Trump is Toast

[heimfried]

Some time it costs.

“We are confronted with a lawsuit that should never have been filed, which was completely frivolous, both factually and legally, and which was brought in bad faith for an improper purpose,” Middlebrooks wrote in the 46-page order imposing sanctions of $937,989.39 against Trump and Habba.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...illary-clinton

[Osborne Russell]

I'm mystified as to why politicians are still lining up to support Trump. Here in SC, Graham and McMaster both pledged their support for his next run for President. I'm a conservative Christian, and often vote R, but I can't in good conscience vote for anyone who backs that train wreck. Which leaves me in a dilemma; the Republican party as I knew it has become unrecognizable, and yet I oppose many Democrat policies. I was unable to vote for POTUS in the last two elections because there wasn't a valid choice for a person of my beliefs, and SC doesn't allow write-ins for POTUS. OK, old man rant over/

1. Stop apologizing for having lived. Live on.

2. Get good at priorities. You may object to this or that Democrat policy; does it touch the fundamentals? What are the fundamentals?

3. There's more to it than who you vote for. Your job isn't done when you vote. Your Aunt Beverly is a Nazi. That is the problem. How closely does your choice of candidates address that?

4. Learn what American means. Then be an American. Not the bull S kind.

[Paul Pless]

bah, no doubt the new house select committee on the weaponization of the government will clear trump's good name and this ruling will be reversed!

Some time it costs.

“We are confronted with a lawsuit that should never have been filed, which was completely frivolous, both factually and legally, and which was brought in bad faith for an improper purpose,” Middlebrooks wrote in the 46-page order imposing sanctions of $937,989.39 against Trump and Habba.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...illary-clinton

[Paul Pless]

^ thank the lord that true patriots like jim jordan still exist in this land

[Garret]

I'm mystified as to why politicians are still lining up to support Trump. Here in SC, Graham and McMaster both pledged their support for his next run for President. I'm a conservative Christian, and often vote R, but I can't in good conscience vote for anyone who backs that train wreck. Which leaves me in a dilemma; the Republican party as I knew it has become unrecognizable, and yet I oppose many Democrat policies. I was unable to vote for POTUS in the last two elections because there wasn't a valid choice for a person of my beliefs, and SC doesn't allow write-ins for POTUS. OK, old man rant over/

It's been going on for a long time - pretty much since Reagan. One thing I might suggest to folks like you (& I know many) is to look back at Eisenhower & see what his campaign promises & views were like. I think you'll find that they were far more in line with today's moderate Dems. I understand that abortion was not a topic much talked about then, but if you put that aside for a moment, I think you'll find Biden & Eisenhower similar. In fact, Biden may even be a bit more conservative than Ike.

Today's Rep. party has been taken over by folks who will do anything - including destroying our country - to gain power.

[Paul Pless]

and yet I oppose many Democrat policies

which policies?

[ron ll]

He's nowhere near as rich as he claimed- or as he was for that matter. And his power is greatly diminished. He is a tarnished commodity, no longer able to rouse the masses and is past his use by date. Rapidly becoming an embarrassment for those previously supportive of him. He will be punished eventually, just not as severely as he deserves- treason used to be considered quite serious. JayInOz

Thinking his power is diminished is as dangerous as thinking he couldn’t get elected in 2016. The Speaker was put in by his people. The House committees are now chaired by election deniers. The Speaker is proposing his two impeachments be expunged. A poll just showed him trouncing DeSantis. And Biden’s classified documents issue has seriously clouded the case against him. Thinking Trump is toast is not wise.

[Nicholas Carey]

This just in off the AP wire:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bc-us...b07c0c7dfbc782

Florida Judge Fines Trump, Lawyer For 'Frivolous' Lawsuit

A Florida Judge has sanctioned former President Donald Trump and one of his attorneys, ordering them to pay nearly $1 million for filing a bogus lawsuit against Trump’s 2016 rival Hillary Clinton.

Jill Colvin
AP logo
Jan 20, 2023, 07:30 AM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — A Florida Judge sanctioned former President Donald Trump and one of his attorneys Thursday, ordering them to pay nearly $1 million for filing what he said was a bogus lawsuit against Trump's 2016 rival Hillary Clinton and others.

