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CNN —Federal Judge Tanya Chutkan told special counsel Jack Smith to stop submitting court filings without her permission in the 2020 election subversion case against Donald Trump, after the former president’s legal team complained that proceedings were supposed to be on hold. But Chutkan did not hold Smith’s team in contempt, as Trump’s legal team suggested she do. Chutkan’s decision on Thursday is in line with what Trump’s team had sought from her in recent weeks. The case is on hold until the federal appeals court in Washington, DC, decides key questions about immunity around the presidency and gives further direction what should happen next for Trump’s case. Chutkan said she hadn’t previously “unambiguously forbid” the prosecutors from making filings while the case is paused.

Persons: Tanya Chutkan, Jack Smith, Donald Trump, Chutkan, Smith’s, Trump, ” Organizations: CNN, Government Locations: Washington , DC

CNN —The federal judge presiding over Donald Trump’s election subversion case in Washington, DC, has refused to dismiss the charges against the former president, saying he does not enjoy absolute immunity for what he said and did after the 2020 election. “The court cannot conclude that our Constitution cloaks former Presidents with absolute immunity for any federal crimes they committed while in office,” US District Judge Tanya Chutkan wrote. This is an issue that likely must be settled by an appeals courts above Chutkan before Trump’s criminal trial, set for March. Defendant may be subject to federal investigation, indictment, prosecution, conviction, and punishment for any criminal acts undertaken while in office,” Chutkan wrote. The judge shot down that idea, saying that the argument only applies to a sitting president – which Trump is not.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, “, Tanya Chutkan, –, Trump, ” Chutkan, ”, Chutkan, “ Rather, CNN’s Zachary Cohen Organizations: CNN, Trump Locations: Washington ,, United States, Washington

☆ Derek Chauvin attack: An inmate accused of stabbing imprisoned ex-police officer 22 times is charged with attempted murder
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Jamiel Lynch | Sara Smart | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The inmate accused of attacking Derek Chauvin, the former police officer convicted in George Floyd’s killing, stabbed him approximately 22 times with an improvised knife in an attack the Arizona inmate had been contemplating for around a month, according to court documents. Turscak, who has been charged with attempted murder, told the corrections officers he would have killed Chauvin had they not responded so quickly, according to the complaint. Turscak has been charged with three other counts, including assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. “Why was Derek allowed into the law library without a guard in close enough proximity to stop a possible attack? He was convicted in April 2021 on state charges of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Persons: Derek Chauvin, George Floyd’s, Chauvin, John Turscak, Turscak, “ Turscak, “, Gregory M, Erickson, Derek, ” Erickson, ” Erikson, Floyd, White, couldn’t, CNN’s Josh Campbell, Evan Perez, Katelyn Polantz, Hannah Rabinowitz Organizations: CNN, Arizona, Federal Correctional Institution, Mexican Mafia, of Arizona’s, Attorney’s, Minnesota Department of Human Locations: Tucson, Federal, Minneapolis

CNN —Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who was convicted in the 2020 murder of George Floyd, was stabbed Friday in a federal prison in Arizona, The Associated Press and The New York Times reported. A person familiar with the matter told CNN Chauvin was assaulted Friday at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson and was in stable condition. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, whose office prosecuted Chauvin in the George Floyd case, was notified that Chauvin was stabbed and is in stable condition, his office told CNN early Saturday. In April 2021, Chauvin was convicted on state charges of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Clarification: This story was updated to clarify that The Associated Press and The New York Times reported Derek Chauvin was stabbed.

