[Master Thread] Federal & State Charges Against Pres. Trump [merged]

[Boiler 45,439]

 

[Dashinka 24,476]

15 hours ago, Boiler said:

 

Seems sort of like asking what someone would do if they were to win Powerball.

[Family 3,988]

Jack is back on track , from the looks of it. Will SCOTUS put it on calendar soon ..?
 

Takeaways from the scathing appeals court ruling denying immunity to Donald Trump

 

In a striking 57-page unanimous opinion, the panel of three DC Circuit judges wrote that that the justice system allowed for a former president to face charges for actions he took while in office, and that the public interest in holding a potentially criminal president accountable outweighed any potential “chilling effect” on the presidency.

Former President Trump lacked any lawful discretionary authority to defy federal criminal law and he is answerable in court for his conduct,” the judges added.

 

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/02/06/politics/takeaways-donald-trump-immunity-appeals-court/index.html

[Family 3,988]

Here Are the Best Lines in the Court Decision Blasting Trump’s Immunity Claim

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/02/trump-immunity-federal-appeals-court-2024-election-january-6/

The long-awaited 57-page ruling issued by the three-judge panel is not full of fiery rhetoric. But it does contain a few sharp punches aimed at Trump’s contention that a president should possess king-like power. Here are some excerpts.

 

The court had a bit of a ha-ha moment, which many legal observers anticipated, when it pointed out that Trump’s lawyers had argued during his last impeachment that his actions related to the 2020 election were not impeachable and that the appropriate venue for judging them would be a courtroom. Gotcha, said the court:

[During] President Trump’s 2021 impeachment proceedings for incitement of insurrection, his counsel argued that instead of post-Presidency impeachment, the appropriate vehicle for “investigation, prosecution, and punishment” is “the article III courts,” as “[w]e have a judicial process” and “an investigative process . . . to which no former officeholder is immune.”

 

[Family 3,988]

https://www.vox.com/scotus/2024/2/6/24063557/supreme-court-trump-immunity-dc-circuit-united-states-jack-smith-tanya-chutkan
The Supreme Court is about to decide whether to sabotage Trump’s election theft trial

 

In the Trump case, however, the DC Circuit wants to fast-track this process. Its judgment states that Chutkan will regain authority over the case at the end of February 12 — next Monday — unless Trump seeks a delay of this mandate from the Supreme Court. Should that happen, the mandate will issue (and Judge Chutkan will regain control of the case) upon “the Supreme Court’s final disposition” of Trump’s request to delay the mandate.

So the most important question looming over Trump’s election theft case is what the Supreme Court does next. Trump’s lawyers will almost certainly ask the Supreme Court to stay the DC Circuit’s mandate, as part of a formal request that the justices hear Trump’s immunity claim. If the Supreme Court grants that request, that will further delay Trump’s criminal trial — potentially until it is too late for Trump to be tried prior to the election.

There are two very good reasons, however, for the Supreme Court to give this case a miss.

[TBoneTX 45,241]

Fascinating, readable explanation of how Jonathan Turley and others think that the "loss" in D.C. Circuit Court could work in Trump's favor.

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Trump Loses in D.C. Circuit, But Prof. Turley Explains Why He Might Have Already Won

[...] Whatever the merits of Trump's argument for immunity—and we haven't read the case or paid enough attention to be sure of the merits—or his double jeopardy claims, Trump lost that interlocutory appeal today.  Via the indispensable Jonathan Turley: [...]

 

https://twitchy.com/aaronwalker/2024/02/06/trump-loses-in-dc-circuit-but-might-have-already-won-n2392629

[TBoneTX 45,241]

This clearly explains, broadly and in detail, how hosed this case now is.

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FaniGate and the American Way of Scandal

To qualify as a first-rate American political scandal, the escapade should include three juicy elements: sex, money, and the abuse of power.

Fani Willis and Nathan Wade hit the trifecta.  [...]

