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☆ How 2020 election denialism greases the path to power in the Republican Party
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Johnson, who played a leading role in the effort to block the certification of President Joe Biden’s 2020 election win, benefited in his ascent to the speakership last week from the approval of pro-Trump lawmakers. His tortured explanations of his constitutionality correct decision – that he lacked power to overturn Biden’s 2020 election win in Congress – failed to convince grassroots Republicans bought into the ex-president’s false claims that he won the election. An alternative lesson that the ex-president’s rivals might draw is that forceful condemnations of Trump’s 2020 election denialism are likely to be fatal to their campaigns. There was evidence last week that Johnson’s maneuvering after the 2020 election helped secure his rise to the speakership. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, for example, said that Emmer’s vote to certify the 2020 election “played a big role” in her vote against him.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Mike Pence, Donald Trump, Johnson, Joe Biden’s, Pence, Biden’s, –, Liz Cheney, Utah Sen, Mitt Romney, Trump’s, Trump, ”, ’, Vladimir Putin, thrall, Ronald Reagan, trekked, —, Chris Christie, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Kevin McCarthy, Biden, Tom Emmer, Marjorie Taylor Greene, “, ” Greene, Republicans “ Organizations: CNN, Republican, Trump, White House, Republicans, Wyoming, Utah, Trump Organization, GOP, New, New Jersey Gov, Florida Gov, South Carolina Gov, Fox News, Capitol, Louisiana Republican, House Republicans, Electoral, Georgia, Democrats, Democratic Congressional, MAGA Locations: New York, autocrats, Iowa, United States, “, New Jersey, “ State, New Hampshire, Louisiana, Texas, Minnesota

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

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

☆ Could Mike Johnson, the New House Speaker, Undermine the 2024 Election?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Luke Broadwater | More About Luke Broadwater | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ever since Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana assumed office on Wednesday, a question has been on Democrats’ minds: Could the elevation of Mr. Johnson, who worked in league with former President Donald J. Trump in trying to undermine the 2020 election results, allow him to succeed in 2024 where he failed the last time? The speakership, which is second in line to the presidency, comes with broad powers over the functioning of the House. And Mr. Johnson, a constitutional lawyer whose stature in his party has grown with his election to the top post, could try again to interfere. Mr. Trump encouraged Mr. Pence to throw out legitimate votes in favor of false slates of electors, a move Mr. Pence said was unconstitutional. Vice President Kamala Harris is in line to preside over the joint session on Jan. 6, 2025, when Congress will meet in a joint session to certify the results of the 2024 election.

Persons: Mike Johnson of, Johnson, Donald J, Trump, Mike Pence, Pence, Kamala Harris Locations: Mike Johnson of Louisiana

☆ Republicans nominate Mike Johnson for House speaker in latest attempt to break GOP impasse
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Scott Wong | Sahil Kapur | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) leaves a House Republican conference meeting in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill on Oct. 24, 2023 in Washington, DC. Rep. Mike Johnson, a relatively little-known Louisiana Republican and low-ranking member of the GOP leadership team, became the party's latest nominee for House speaker on Tuesday night after three other hopefuls fizzled out. It remains unclear if he can garner the 217 Republican votes — a simple majority of the full House — needed to win the coveted gavel. Johnson is seeking to achieve something that the last three nominees failed to do: win at least 217 of the 221 Republican votes needed to become speaker. Another wild card in the speaker's race is Trump, who knifed Emmer on Tuesday after he won the nomination.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Tom Emmer, Johnson, Emmer, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan of, Jordan, Liz Cheney, Donald Trump, Biden, Trump Organizations: Rep, Republican, Washington , DC, Louisiana Republican, GOP, GOP Conference, Committee, New York Times, Electoral, The Times, Republicans, Trump Locations: Longworth, Washington ,, Louisiana, Johnson, Jim Jordan of Ohio