In a blistering filing, U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks accused Trump of a “pattern of abuse of the courts" for filing frivolous lawsuits for political purposes, which he said "undermines the rule of law" and “amounts to obstruction of justice.”

[ Read full court order here. ]

“Here, we are confronted with a lawsuit that should never have been filed, which was completely frivolous, both factually and legally, and which was brought in bad faith for an improper purpose," he wrote.

Citing Trump's recent legal action against the Pulitzer Prize board, New York Attorney General Letitia James, big tech companies and CNN, he described Trump as “a prolific and sophisticated litigant” who uses the courts “to seek revenge on political adversaries.”

“He is the mastermind of strategic abuse of the judicial process,” he wrote.

The ruling required Trump and his attorney, Alina Habba, to pay nearly $938,000 to the defendants in the case.

A spokesman for Trump and Habba did not immediately respond to requests for comment late Thursday.

Middlebrooks in September dismissed the suit Trump had filed against Clinton, former top FBI officials and the Democratic Party, rejecting the former president’s claims that they and others conspired to sink his winning presidential campaign by alleging ties to Russia.

The lawsuit had named as defendants Clinton and some of her top advisers, as well as former FBI Director James Comey and other FBI officials involved in the investigation into whether Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign had coordinated with Russia to sway the outcome of the election.

He said then the suit contained “glaring structural deficiencies” and that many of the “characterizations of events are implausible.”

[Peerie Maa]

46
2.Plaintiff Donald J. Trump and Plaintiff’s lead attorney—Alina Habba and Habba Madaio
& Associates—are jointly and severally liable for$937,989.39.38
SIGNEDin chambers at West Palm Beach, Florida this 19th day of January, 2023

That will make Alina Habba's pips squeak if Scidmark defaults on his share of the liability.
Mind you, the way that the judge tore her work up for bumph, she was way out of her depth, verging on incompetent.

[Osborne Russell]

Thinking his power is diminished is as dangerous as thinking he couldn’t get elected in 2016. The Speaker was put in by his people. The House committees are now chaired by election deniers. The Speaker is proposing his two impeachments be expunged. A poll just showed him trouncing DeSantis. And Biden’s classified documents issue has seriously clouded the case against him. Thinking Trump is toast is not wise.

Yup.

[gypsie]

Thinking his power is diminished is as dangerous as thinking he couldn’t get elected in 2016. The Speaker was put in by his people. The House committees are now chaired by election deniers. The Speaker is proposing his two impeachments be expunged. A poll just showed him trouncing DeSantis. And Biden’s classified documents issue has seriously clouded the case against him. Thinking Trump is toast is not wise.

They say it's better to be born lucky than rich.
The undeserving waste of good atoms seems to be both.

[Osborne Russell]

Many journalists, including Adela Suliman of the Washington Post, are incorrectly describing the $938k as a fine. A fine is a criminal penalty. These are sanctions for abuse of the judicial system. The court found that:

The Pleadings Contained Factual Allegations That Were Knowingly False Or Made With Reckless Disregard For The Truth.

In the US, this is a often a barrier to defamation lawsuits by "public figures". Not here. So, on to the merits:

1. Were the statements false?

2. Were the statements defamatory?

14 counts, 31 named defendants, 10 John Does and 10 ABC Corporations. That's a lot of defamation.

Generally, statements in pleadings are "absolutely privileged":

This broad scope of attorney litigation privilege is memorialized in the Restatement (Second) of Torts, which states that:

An attorney at law is absolutely privileged to publish false and defamatory matter of another concerning communications preliminary to a proposed judicial proceeding, or in the institution of, or during the course and as a part of, a judicial proceeding in which he participates as counsel, if it has some relation to the proceeding. §586 at 247 (1997).

Litigation privilege is in accord with the public interest of granting citizens the utmost freedom to the courts of justice in their efforts to attain settlement. Id. at Comment a, 247.

https://www.abi.org/abi-journal/the-...tion-privilege

IOW, it has a rather narrow application. And it doesn't apply at all to statements that are repeated outside of court proceedings, such as at news conferences, interviews, etc.