Persons: Derek Chauvin, George Floyd, CNN Chauvin, “, ”, Keith Ellison, Chauvin, ” Ellison, ” Chauvin, Floyd, White, couldn’t, CNN’s Taylor Romine, Aya Elamroussi, Josh Campbell Organizations: CNN, The Associated Press, The New York Times, Federal Correctional Institution, of Prisons, Minnesota Department of Human Rights, Associated Press Locations: Minneapolis, Arizona, Tucson, Minnesota

☆ Trump claims Jack Smith and his family ‘despise’ him
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Ali Main | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Former President Donald Trump continued his attacks on special counsel Jack Smith on Saturday, including a reference to Smith’s family, at a rally in Claremont, New Hampshire. Referring to the alleged ill -will Smith and his family have for Trump, the former president said Smith is “about at 10” and his family is “about a 15 on a scale of 10.”Some of Trump’s attacks against Smith stem from the activities of his wife, filmmaker Katy Chevigny. I just want to do what’s right for the country,” Trump told the crowd. Trump quickly appealed and sought to have the gag order paused while the appeal unfolded. A federal appeals court later temporarily froze the limited gag order, allowing him to again speak freely with criticism of possible witnesses in the case.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jack Smith, Smith, ”, “, ” Smith, Katy Chevigny, Chevigny, Biden, Michelle Obama, hasn’t, “ There’s, ” Trump, Tanya Chutkan, Trump, Chutkan, CNN’s Devan Cole, Katelyn Polantz, Marshall Cohen, Daniel Dale Organizations: CNN, Trump, Netflix, Democratic, US DC Circuit, Appeals Locations: Claremont , New Hampshire, Washington ,

CNN has assembled a comprehensive picture of how prosecutors are structuring their case against Trump over his mishandling of classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago. Currently, the trial is set to begin in Florida in May, well before the 2024 presidential election. In all, prosecutors could use these witnesses to explain to a jury the free-wheeling environment presided over by Trump after he left the White House. Eye-witness accountsSome of the witnesses told investigators what they saw at Mar-a-Lago caught their attention and seemed unusual, out-of-place or potentially suspicious. Pratt visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago after Trump left office, and the former president shared with Pratt sensitive information regarding US nuclear submarines, two sources told CNN.

Persons: Palm Beach , Florida CNN —, Donald Trump, Trump, Aileen Cannon, Lago, Jack Smith, “, Anthony Pratt, Pratt, Sligh Furniture, Walt Nauta, Carlos De Oliveira, Donald Trump's Mar, Steve Helber, Yuscil Taveras, Taveras Organizations: Palm Beach , Florida CNN, CNN, Mar, Trump Secret Service, Trump, White, ABC News, US Department of Justice, Sligh, US Department of Justice Prosecutors, Trump . Mar, “ Trump Locations: Palm Beach , Florida, Florida, Mar, Iran, Lago, South Florida, Palm Beach, Fla

(CNN) – Fulton County prosecutors have discussed potential plea deals with at least six additional co-defendants charged alongside Donald Trump for attempting to subvert the 2020 presidential election, multiple sources tell CNN. Pro-Trump lawyer Robert Cheeley is among those who have been offered a plea deal in the Georgia case but, according to his lawyer, turned it down. A source with knowledge of the Fulton County DA’s strategy tells CNN that it would be open to discussing plea deals with anyone, but there is little room for compromise when it comes to the charges against Trump. To be clear, there is no indication that prosecutors or Trump’s legal team are interested in discussing a plea deal. John Eastman, who is also considered one of Trump’s most high-profile co-defendants, has not been offered a plea deal either, his lawyer told CNN.

Persons: Donald Trump, District Attorney Fani Willis, Robert Cheeley, ”, Richard Rice, Misty Hampton, Mike Roman, Willis, Trump, Jenna Ellis, Sidney Powell, Rudy Giuliani, Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Meadows, Jack Smith, John Eastman, Eastman, Willis ’, Robert James, ” James, squeal, Polantz, Paula Reid, Evan Perez Organizations: CNN, District Attorney, Trump, Fulton, White House, Georgia, Democratic, Atlanta Public Schools Locations: Fulton, Georgia, Coffee County , Georgia, Fulton County, New York, Georgia’s Dekalb County

