Defendant Trump waived his right to be arraigned in open court next week and entered a plea of not-guilty in writing. As expected his attorneys moved to sever his case from those co-conspirators seeking speedy trials. As of now that is Chesebro and Powell. Meanwhile, two leaders on the ground of the Insurrection received long prison sentences. Joseph Biggs was sentenced to 17 years, significantly less than the government's recommendation of 33 years. Zachery Rehl was sentenced to 15 years for seditious conspiracy. A Proud Boy not convicted of sedition, Dominic Pezzola, but other serious felonies received a ten year sentence. The conspiracy's leader, Don 'Legit' is free on bail awaiting trial in Washington DC and Georgia.
Judge Robert McBurney has ruled that the special grand jury report be made public by Sept. 8th. The parties have until Sept. 6th to object to the release. Trial proceedings against the defendant will be televised. This will be some of the most watch reality-TV in the history of the medium.
Rudy Giuliani lost the defamation case brought by the mother and daughter election workers. The ruling was a default judgment since Rudy 'Coludy' refused to provide discovery materials to the plaintiffs. Some observers think this may have been a strategic move to prevent incriminating evidence being used in the criminal prosecution against him in Georgia. Damages will be determined in a later court proceeding. They could be substantial for a cash-strapped defendant. His sugar daddy has disappeared beneath the court filings.
Perhaps the most interesting news story this week is the on-going investigation in Arizona concerning the fake elector scheme. It could result in yet another indictment, the fifth, against the former guy and would-be mafioso. A team of investigators was assigned in May by Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes. To date investigation has interviewed witnesses including those who participated in the scheme to present 'alternative' electors to Congress. An Arizona prosecutor has inquired about evidence collected by Fulton County and the Justice Department. Mayes campaigned during the 2022 midterm election on a pledge to investigate the 22 Republicans who signed certifications claiming they were the legitimate electors from the state in the 2020 presidential election. Biden was the first Democrat to win the Arizona election in 24 years. A tax-payer funded state audit of the election by the "Cyber Ninja" consulting firm confirmed Biden won the election.
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