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

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

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

(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

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

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

☆ Former Trump lawyer Ellis pleads guilty in Georgia, could testify against Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Andrew Goudsward | Companies Need To Integrate Climate Reporting Across Functions To Comply With California S New Law | Henry Engler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - A former lawyer for Donald Trump, Jenna Ellis, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to helping the then-U.S. president's efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat in the state of Georgia and agreed to testify against Trump if called upon. "What I did not do and should have done, your honor, was to make sure that the facts the other lawyers alleged to be true were in fact true," Ellis told Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee. Ellis, 38, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting false statements and writings. Prosecutors said she attended a meeting with Georgia lawmakers where Trump personal lawyer and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani made false claims about voting irregularities. It is unclear what Powell, Chesebro and Ellis have told prosecutors or how broad their testimony could be.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jenna Ellis, Trump, Ellis, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, Fani Willis, Scott McAfee, Democrat Joe Biden, Willis, Jay Abt, Prosecutors, Rudy Giuliani, Giuliani, Scott McAfee’s, Amy Lee Copeland, Powell, Chesebro, Biden, Copeland, Andrew Goudsward, David Ljunggren, Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Trump, Fulton, Republican, Democrat, New York, MSNBC, Thomson Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, Fulton, Scott McAfee’s Fulton, Atlanta , U.S

☆ New Zealand's Prime Minister-elect Luxon says coalition negotiations continue
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Christopher Luxon, Leader of the National Party waves to supporters at his election party after winning the general election to become New Zealand’s next prime minister in Auckland, New Zealand, October 14, 2023. REUTERS/David Rowland/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Oct 25 (Reuters) - New Zealand’s Prime Minister-elect Christopher Luxon said on Wednesday that negotiations were ongoing with potential coalition partners ACT New Zealand and New Zealand First, as the country awaits final results of the general election. Luxon’s conservative National Party and preferred coalition partner ACT won a one-seat majority in the general election Oct. 14. However, this majority could be eroded after special votes are counted and final results are released Nov. 3. He said once special votes are counted, the parties will move quickly to form a government.

Persons: Christopher Luxon, David Rowland, ” Luxon, Lucy Craymer, Rod Nickel Organizations: National Party, New, REUTERS, Rights, Zealand’s, ACT New, New Zealand, ACT, Labour, Thomson Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, ACT New Zealand, New, Zealand

☆ Jenna Ellis: Former Trump campaign lawyer pleads guilty in Georgia case
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —Former Trump campaign lawyer Jenna Ellis pleaded guilty Tuesday in the Georgia election subversion case and will cooperate with Fulton County prosecutors – the third guilty plea in the past week. At an unscheduled hearing in Atlanta, Ellis pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting false statements, a felony stemming from the election lies that Ellis and other Donald Trump lawyers peddled to Georgia lawmakers in December 2020. The development comes after back-to-back guilty pleas last week in the sprawling case from former Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro, who helped devise the fake electors plot. So far, four have pleaded guilty. Implicating GiulianiThe plea from Ellis implicated Giuliani in a state crime – lying to Georgia legislators by peddling false voter-fraud theories.

Persons: Jenna Ellis, –, Ellis, Donald Trump, peddled, ” Ellis, Trump, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, Fani Willis, Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Powell, “, ”, Giuliani, Chesebro, abetted ” Giuliani, Ray Smith, Smith, Joe Biden, Ellis ’, Steve Sadow, Ellis “ doesn’t, ” Sadow, DA Willis, hasn’t, Ron DeSantis Organizations: Washington CNN —, Trump, Fulton, Prosecutors, Georgia Senate, Florida Gov, Republican Locations: Georgia, Fulton, Atlanta, Fulton County, Chesebro, “, Colorado, Trump, Florida