☆ Donald Trump gag order imposed by judge: Trump 'does not have the right to say and do exactly what he pleases,' Judge Chutkan says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Hannah Rabinowitz Katelyn Polantz | Holmes Lybrand | Hannah Rabinowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“This is not about whether I like the language Mr. Trump uses,” Judge Tanya Chutkan said. Trump will appeal Chutkan’s order, he said in a post on his social media website Truth Social. Following the two federal indictments against the former president, Trump has lashed out against prosecutors, potential witnesses and the judge overseeing the election subversion case in Washington. “When you start to use a word like ‘thug’ to describe a prosecutor doing their job, that wouldn’t be allowed by any other criminal defendant,” Chutkan said. Limited gag order issued in NY fraud trialIf Chutkan does decide to place restrictions on what the former president can say, she won’t be the first judge to do so.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jack, Trump, ”, Tanya Chutkan, ” “, Chutkan, “, WITCH HUNT, Jack Smith’s, Mr, ” Chutkan, John Lauro, Joe Biden, Lauro, Judge ”, Smith, ’, Smith Chutkan, ” Lauro, Molly Gaston, ” Gaston, Mike Pence, Bill Barr –, won’t, Arthur Engoron, Chuck Schumer’s, ” Engoron Organizations: CNN, Justice Department, Prosecutors, Trump Locations: Washington, York

☆ Special counsel notes Trump’s gun store visit and Milley remarks in push for gag order
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Katelyn Polantz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Prosecutors raise Trump’s recent attacks on MilleyIn the filing, prosecutors say Trump continues to make remarks that could hurt the integrity of his trial, including in how he has recently attacked Milley. The judge is set to consider the prosecutors’ request for a limited gag order at a hearing October 16. They are asking for Chutkan to limit Trump’s ability to speak about witnesses and others involved in the case against him. The prosecutors also said a limited gag order, as they propose, wouldn’t be a “contempt trap” as Trump’s team has said. Instead, it would be an even more limited speech restriction than others granted previously in high-profile, politically charged cases in DC’s federal court, the prosecutors argued.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, hadn’t, Mark Milley, Milley, Trump’s, Tanya Chutkan, ”, Bill Barr, Mike Pence, “, premised, —, Donald J, wouldn’t Organizations: CNN, Federal, Trump, Prosecutors, Milley, NBC, Press, Georgia, ‘ Locations: South Carolina, Washington ,, Washington, DC

☆ Rudy Giuliani fails to pay more than $132,000 in sanctions in defamation lawsuit from two Georgia election workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Katelyn Polantz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Rudy Giuliani has failed to pay more than $132,000 in sanctions he faces for failing to respond to parts of a lawsuit from two Georgia election workers, according to a court filing. Giuliani has struggled to pay legal bills in recent months, including related to the lawsuit from Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, a mother and daughter he defamed. Giuliani lost the defamation lawsuit in August from the two Georgia election workers against him after he failed to provide information sought in subpoenas. In court in recent weeks, Giuliani said he could no longer contest that he made false and defamatory statements about Freeman and Moss. Georgia election officials have debunked Giuliani’s accusations of fraud during the ballot counting.

Persons: CNN — Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump, Giuliani, Ruby Freeman, Shaye Moss, Moss, Freeman, Defendant Giuliani, ” Moss, Trump Organizations: CNN, New, Giuliani Locations: Georgia, New York, Moss, Atlanta

CNN —New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez was charged on Friday with corruption-related offenses for the second time in 10 years. Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, are accused of accepting “hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes” in exchange for the senator’s influence, according to the newly unsealed federal indictment. This is the second set of corruption charges levied against Menendez by the Justice Department in a decade. Beginning in April, his wife sold gold bars worth as much as $400,000, according to the senator’s most recent financial disclosure form. Sen. Bob Menendez, his wife Nadine and Jose Uribe pictured in the indictment released Friday.

