Republican SCOTUS on Trump immunity
A genuinely historic event takes place at the Supreme Court on Thursday. The justices hear arguments on Donald Trump's claim that he is immune from prosecution after leaving office for any of his official acts while he was president. Specifically, Trump claims that the steps he took to block the certification of Joe Biden's election were part of his official duties and that he thus cannot be criminally prosecuted.
The question of presidential immunity from criminal prosecution after leaving office has never been decided by the Supreme Court. [snip]
Trump is making a far broader argument for immunity. He contends that he cannot be prosecuted — ever — for his "official acts" as president unless he is first impeached, convicted by the Senate and removed from office. He was impeached twice, but the Senate failed to muster the two-thirds vote needed to convict. So, were the Supreme Court to embrace Trump's argument, it would mean, given modern political realities, that he and future presidents would likely be immune from prosecution after leaving office...
But, to further tilt the table away from accountability for the Malignant Loser before the election, the corrupt Republican SCOTUS issued a stay on Special Counsel Jack Smith's January 6 coup trial, meaning the trial which had been delayed already (it was to have begun in early March) is in limbo until a decision. Even if the Malignant Loser is found not to have absolute immunity, by the time a decision is rendered and the stay lifted, it would be highly unlikely for a trial to be concluded before November.
New York hush money/ election interference/ fraud trial
The former tabloid publisher David Pecker will continue testimony at Donald Trump’s New York criminal trial on Thursday, following his testimony earlier in the week.
Pecker, the former chief executive of American Media, which publishes the National Enquirer, testified that he used his position to help Trump kill negative stories that threatened his campaign.
After Trump announced his run for presidency, he invited Pecker and Michael Cohen, Trump’s former fixer, to a meeting at Trump Tower, Pecker said. Trump said he was looking for a media insider who could help suppress negative stories – a tactic prosecutors call “catch-and-kill”.
“They asked me what can I do – and what magazines could do – to help the campaign,” Pecker said, adding that he said he would be the “eyes and ears” for the campaign.
Prosecutors allege Pecker ultimately connected Trump to the adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016, before the election. Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, allegedly covering up a $130,000 payment in 2016 to Daniels over a 2006 affair...
More salacious facts coming out (including tapes), while Don Snoreleone tries to stay awake.
Meanwhile, Judge Merchan has a decision to make:
... Judge Juan Merchan must decide after a Tuesday hearing whether to punish Trump for purported violations of a gag order meant to protect witnesses, court staff and the jury from public attacks by the former president.
Prosecutors want Merchan to fine Trump $1,000 for each of 10 alleged violations of the gag order and to warn that imprisonment could be an option if he continues to flout restrictions.
Arizona fake electors conspiracy
An Arizona grand jury on Wednesday indicted seven attorneys or aides affiliated with Donald Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign as well as 11 Arizona Republicans on felony charges related to their alleged efforts to subvert Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in the state, according to an announcement by the state attorney general.
Those indicted include former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, attorneys Rudy Giuliani, Jenna Ellis, John Eastman and Christina Bobb, top campaign adviser Boris Epshteyn and former campaign aide Mike Roman. They are accused of allegedly aiding an unsuccessful strategy to award the state’s electoral votes to Trump instead of Biden after the 2020 election. Also charged are the Republicans who signed paperwork on Dec. 14, 2020, that falsely purported Trump was the rightful winner, including former state party chair Kelli Ward, two state senators and Tyler Bowyer, a GOP national committeeman and chief operating officer of Turning Point Action, the campaign arm of the pro-Trump conservative group Turning Point USA.
Trump was not charged, but he is described in the indictment as an unindicted co-conspirator.
The indictments cap a year-long investigation by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) into how the elector strategy played out in Arizona, which Biden won by 10,457 votes. Arizona is the fourth state after Michigan, Georgia and Nevada to seek charges against those who formed an alternate slate of presidential electors...
Perhaps, following Fani Willis' lead in Georgia, prosecutors in Arizona, Nevada and Michigan will append their indictments to include the "unindicted co-conspirator," a.k.a., the Malignant Loser/ Don Snoreleone/ Rip van Stinkle.
(Photo: Don Snoreleone/ The Nodfather)
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