A judge has refused to dismiss a defamation suit against Trump-endorsed 2022 election loser Kari Lake that was filed by Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, who she has called a criminal for allegedly intentionally sabotaging the 2022 election. The burden is now on Lake to prove her claims about Richer to save herself from having to pay damages. Kari Lake is in deep, deep trouble with judge's refusal to dismiss defamation lawsuit
O.J. Simpson and Trump. O.J. Simpson proved Trump can be nixed from ballot without insurrection conviction: expert excerpt: “In this case, Trump doesn't even face the prospect of forfeiting any of his property or paying damages,” Somin notes. “All he stands to lose is eligibility for various state and federal government jobs.” Somin also notes that none of the ex-Confederates disqualified under the 14th Amendment were convicted of crimes linked to the Civil War. “The idea that Section 3 disqualification requires a prior criminal conviction for insurrection is at odds with the general structure of our legal system, which separates civil and criminal liability,” Somin concludes.
The recognized separation of political, civil, and criminal dockets is a basis for why Trump is wrong when he claims that his acquittal of an impeachment for trying to overthrow the 2022 election doesn't confer an immunity for him or a preemptive acquittal of him in the criminal docket. He's not in the double jeopardy that he's claiming. Trump will almost certainly lose on those claims, first in the appeals court and later in the U.S. Supreme Court if it decides to hear the case. The SC could simply not take the case and let an expected Trump loss in the appeals court stand.
Trump thinks it's election interference to be prosecuted for election interference. Trump's Jan. 6 defense is like bank robber blaming security for trying to stop him: expert excerpt: Former prosecutor Glenn Kirschner also referred to that piece of the filing. "What’s next? Perhaps a court ruling that a person who robs a bank can, of course, go on to be president of the bank he robbed. Oh, and how about a companion ruling that if he robs the bank AGAIN, he has bank president immunity against prosecution?"
Followup. Proud Boy member, Worrell, apparently admits he faked a drug overdose to delay his sentencing for his Capitol riot conviction. Florida man who jumped bail apparently admits he faked drug overdose to delay Jan. 6 fate
Trump loses bid to delay Carroll case. Donald Trump Loses Motion to Delay E. Jean Carroll Defamation Case
In December 2023, Trump also lost a bid of claiming presidential immunity in the Carroll case. Trump loses immunity bid in Carroll defamation suit
The legal arena looked bad after Nixon's behavior. Trump has taken it to a new low. Jack Smith’s Indictment of the Entire Legal Profession excerpt: "Leading players in the Jan. 6 indictment, including Eastman and Clark, were once luminaries of the Federalist Society, a network of conservative lawyers who hoist one another into positions of power. Yet the Federalist Society has consistently refused to denounce their complicity, or revoke their membership, or even condemn the coup itself. Instead, the conservative legal movement has welcomed these men—who have expressed no remorse for their actions—back into the fold. Lawyers on the right appear uninterested in exploring how colleagues who were once deemed most likely to succeed have overnight become most likely to be indicted."
The Federalist Society and other groups should be giving out annual awards such as 'Most Likely To Be Indicted'.
Melania is spending Christmas time with ailing mother. Melania Trump spends Christmas with ailing mother, missing Mar-a-Lago celebration
Election denier Peters was fined $15,400 for campaign finance violations. Former Mesa Clerk Tina Peters fined for failing to register reelection campaign excerpt: "Former Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Tina Peters has been fined $15,400 by a state court for campaign finance violations related to her reelection bid. The Colorado Office of Administrative Courts’ decision says that Peters violated the Fair Campaign Practice Act (the “FCPA”) by failing to register as a candidate, as well as failing to file accurate campaign donations and expenditures while running for reelection for clerk."
Tina Peters filed a lawsuit in November 2023 against the government to ban it from conducting criminal proceedings against her. Her arguments are similar to those of Trump, saying that she was expressing free speech and was trying to investigate an alleged rigged election. In new lawsuit, Tina Peters aims to preempt any federal charges against her excerpt: "Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters filed a federal lawsuit seeking to ban the government from conducting criminal proceedings against her. The suit alleges investigations into her actions as clerk are unlawful and retaliation against her for “exercising her freedom of speech, freedom of association and her right to petition the government for the redress of grievances.”:
Maine becomes second state to kick Trump off the 2024 ballot. Maine kicks Trump off ballot under 14th Amendment excerpt: “I am mindful that no Secretary of State has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment,” Bellows wrote in her determination. “I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.”
Capitol riot suspect, Krvaric, has been revealed as a Trump administration employee who praised Hitler. Jan. 6 riot suspect revealed as Trump administration employee who praised Hitler: report
Video shows what appears to be Krvaric inside the Capitol during the riot, although he said he didn't go inside. Krvaric is the son of California GOP power broker Tony Krvaric.
While president, Trump went on a campaign to quash diversity and inclusion programs around the country. Jan. 6 riot suspect revealed as Trump administration employee who praised Hitler: report excerpt: "A spokesman for the Office of Personnel Management confirmed that Krvaric, who led the College Republicans while at San Diego State University, was employed by the department from November 2020 to January 2021, on a Trump executive order seeking to rid federal agencies of diversity and inclusion training."
How Trump's operatives flew fake elector ballots to DC. The breadth of the operation by Trump and his team to overthrow the 2020 election is becoming more apparent as details are released. Exclusive: Recordings, emails show how Trump team flew fake elector ballots to DC in final push to overturn 2020 election | CNN Politics excerpt: That same day, Morgan weighed in over email asking Chesebro and Roman to rethink how they would deliver the certificates to Pence. “As I thought about this more, a courier will not be able to access the Capitol to deliver a sealed package,” Morgan wrote on January 4, according to emails obtained by CNN “You will probably need to enlist the help of a legislator who can deliver to the appropriate place(s). I strongly recommend you guys discuss a revised delivery plan with Rudy (Giuliani) to make sure this gets done the way he wants.”
Giuliani appears to be the central player in Trump's quest to overturn the election. Giuliani is an un-indicted co-conspirator in the federal election subversion case being run by Smith. Giuliani's fate in that case remains to be seen. He's in so much difficulty now that it might not matter to him whether he sticks with Trump or flips on him. He's a co-defendant of Trump in the GA election subversion case.
Trump is assailing Debbie Dingell once again. This time he's upset that she was critical of his 2023 'rot in hell' Christmas greeting. Trump Assails Congresswoman in His Latest Escalation on Social Media