☆ Trump attorneys move to dismiss charges in federal election subversion case and to remove mentions of January 6 attack in indictment
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —In a slew of court filings late Monday, attorneys for Donald Trump filed several motions asking the judge overseeing the election subversion case in Washington, DC, to dismiss the charges against the former president on grounds that, among other things, they violate his First Amendment rights and are the product of a “selective and vindictive prosecution.”“Countless millions believe, as President Trump consistently has and currently does, that fraud and irregularities pervaded the 2020 Presidential Election,” his attorneys wrote. Within the plethora of legal arguments as to why the charges against Trump should be dismissed, his attorneys also argued that the prosecution itself essentially amounts to a political hit job. “Three days after President Trump formally announced his candidacy, the Special Counsel was put in place as part of a flawed effort to insulate Biden and his supporters from scrutiny of their obvious and illegal bias,” his attorneys wrote, adding that the prosecution against Trump for actions he took while president show a selective prosecution from special counsel Jack Smith. Trump’s attorneys, in their filings, also moved to strike allegations around the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack mentioned in the indictment against him, arguing that Trump is not being charged “with responsibility for the actions at the Capitol” and that such mentions of the January 6 attack could be “highly prejudicial” against him. The former president pleaded not guilty in August.

Persons: Donald Trump, ”, Trump, “, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Jack Smith, ” Trump Organizations: CNN, Trump, Capitol Locations: Washington ,, United States

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

Ellis pleaded guilty to one felony count of aiding and abetting false statements and writings. She was censured in Colorado in March after admitting she made repeated false statements about the 2020 election. Bail bondsman Scott Graham Hall pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor charges and got five years of probation. Ellis and the other three pleaded guilty under Georgia’s first offender law. Trump and the other defendants, including his White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, have pleaded not guilty.

Persons: Jenna Ellis, Donald Trump’s, ” Ellis, Ellis, Racketeer, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, Joe Biden's, Trump, Daysha Young, Rudy Giuliani, Ray Smith, Ellis “, abetted, Young, ”, Giuliani, President Trump, ” Powell, Chesebro, Bail bondsman Scott Graham Hall, Georgia’s, Mark Meadows, ___ Weissert, Eric Tucker Organizations: ATLANTA, —, Republican, Trump, U.S . Capitol, White, New York, Democrats, Fulton, Fulton County DA, Associated Press Locations: Georgia, Trump's, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Michigan, Florida, Fulton County, Colorado, Nevada , Michigan, Wisconsin, Washington

A spokesman for Mr. Giuliani did not immediately respond to a request for comment. With her guilty plea, Ms. Ellis became the fourth defendant — and the third lawyer — in the case to reach a cooperation deal with Fani T. Willis, the Fulton County district attorney. While a person familiar with Ms. Ellis’s thinking described her as being extremely angry at Mr. Giuliani, her cooperation could be perilous for Mr. Trump as well. Indeed, if Ms. Ellis, Ms. Powell and Mr. Chesebro all end up taking the stand, they could paint a detailed collective portrait of Mr. Trump’s activities in the postelection period. They could touch upon a brazen plot, rejected by Mr. Trump, to use the military to seize the country’s voting machines.

Persons: Ellis, Giuliani, —, Willis, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro —, Trump, Trump’s, Powell, Pence Organizations: Fani, Trump, Mr, Capitol Locations: Fulton County, —

☆ Trump can't seem to stop a lawsuit that could kick his candidacy to the curb in Colorado
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A citizen watchdog group filed a lawsuit to disqualify Donald Trump from running in Colorado. The suit has yet to be dismissed, despite Trump's legal challenges. If Trump's last motion to dismiss does not succeed, the suit could go to trial at the end of October. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy .

Persons: Donald Trump, —, Sarah Wallace, Trump, MinnPost, Judge Wallace Organizations: Service, GOP, Trump, CNN, Colorado, Denver, FSFP, Michigan Locations: Colorado, Washington, Minnesota, Michigan

☆ Opinion: Uncomfortable reality for Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. He didn’t live to see the allies’ victory in World War II that year or the conference in San Francisco that month that established the United Nations. But his diplomatic efforts to meet with Arab leaders came undone after a devastating explosion at a hospital in Gaza. Biden himself initially supported the US 2003 war in Iraq only to end up as the president who ordered the US pullout of Afghanistan. “This is the politics that Donald Trump’s rhetoric has wrought among his supporters in the Republican Party,” wrote Avlon.