Ironically, Trump's lawsuit was largely about defamation of him. Oops!

[Hallam]

To what extent is Merrik Garland the problem in the hood up of an endightment of Trump. The DOJ has more than enough evidence. Kids her and others were saying any day now after the mid terms weeks ago and still nothing. It’s getting to look like corruption runs deeper than many suspect with regard to holding Trump in particular accountable. A question that has popped into my head is this: Is it Trump in particular or is it another issue, a political outcome and their best hope of achieving it is by using Trump as the vehicle. He gained so much ground they now see light at the end of what seemed a near impossible outcome? And that outcome is along the lines of weakening the democratic process or more importantly the process of government and accountability to such an extent that they can take control. Already for years with the Rebublicsn disruptive style it’s near impossible for any real advancement of a reformist agenda with policy that is obviously good for the nation.

[StevenBauer]

^ thank the lord that true patriots like jim jordan still exist in this land

You spelled Gym wrong….

[Paul Pless]

He's nowhere near as rich as he claimed- or as he was for that matter.

how much do you think he got for selling nuclear secrets to the house of saud?

how much do you think he got for giving up our 'foreign intelligence assets' to putin?

^ what did you think was in the empty folders that were marked 'classified'?

[John Smith]

It appears as if his influence is waning, but appearances can be deceiving. A lot of legal entanglements will be untangling, and we'll see where it all leads.

[Ted Hoppe]

I love that shaggy.

[Osborne Russell]

To what extent is Merrimack Garland the problem in the hood up of an endightment of Trump.

That expression "hood up" is new too me. What does it mean?

[Osborne Russell]

It appears as if his influence is waning, but appearances can be deceiving. A lot of legal entanglements will be untangling, and we'll see where it all leads.

"Hitler's been sent to prison, we'll hear no more from him!"

[Hallam]

That expression "hood up" is new too me. What does it mean?

Should read hold up. I thought I corrected the typos but the post must have not registered! Typing on my iPhone is not the best.

[Garret]

Should read hold up. I thought I corrected the typos but the post must have not registered! Typing on my iPhone is not the best.

Besides, you really don't wanna look under the hood when it's Trump!

[Osborne Russell]

Here I thought I was going to learn some of that down south lingo.

[Tom Montgomery]

.
From The Philadelphia Inquirer: Former President Donald Trump posing earlier this month with former Philly mob boss Joey Merlino (right) and an unidentified friend of Merlino.

Merlino was convicted in 2001 in a racketeering case and served a decade in federal prison. He had claimed more recently to have left that life behind, moving to Boca Raton in Florida to work as maître d’ at an Italian restaurant named after him.

The restaurant closed after Merlino’s most recent run-in with the feds, which led to a two-year sentence in October 2018 when he pleaded guilty to a gambling-related charge. Merlino, after being sentenced, echoed comments from Trump at the time that were critical of witnesses who cooperate with federal investigators.

“President Trump is right — they’ve got to outlaw the flippers,” said Merlino, who was released from prison in July 2020.

https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pe...-20230123.html

[Garth Jones]

^Trump can't seem to lift his thumb all the way up any more..... Actually, he looks old and tired in that photo.

[skuthorp]

That expression "hood up" is new too me. What does it mean?

I am familiar with it , means 'you can't hide anything' or thereabouts as far as I know and supposedly originated in confirmance inspections of competition cars.

[Tom Montgomery]

.
Donald Trump and others will soon be charged with crimes.

[Nicholas Carey]

Actions have consequences — who knew?

Looks like the California Bar is moving to disbar John Eastman over his actions in planning TFG's attempt at a coup d'état.

https://newrepublic.com/maz/article/...ment-coup-plot

John Eastman’s Long, Ignominious Legal Career Might Be Coming to an End

It turns out there could be consequences for plotting to illegally overturn a presidential election.

Matt Ford

January 27, 2023

Donald Trump takes everything from his lawyers but legal advice. Many who have agreed to serve as his attorneys have ended up humiliated in the eyes of their peers; disgraced in the eyes of the public; ousted by colleagues at law firms, law schools, and legal groups; and even jailed for orchestrating crimes on his behalf. A few of them might not even be lawyers for much longer.

