 |
| credit: M. Wuerker |
Latest: Judge Chutkin has set jury selection in the January 6th federal criminal case to begin February 9th. She reinstated her gag order against Don 'Legit' on Sunday after pausing it for briefing. Team Trump continues to find ways to delay all proceedings by filing motions unlikely to succeed.
California lawyer John Eastman has been found culpable in a disciplinary trial lasting 32 days. The proceedings now move to the punishment phase. Possible penalties include disbarment.
And Eric lies as well. That was the top line from Eric Trump's testimony in the NewYork civil fraud case against him, his older brother and daddy. Eric opened his testimony by disavowing any knowledge or involvement in his father's fraudulent statements of financial condition used by the Trump Org to obtain favorable loans, insurance and avoid taxes. The prosecuting attorney promptly confronted him with emails and documents that showed him participating in preparation of the statements and signing off on documents as the trustee for his father's revocable trust established during his term in public office. Eric was eventually forced to admit that it "appeared" he did have knowledge and participation in the persistent fraud for which he is being tried.
Don 'Legit" is scheduled to testify beginning Monday and his daughter goes last on Wednesday. He already know that Trumpilini will dissemble in a maze of word salad. However, the order of the family witnesses is significant because it places Ivanka in a perjury vice. Ivanka was the principal point of contact with Deutsche Bank, that several large loans to the Trump Org. She has been cleared of wrongdoing by virtue of a statute of limitations, but she could still face legal jeopardy if she lies on the witness stand about the fraud already found to have taken place by Judge Engoron. Her last ditch effort to delay her appearance on grounds of school days for her children was rejected by the appellate court. Spin may work in the business and political worlds, but not on the witness stand under oath and cross examination. The family that crimes together, lies together.
Keeping you up to speed, the campaign to bar Trump from election ballots under the 14th Amendment is picking up steam in several states. A trial in Denver, CO started Monday on the issue of whether Section 3 of the amendment applies to what Trump did or did not do on January 6th when his mob attacked the Capitol. The section drafted to keep former Confederates from holding public office, prohibits anyone who takes an oath of office and participates in, or gives aid and comfort to an insurrection, from holding public office. Two prominent conservative legal scholars have publicly supported the idea that its disqualification should be applied to Trumpilini. The issue is not clear cut since there is understandably very little legal precedent. Whatever a lower court decides will be appealed all the way to the Supreme Court by Trump's legal minions.
The case was brought by several registered Republican and a couple of unaffiliated voters. People have written to their Secretaries of State demanding that Don 'Legit' be barred from appearing on state ballots in New Mexico, Florida, New Hampshire, Ohio and Wisconsin. US Person has also made a similar request to the Oregon Secretary of State. Write your Secretary of State today! Many legal challenges lay ahead for the efforts. A court could decide that private citizens do not have standing to bring a lawsuit challenging the qualifications of candidate, or that the suit is not ripe for adjudication, since candidates have not yet formally filed for ballot access.
 |
| credit: R. Molina |