Latest: Trump fined $5,000 for violating Judge Engoron's gag order in the New York civil fraud case--a nominal amount even for Trumpillini, More kid glove treatment--Federal District Court Judge Chutkin who put her gag order on hold while Trump lawyers appeal her ruling.
Update: As expected, Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro accepted a plea deal on the eve of trial for election interference in Georgia. He is expected to testify against the remaining defendants including the coup leader. He plead to a single felony, conspiracy to submit false documents, and was sentenced to five years probation and paying $5,000 restitution. The Harvard educated Chesebro was an architect of the false electors scheme in which false elector certifications were submitted to Congress. What effect his felony conviction will have on his Texas law license in not clear at this juncture; sixty prominent lawyers and scholars, including his former mentor, Lawrence Tribe, have signed an ethics complaint against him in New York. His plea does clear the way for the main event, the televised trial of Trump, Meadows, Eastman and Giuliani for racketeering and attempting to interfere in Georgia's 2020 presidential election. The evidence against Trumpillini keeps piling up while he bloviates in courthouse hallways. Someone should tell him to man-up!
{19/10/2023} Sidney Powell, a prominent member of the conspiracy of zealots working to overturn the election for Trumpillini, pleaded guilty to six misdemeanors for election tampering today and was sentenced to six years probation and a $6000 fine. By pleading she avoided potential serious incarceration if convicted of participating in a RICO. Powell agreed to testify against remaining defendants in return for pleading to reduced charges. This puts Don 'Legit' in a very difficult position. As an inside participant of the conspiracy, she was privy to conversations with the former guy about disrupting the transfer of power on January 6th. At one point Trumpillini attempted to make Powell an emergency Special Counsel. Presumably she will also testify to what she knows in the DC federal trial of her former coup leader. What affect her conviction will have on her license to practice law in Texas is unclear.
Powell made false accusations against Dominion Voting Systems claiming their voting machines were rigged in a conspiracy with the former communist leader of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez to steal elections. She is also facing a defamation suit brought by Dominion. This smear was repeated by Don 'Legit' and spread over the Internet. Former trade advisor Peter Navarro said that Powell was, "the worst thing that ever happened" to their efforts to keep the former president in power.
Powell joins former bondsman Scott Hall in accepting a plea deal from DA Fani Willis. Attorney Kevin Cheesebro, an author of the fake elector scheme, remains the only defendant scheduled to go to trial next week in the Georgia election interference case. Both he and Powell requested speedy trials. If Chesebro pleads, attorneys for Trumpillini will not get a free preview of the state's case against their client. Given the leniency granted to Powell he may also decide to capitulate and testify against the man who wanted to be king. US Person suggests Powell use AI to write her required apology letter to the citizens of Georgia for interfering in their presidential election.
As expected, Individual One is appealing the gag order imposed by federal District Court Judge Chutkin prohibiting him from ranting against court personnel and intimidating witnesses. That is, as soon as his lawyer John Lauro becomes qualified to practice before the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Trump's appeal is expected to be denied given the limited nature of Chutkin's order and the strong government interest in protecting fair judicial process. Freedom of speech is not absolute.
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| credit: D. Whamond, Cagle.com Wackydoodle sez: He don't know Sydney Cheeseburger! |