Persons: New Jersey Democratic Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, Cash, ”, ” Menendez, Nadine, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Hana, Sen, MENENDEZ, Menendez ’, Jose, Uribe, Prosecutors, Salomon Melgen, Melgen, Donald Trump Organizations: CNN, New, New Jersey Democratic, Prosecutors, Justice Department, Senate Democratic, Foreign Relations, Court Southern District of, Department of Agriculture, of Agriculture, Agriculture Department, EG, Hyatt, Court Southern District of New, The Justice Department, “ Locations: New Jersey, Court Southern District of New York, Jersey, Egypt, Washington, Paris

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

CNN —Twitter turned over at least 32 direct messages from former President Donald Trump’s account – @realDonaldTrump – to special counsel Jack Smith earlier this year as part of the federal election subversion investigation, according to newly unsealed court filings. The unsealed filings shed new light on the extent of the special counsel investigation into Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. Much of that conduct played out publicly, including on Trump’s Twitter account, where he promoted bogus claims of mass fraud and urged government officials to disrupt certification of the results. At the time of the prosecutors’ court argument to the appeals court, Trump wasn’t charged in federal court in either case. Another court filing unsealed Friday said that the warrant sought information from October 2020 through January 2021.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Jack Smith, Trump, @realDonaldTrump –, jeopardizing, Prosecutors, Trump wasn’t, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Twitter, DC, US, Trump, Government Locations: Washington ,

☆ Special counsel seeks court order limiting Trump's public statements
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Katelyn Polantz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Justice Department prosecutors want US District Judge Tanya Chutkan to reel in Donald Trump’s public statements in the federal 2020 election interference case against him, asking her to place a court order limiting what he can say, according to a newly released filing. The request for a limited gag order, filed in recent days, represents the most direct response from prosecutors with special counsel Jack Smith’s office to the former president’s public statements to date. The Justice Department said the order is needed to protect the integrity of his trial in March. Trump has already been ordered not to intimidate potential witnesses or talk to them about the facts of the case. They are also seeking a court order that would block Trump’s lawyers from polling potential jurors for the case without the court’s approval first.

Persons: Tanya Chutkan, Donald Trump’s, Jack Smith’s, Trump, ”, Smith, Joe Biden, Chutkan, Mike Pence, Bill Barr –, Prosecutors, ” Trump, Smith’s Organizations: CNN — Justice Department, Justice Department, Trump –, Chutkan, Trump, ” Prosecutors, Defense, Capitol Locations: Washington ,, United States

☆ Trump’s access to classified information restricted as he heads to trial in documents case, federal judge rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Katelyn Polantz Tierney Sneed Hannah Rabinowitz | Katelyn Polantz | Tierney Sneed | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Former President Donald Trump will be restricted on how and when he can look at, and talk about, classified information, a judge decided Wednesday after a sealed hearing the day before. The development is one of the first times the court has set terms around classified information in a case where Trump’s team has tried to downplay the seriousness of how records were handled. Cannon held a sealed hearing about the handling of classified information in the case on Tuesday in South Florida, according to multiple sources familiar with the proceeding. But the judge said the SCIF areas would be overseen by a third-party officer from the federal government designated to guide the handling of the classified information in the federal case. Cannon’s order on Wednesday also specifies that apparently classified information in the case that hasn’t clearly been identified as being declassified should be treated with sensitivity.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jack Smith, Aileen Cannon, “, Trump, Cannon Organizations: CNN, Trump, Justice Department Locations: Florida, Bedminster , New Jersey, South Florida

☆ Trump asks judge to dismiss Georgia election subversion charges against him
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Katelyn Polantz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

CNN —Former President Donald Trump is asking a court to dismiss several criminal charges against him in the Georgia 2020 election interference case. His filings on Monday are Trump’s opening salvo of legal arguments to challenge the state-level charges. The filings indicate Trump wants to adopt the legal arguments his racketeering co-defendants Rudy Giuliani and Kenneth Chesebro have already made in court filings. The former president is asking for the state charges to be tossed even as he has indicated in court filings that he may ask for the case to be moved to federal court, where he can try to invoke protections for federal officials. This story is breaking and will be updated.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Kenneth Chesebro Organizations: CNN Locations: Georgia

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

☆ Rudy Giuliani loses defamation lawsuit from two Georgia election workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Katelyn Polantz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A federal judge has determined Rudy Giuliani forfeits the defamation lawsuit from two Georgia election workers against him, a decision that could lead to significant penalties for the former Donald Trump attorney. Giuliani has been struggling financially, buried under 2020 election legal proceedings, a new criminal case against him in Georgia related to efforts to overturn the election and other matters. He has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges in Georgia and has been released from jail on bond. Late last month, Giuliani conceded that he made defamatory statements about Freeman and Moss and that he didn’t contest their accusations that he had smeared them after the 2020 election. Georgia election officials have debunked Giuliani’s accusations of fraud during the ballot counting.