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2024/02/06/fanigate_and_the_american_way_of_scandal_150439.html

[TBoneTX 45,241]

Donald Trump and the First Amendment Win the Day on Redacted Filings Release

Former President Donald Trump received a procedural win in the classified documents case styled United States of America v. Donald J. Trump, Waltine Nauta, and Carlos de Oliveira.  Special Counsel Jack Smith sought to preserve the redaction of court filings of discovery documents, which contained information about government witnesses.  [...]

https://redstate.com/jenniferoo/2024/02/06/donald-trump-and-the-first-amendment-win-the-day-on-redacted-filings-release-n2169750

[Family 3,988]

On 2/6/2024 at 6:40 PM, TBoneTX said:

Fascinating, readable explanation of how Jonathan Turley and others think that the "loss" in D.C. Circuit Court could work in Trump's favor.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Trump Loses in D.C. Circuit, But Prof. Turley Explains Why He Might Have Already Won

[...] Whatever the merits of Trump's argument for immunity—and we haven't read the case or paid enough attention to be sure of the merits—or his double jeopardy claims, Trump lost that interlocutory appeal today.  Via the indispensable Jonathan Turley: [...]

 

https://twitchy.com/aaronwalker/2024/02/06/trump-loses-in-dc-circuit-but-might-have-already-won-n2392629

They surely gave him a reality check. He will face the 91 criminal charges as “ Citizen Trump” , Defendant 

https://www.rawstory.com/amp/trump-parlatore-took-personally-2667185670

 

For the purpose of this criminal case, former President Trump has become citizen Trump, with all of the defenses of any other criminal defendant," the judges wrote,

 

[TBoneTX 45,241]

The Supreme Court's Colorado Trump Test

A 9-0 ruling against Colorado's decision to banish Donald Trump from the ballot would be best for the country and the Court.  [...]

 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/supreme-court-donald-trump-colorado-ballot-fourteenth-amendment-section-3-3e6bc0f6?mod=opinion_lead_pos1

[TBoneTX 45,241]

Colorado Had a Bad Day at SCOTUS on Trump DQ

 

Let's preface this discussion by reminding ourselves that predicting a Supreme Court decision based on oral arguments is usually a fool's errand.  Justices often engage in Socratic-method questioning of the lead attorneys, challenging them to allow a better exposition of their arguments, and to cover gaps that may have appeared in the motions.

 

After spending my morning listening to the full two hours of argument, however, I do have one question.  Will the decision to throw out Colorado's disqualification of Donald Trump be unanimous, 8-1, or 7-2?  [...]

 

https://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2024/02/08/scotus-arguments-on-14th-amendment-dq-seem-to-go-poorly-for-colorado-n3782573

[TBoneTX 45,241]

This piece also has the Thread-Reader version of Jonathan Turley's running comments during the SCOTUS hearing.  Quite interesting, especially the line of questioning from Justice KBJ.

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The Supreme Court 'insurrection' hearing and the set-up that began before January 6, 2021

 

Those claiming that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, ratified after the bloodiest war in American history to prevent states from packing Congress with former Confederates, now bars Trump from the ballot, argued their case before the Supreme Court today.  Seemingly, it didn't go well for them.  However, I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone that this day's argument was the culmination of a Uniparty set-up on January 6 to destroy Trump.  [...]

 

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2024/02/the_supreme_court_insurrection_hearing_and_the_setup_that_began_before_january_6_2021.html

[TBoneTX 45,241]

~~~~~~~~

Ketanji Brown Jackson Pauses Oral Arguments To Ask Clarence Thomas 'What Is A Constitution'

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the Supreme Court began to hear the case regarding former President Donald Trump being removed from the ballot in Colorado, Justice Ketanji brown Jackson paused oral arguments to ask what this "Constitution" thing is everyone keeps talking about.  [...]

 

https://babylonbee.com/news/ketanji-brown-jackson-pauses-oral-arguments-to-ask-what-this-constitution-thing-is-everyone-keeps-talking-about

[Crazy Cat 41,802]

As I said before, the Constitution gives only Congress the power to enact the 14th Amendment.  

[TBoneTX 45,241]

The Georgia case may be dead on arrival.

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Merchant:  Fani Willis Lied to the Court -- And We Have a Witness

 

Oh my.  However much popcorn you prepared for passing during the February 15 hearing in Fulton County, double it.  Late last night, the defense attorney in the RICO case of Georgia v Donald Trump et al that forced the hearing over misconduct allegations dropped another bombshell.

 

In her new filing, Ashleigh Merchant alleges that Fani Willis lied about the start of their romantic relationship.  Willis told the court in her response a week ago that she and Nathan Wade did not start dating until after Willis hired Wade as a contract prosecutor.  Merchant told the court that she has at least one witness who will testify otherwise -- and that Willis' claim isn't even close to the truth:  [...]

 

https://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2024/02/10/merchant-fani-willis-lied-to-the-court-and-we-have-a-witness-n3782706