Persons: Franklin D, Roosevelt, Joe Biden, FDR, “, ” Biden, Steve Breen, GoComics.com Biden, Seth Moulton, ”, David Petraeus, ‘, Petraeus, Moulton, Shmuel Rosner, “ Israel, Biden, David Mark, Donald Trump, Gaza Hani Almadhoun, ” Yasmine Mohammed, Will Heath, Pete Davidson, Dean Obeidallah, Davidson, ” Obeidallah, ” Wadea, Khaled, Wadea’s, Mukesh Kapila, Frida Ghitis, Nicole Hemmer, Michael, Peter Bergen, Israel, ” Bergen, “ Khaled Hroub, ’, ” Hroub, what’s, ” Jim Jordan flunks, Nick Anderson, Jim Jordan, Julian Zelizer, “ Jordan, MAGA, Trump, shutdowns, Jordan, —, ” Zelizer, ” John Avlon, Jake Tapper, Donald Trump’s, Utah Sen, Mitt Romney, Cupp, Bill Bramhall, Trump Sidney Powell, Powell “, Jennifer Rodgers, ” Clay Jones, Kenneth Chesebro, Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Jack Smith, Trump’s, Jill Filipovic, “ It’s, …, Don’t, Scott Stantis, David Goldblatt, Amy Bass, Mary Lou Retton, Amy Klein, Glock, homebuyers Holly Thomas, Frasier ’, Richie Hofmann, Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio, Niro, DiCaprio, Scorsese, David Grann’s, White, Noah Berlatsky, “ Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UN, Arab, Marine Corps, Democratic, Twitter, Facebook, Republican, Capitol, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, “, NBC, New York City, World Trade, Chicago, Hamas, Tribune, Trump, Tea Party, Republican Party, GOP, Utah, Republicans, Agency, White Locations: Warm Springs , Georgia, San Francisco, United, United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, China, Ukraine, Israel, America, Gaza, What’s, Massachusetts, Iraq, “ Israel, Afghanistan, Iraqi, Najaf, Iran, Lebanon, ”, New, Geneva, Palestinian, Fulton County , Georgia, Hollywood, Oklahoma

At least eight Georgia Republican electors present that day have agreed to testify in exchange for immunity from state charges. The meeting was led by David Shafer, then chairman of the Georgia Republican Party. But halfway through the meeting, Shafer noted that Still’s name was printed as the secretary on documents. A Georgia Republican Party website raising money to defend electors calls them “patriots who served." Lawyers for the indicted electors argue it was up to Congress to determine which slates should be counted.

Persons: Donald Trump, “, Trump —, Robert Sinners, Trump, Joe Biden's, Kenneth Chesebro, Biden, David Shafer, Shafer, Fulton, Shawn Still, wasn't, ” Shafer, Cathy Latham, State Sen, Burt Jones, John Isakson Jr, Sen, Johnny Isakson, Isakson, Brian Kemp’s, Mike Pence, they’ve, Anna Cross, Latham, Ray Smith, Republican Richard Nixon, John F, Kennedy, Todd Zywicki, Fani Willis, ” Willis ’, Shafer’s, Willis ’, ”, Brad Raffensperger, hasn't, Willis Organizations: ATLANTA, Georgia Capitol, Trump, Associated Press, Georgia Republican, Georgia Republican Party, Republicans, State, Republican U.S, Atlanta, ”, Republican, U.S, Senate, George Mason University, Georgia Republicans, Hawaii Democrats, Georgia, U.S . House Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Georgia's Coffee County, Alabama, Hawaii, Virginia

☆ From Bush v. Gore to ‘Stop the Steal’: Kenneth Chesebro’s Long, Strange Trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Elizabeth Williamson | More About Elizabeth Williamson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In January 2001, Kenneth Chesebro was a mild-mannered Harvard lawyer toiling for Al Gore during the 2000 presidential election recount battle. Two decades later, on Jan. 6, 2021, he joined the mob outside the Capitol, reborn as a MAGA-hatted kingpin. On Friday, Mr. Chesebro’s journey took another turn, when he pleaded guilty in a criminal racketeering indictment in Fulton County, Ga., and agreed to testify against former President Donald J. Trump and other co-defendants, including Rudolph W. Giuliani and several other top Trump aides. Mr. Chesebro’s trial, which had been scheduled to begin Monday, will no longer go forward. Liberal lawyers from his former life had hoped it would provide clues to an enduring mystery: What happened to “The Cheese?’’