Persons: Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump, Giuliani, Ruby Freeman, Shaye Moss, Beryl Howell, Moss, Howell, Freeman, Trump, ” Freeman, Brad Raffensperger, scammer ”, ” “, ” Moss, “, I’ll, ’ Organizations: CNN, DC, Freeman, New, Trump, Moss, FBI Locations: Georgia, New York, Atlanta, United States

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

CNN —Former President Donald Trump has agreed to a $200,000 bond and other release conditions after his lawyers met with the Fulton County District Attorney’s office on Monday, according to court documents reviewed by CNN. According to a new court filing on Monday, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has reached a bond agreement with one of Trump’s co-defendants: conservative attorney John Eastman. Eastman’s $100,000 bond order is the first to appear on the Fulton County court website. Law enforcement presence remains at an elevated level at the Fulton County court complex. According to a news release from the sheriff’s office on Monday, the barricades around the Fulton County courthouse will remain in place until Saturday.

Persons: Donald Trump, Todd Blanche, Jennifer Little, Drew Findling, Blanche, Fani Willis, Trump’s, John Eastman, Scott Hall, Willis, Willis ’, Atlanta police – Organizations: CNN, Trump, Fulton, US Marshals Service, Atlanta police Locations: Fulton County, Georgia, Atlanta, Fulton

☆ Legal scholars increasingly raise constitutional argument that Trump should be barred from presidency
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Katelyn Polantz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Washington CNN —Prominent conservative legal scholars are increasingly raising a constitutional argument that 2024 Republican candidate Donald Trump should be barred from the presidency because of his actions to overturn the previous presidential election result. Not all in the legal community agree – and what the scholars are proposing would need to be tested in court. He is no longer eligible to the office of Presidency,” the law review article said. Luttig and Tribe acknowledge the question of Trump appearing on ballots in 2024 might ultimately have to be decided by the Supreme Court. However, one convicted Capitol rioter, Couy Griffin, was removed from an elected county office he held in New Mexico by a judge.

Persons: Donald Trump, Laurence Tribe, J, Michael Luttig, who’s, “, scrutinizes Trump, Donald J, Trump, William Baude, Michael Stokes Paulsen, Paulsen, ”, Baude, wouldn’t, ” Baude, Luttig, Marjorie Taylor Green, Madison Cawthorn, Couy Griffin Organizations: Washington CNN, Republican, U.S . Capitol, Federalist Society, University of Pennsylvania, Capitol, Trump, Presidency, Supreme, Madison Locations: Georgia, Fort Sumter, New Mexico

“He is having financial difficulties,” Giuliani’s lawyers said in a filing this month in a civil defamation case brought by two Georgia election workers against him. The criminal charges that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis brought against Trump, Giuliani and 17 others will undoubtedly add to the former mayor’s legal bills. Giuliani wanted to search the records so he could respond in each of the election-related lawsuits, according to court filings. By May, Giuliani was more than $320,000 behind in payments to the document hosting company, according to a sworn statement he made in court. The New York state judge overseeing Smartmatic’s defamation case has a hearing set for Wednesday.

