Florida Gov, “, South Carolina Gov, United Locations: Washington, DC, Georgia, Manhattan, Fulton County, Iowa , New Hampshire , Nevada, South Carolina, Milwaukee, Florida, United Nations, America

☆ Opinion: Why Trump’s January 6 defense is even worse than it seems
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Anna Lee | Opinion Steven Lubet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Given that, Trump’s lawyers may well advise him to stay off the witness stand and avoid the risks of cross examination — but demure silence is hardly in his nature. In Trump’s cross examination, however, the prosecutors would be able to confront him with his false statements one after another, seamlessly telling their entire story of Trump’s duplicity in his own words. The lawyers, some of whom have been identified as unindicted co-conspirators, could assert the Fifth Amendment for themselves, but that would just undermine Trump’s defense. Even assuming there are still employees willing to stand by him, however, Trump’s cronies would not exactly be the most convincing witnesses. Although there would be a hearsay exception for statements showing Trump’s “state of mind,” that would only allow the witnesses to testify to Trump’s actual words.

Persons: Steven Lubet, Williams, Donald Trump, Trump, ” Steven Lubet Randy Belice, John Lauro, “, ”, general’s, Mike Pence’s, Jean Carroll’s, Lauro, —, John Eastman, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Pence, confidentially, Trump’s Organizations: Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, CNN, NBC, New, NPR, Twitter, Facebook, White House, Trump Locations: Washington, United States, Northwestern, New York, Georgia, Trump’s “

☆ Analysis: A remarkable day at Fulton County jail as Trump's surrender looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

And yet, the flurry of activity on Tuesday in Fulton County, Georgia, showed that more than two years after Trump’s effort to defy the will of voters, the wheels of justice are grinding forward and that consequences may be nearing. Eastman later defiantly claimed the country had crossed a “Rubicon” in the Georgia case and declared he still believed the election was stolen – despite a mountain of evidence to the contrary. And Rudy Giuliani, the hero of 9/11, is set to meet with the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday to discuss a bond agreement, sources told CNN. What the Fulton County theatrics say about the caseThe events unfolding at the Fulton County jail this week are important because they shed light on the contours and complexity of the Georgia case. He also visited the site of a post-election audit in Cobb County, Georgia.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, he’s, Jenna Ellis, she’s, John Eastman, Mike Pence, Joe Biden’s, Eastman, Scott Hall, Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani, He’s, Bernie Kerik –, Giuliani, who’d, Jack, Lago, Taveras, Fani Willis, Meadows, Brad Raffensperger, Jeffrey Clark, Willis, Vladimir Putin Organizations: CNN, Republican, Electoral College, White House, New York Police, Trump, Mar, Georgia, Former Locations: Atlanta, Fulton County , Georgia, Georgia, Fulton County, Fulton, Manhattan, Meadows, Cobb County , Georgia

☆ Lachlan Murdoch pays over $800,000 in legal fees to Australian publisher after abandoning defamation suit
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Liam Reilly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Lachlan Murdoch, Fox Corporation’s chief executive, paid substantial legal fees to Private Media, which publishes the scrappy Australia-based news outlet Crikey, after abandoning his defamation lawsuit against the outlet. So, $1,306,739 Australian ($839,207.39 US) to cover Private Media’s legal costs, more than the $1.1 million Australian ($705,000 US) that had been sought by the outlet. Private Media, which had crowdfunded its legal defense against Murdoch, pledged to donate $588,735 Australian ($377,555 US) — all of the money it had raised — to the Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom. Will Hayward, the chief executive of Private Media, said he was “delighted” to be able to donate the funds. “This includes campaigning for a Media Freedom Act, supported by a voluntary membership that will recognize quality journalism.”

Persons: Lachlan Murdoch, Fox, John Churchill, Murdoch, Crikey, unindicted, ”, doesn’t, Donald Trump, “, “ Crikey, Mr Murdoch, Churchill, Will Hayward, ” Hayward, Peter Greste Organizations: CNN, Fox Corporation’s, Private Media, Capitol, Fox Corp ., Fox News, Dominion, Systems, Alliance for Journalists ’ Locations: Australia

CNN —The first two of President Donald Trump’s co-defendants surrendered at the Fulton County jail on Tuesday, setting the tone for how the defendants will be processed and how the case will progress. They had signed a bond agreement with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on Monday. Hall was given an inmate identification number and released after spending roughly an hour at the jail on Tuesday. Willis has charged Trump and 18 of co-defendants of participating in schemes to meddle with Georgia’s election results. Trump, who agreed to a $200,000 bond on Monday, said he plans to turn himself in on Thursday.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, John Eastman, Trump, Scott Hall, Fani Willis, Hall, Willis, Trump’s, Joe Biden, Eastman, Pence, Jack, “, ” Eastman, ” Organizations: CNN, Electoral, Democratic, Trump Locations: Fulton County, Atlanta, Georgia

At least three court cases touching legal issues that could affect special counsel Jack Smith’s approach are ripe for rulings from the DC Circuit. But the start of the new DC Circuit term in early September puts additional pressure on the circuit judges to clear out their opinions in lingering cases. Can investigators access data on the phone of a congressman who aided in Trump’s election reversal attempts? The DC Circuit has yet to decide whether investigators can access certain data from a phone of Perry’s that the FBI seized a year ago. However, Smith’s case as a criminal prosecution differs to the approach taken by the civil litigants in other ways.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jack Smith’s, Tanya Chutkan, Trump, Scott Perry, There’s, Smith, rioter Thomas Robertson, “ dishonestly, Karen Henderson, Nina Pillard, Florence Pan, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Perry, Jeffrey Clark, Gregory Katsas, Neomi Rao, Ronald Reagan, Henderson, –, Sri Srinivasan, Katsas, Judith Rogers, Obama, Bill Clinton Organizations: CNN, US, DC Circuit, Republican, Capitol, Trump, Department, FBI, Pennsylvania Republican, Democratic, Justice Department Locations: Washington ,, Pennsylvania

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