Persons: Kenneth Chesebro, toiling, Al Gore, MAGA, Donald J, Trump, Rudolph W, Giuliani, Chesebro, Trump’s, Joseph R, Biden, Chesebro’s Organizations: Harvard, Capitol, Trump, Liberal Locations: Fulton County ,, Georgia

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

☆ Two Trump co-defendants plead guilty. What next?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Sidney Powell , a public face of Trump’s attempts to challenge the election results in 2020 and 2021, pleaded guilty Thursday. The former Trump attorney willavoid jail time but agreed to testify as a witness and pleaded guilty to six misdemeanors for conspiracy to commitintentional interference, downgraded from felony charges she had faced. He pleaded guilty Friday to a single felony, conspiracy to commit filingfalse documents. Trial dates have not been set, and Trump has pleaded not guilty. But guilty pleas, Williams said, are now evidence that crimes were committed as Trump tried to make Joe Biden’s 2020 victory disappear.

Persons: – unsolvably, Donald Trump’s, Georgia’s, Sidney Powell, He’s, Kenneth Chesebro, Scott Hall, Trump, Powell’s Chesebro, Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Elliot Williams, Fani Willis, Williams, Joe Biden’s, ” Williams, Jim Sciutto, CNN Max, “ Chesebro, ‘, Chesebro, Powell, CNN’s Marshall Cohen, Cohen, Jack Smith, Tanya Chutkan, “, Chutkan, Arthur Engoron, Engoron, ” Trump, Chris Christie, ” Christie, “ Donald Trump doesn’t, Christie, Oliver Darcy, CNN’s, “ It’s, ” Darcy Organizations: CNN, Trump, White, Republican, Former New Jersey Gov, NBC, Salem Radio Network, GOP, Trump Republicans Locations: Israel, Georgia, Coffee, New York, Washington, Florida, Fulton County, Washington ,, Clive , Iowa, Miami, Salem

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

The electors scheme became a vital part of the end game strategy pursued by Mr. Trump as he and his allies sought to find a way to block or delay congressional certification of his Electoral College defeat. When Mr. Trump directed his supporters to march on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, Mr. Chesebro was among them, accompanying the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to the Capitol grounds. (Mr. Chesebro does not appear to have illegally entered the Capitol as the march turned into a riot.) If Mr. Chesebro were to testify that Mr. Trump’s lawsuits challenging his loss were not designed to win, but merely as ploys to sow doubt about the election, it could cut against Mr. Trump’s possible plan to use a so-called advice of counsel defense. Beyond his role in the state case in Georgia, Mr. Chesebro was also identified — albeit not by name — as Co-Conspirator 5 in the federal election case filed against Mr. Trump in August by the special counsel, Jack Smith.

Persons: Trump, Chesebro, Alex Jones, John Eastman, Rudolph W, Giuliani, Trump’s, —, Jack Smith Organizations: Mr, Electoral College, Capitol Locations: Georgia

☆ 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

ATLANTA (AP) — Jury selection is set to begin Friday for the first defendant to go to trial in the Georgia case that accuses former President Donald Trump and others of illegally scheming to overturn the 2020 election in the state. CHESEBRO WILL BE TRIED BY HIMSELFUntil Thursday morning, Chesebro was set to go on trial alongside Powell after each filed a demand for a speedy trial. On Monday, prospective jurors will be called in groups of 14 for individual questioning. Then the prosecution and the defense attorneys will have one hour per group of 14 prospective jurors to ask questions. McAfee recently said he would tell prospective jurors during jury selection that it's likely to take up to five months.

Persons: Donald Trump, Kenneth Chesebro, Sidney Powell, Chesebro —, Fani Willis, he's, Chesebro, “, Trump, it's, CHESEBRO WILL, Powell, Racketeer, Rudy Giuliani, Chesebro's, ”, Scott McAfee, McAfee Organizations: ATLANTA, Trump, TRUMP, ”, CHESEBRO, Georgia Republicans, New York, Act Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta

☆ 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

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