Persons: CNN — Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump, Giuliani, Mr, ”, “ Giuliani, ” Giuliani, Fani Willis, Jack Smith’s, Trump, Giuliani’s, Bernie Kerik, Robert Costello, Ted Goodman, he’d, “, Trustpoint “, Shaye Moss, Ruby Freeman, Moss, Freeman’s, ” Moss, Freeman, Smartmatic, it’s, that’s Organizations: CNN, New, New York City, Trump, Giuliani, Democracy, FBI, Trustpoint, Voting Systems, Dominion Locations: New York, Manhattan, Georgia, DC, Fulton County, Washington, litigating

CNN —The special counsel investigation into Donald Trump secured a search warrant of the former president’s Twitter account, @realDonaldTrump, according to a newly unsealed court filing. The search was so secret that Twitter was initially barred from telling Trump the search warrant had been obtained for his account, and the company, now known as “X,” was fined $350,000 because it delayed producing the records sought under the search warrant. The search warrant special counsel Jack Smith obtained sought “data and records related” to Trump’s account, and ultimately, the platform was allowed to share some information about the search warrant with the former president. It said that Smith’s office had “difficulties” when it first attempted to serve Twitter with the search warrant and nondisclosure order. The next week, however, prosecutors contacted Twitter’s lawyer to check on the status of their compliance with the search warrant.

Persons: Donald Trump, ”, Jack Smith, Jack Smith’s, Trump, “, Trump ‘, ‘, ’, –, Smith, Florence Pan, J, Michelle Childs, Nina Pillard, Childs, Joe Biden, Pillard, Barack Obama, Twitter’s, Twitter Organizations: CNN, Twitter, Trump, DC, Appeals, Communications, Prosecutors, DC Circuit, Circuit

☆ Smartmatic accuses Rudy Giuliani of ‘dog ate my homework’-style excuses to avoid turning over documents in defamation suit
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The approach by Smartmatic mimics what Giuliani has faced in another defamation lawsuit related to the 2020 election. After the 2020 election, Smartmatic sued Fox News, its parent corporation, several of its on-air hosts, Giuliani, and other pro-Trump entities and figures. The right-wing network paid $787 million to settle a similar lawsuit earlier this year from another electronic voting company, Dominion Voting Systems. The Smartmatic case is one of several fronts where Giuliani is facing intense legal scrutiny. The judge in that case has previously warned Giuliani that he might face severe sanctions for discovery-related issues that are similar to his alleged stonewalling in the Smartmatic case.

Persons: Smartmatic, Rudy Giuliani, ”, Giuliani, “, ’, ” Smartmatic, Jack Smith’s, Donald Trump, Polantz Organizations: CNN, Fox News, Giuliani, Trump, Dominion Voting Systems, Fox, Dominion, New Locations: New York, Georgia, Florida, United States, New York City

☆ Judge Aileen Cannon asks about legality of using DC grand jury in Florida-based Mar-a-Lago case
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Katelyn Polantz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Judge Aileen Cannon is asking the Justice Department and Donald Trump co-defendant Walt Nauta to weigh in on the legality of special counsel Jack Smith’s ongoing grand jury activity in Washington, DC, which relates to the obstruction portion of the Mar-a-Lago documents case before her in Florida. In an order Monday, Cannon said Nauta’s lawyers “shall address the legal propriety of using an out-of-district grand jury proceeding to continue to investigate and/or to seek post-indictment hearings on matters pertinent to the instant indicted matter in this district” by August 17. The special counsel previously told Cannon that “the grand jury in this district [in Florida] and a grand jury in the District of Columbia continued to investigate further obstructive activity,” which resulted in the latest group of criminal charges before her against Trump, Nauta and a third defendant, Mar-a-Lago employee Carlos De Oliveira. Taveras had been represented by the same attorney as Nauta, but received a target letter after the June indictment of Trump and Nauta. He Trump and Nauta have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Persons: Aileen Cannon, Donald Trump, Walt Nauta, Jack Smith’s, Cannon, “, Carlos De Oliveira, Stanley Woodward, Trump, Yuscil Taveras, Taveras, Woodward, Justice Department’s, Nauta, De Oliveira Organizations: CNN, Justice Department, District of Columbia, Trump, The Justice Department, Trump IT, Trump’s Save America PAC, Justice Locations: Washington , DC, Florida, District, Washington

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