The California state bar announced on Thursday that it would begin disbarment proceedings against conservative lawyer John Eastman, who helped mastermind Trump’s attempt to stay in power after losing the 2020 election. Disbarment would make him ineligible to practice law in California and could imperil his ability to practice it elsewhere in the country.

George Cardona, the bar’s chief trial counsel, alleged that Eastman’s false public statements about the 2020 election amount to “moral turpitude, dishonesty, and corruption” in violation of the state’s professions code. “There is nothing more sacrosanct to our American democracy than free and fair elections and the peaceful transfer of power,” Cardona said in a statement. “For California attorneys, adherence to the U.S. and California Constitutions is their highest legal duty.”

The bar’s 38-page filing makes two central accusations against Eastman. One is that he developed his legal theories and gave legal advice based on “allegations of election fraud that he knew, or was grossly negligent in not knowing, were false.” The other is that his theory that then–Vice President Mike Pence could unilaterally decide the outcome of the presidential election on January 6, 2021, was so obviously wrong as a matter of history and law that “no reasonable attorney with expertise in constitutional or election law would have concluded that the Vice President was legally authorized to take the actions respondent proposed.”
.
.
.
If Eastman is ultimately disbarred, it would be a sudden end to an ignominious legal career. He is not very good at reading the Constitution or the law. In 2020, well before he began plotting to overturn that year’s election, he published a widely derided op-ed in Newsweek suggesting that vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris might be ineligible for that office because she was supposedly not a U.S. citizen at birth. You do not need to be a former Clarence Thomas clerk or a former Chapman University law professor, as Eastman is, to Google “Kamala Harris birthplace” and read “Oakland, California,” thus making her a natural-born citizen.

Eastman then suggested, however, that birthright citizenship itself might not be constitutional, a theory that characterizes much of his approach to the law during the 2020 election. The answer to any legal question is whatever John Eastman wants it to be, and if someone as misinformed as, say, the Supreme Court of the United States disagrees, they are also wrong and should correct themselves accordingly. This approach led him to conclude in an infamous set of memos after Election Day in 2020 that the Twelfth Amendment allows the vice president to throw out individual states’ electoral votes at his discretion and personally declare a winner. The point here is not to be right or correct—fortunately for Eastman, because he was neither—but to give a legalistic guise to a coup attempt.

Had Eastman merely published his memos on Twitter or Substack or the comment section of a local newspaper’s weekly restaurant review, his crackpot theories would have been harmless. But he brought them to then-President Donald Trump, who made them the centerpiece of a pressure campaign against Pence to carry them out. After Pence publicly refused, a mob of Trump supporters who had been summoned to the nation’s capital at Trump’s behest marched on Capitol Hill and stormed the building. We can only speculate what they would have done if they had found Pence or any of the lawmakers in the building during the joint session, but the makeshift gallows outside Capitol Hill that day, combined with the chants of “Hang Mike Pence!” that rang through the Capitol’s halls, gave us some hints.

The most important part of the bar’s notice is intent: It’s not enough for a lawyer to be wrong or even egregiously wrong; they must “know” or be “grossly negligent in not knowing” that their legal advice is based on falsehoods. Eastman’s habit of communicating by email, which I’ve praised before, has given us some evidence to support this. In December 2020, Eastman corresponded with a GOP state lawmaker in Pennsylvania who had asked about “legislative solutions to our current national predicament.” He advised that state lawmakers could, through some mathematical formula that he pulled out of thin air, extrapolate the “untainted” votes from the actual vote total and declare that to be the actual result by legislative resolution. In essence, he said they could just make it up. The voter fraud was coming from inside the house.

And on January 6, 2021, when exchanging emails with a lawyer for Pence who had called his theories “bull****,” Eastman responded with umbrage. “My bull****—seriously?” he fired back. “You think you can’t adjourn the session because the [Electoral Count Act of 1887, or ECA] says no adjournment, while the compelling evidence that the election was stolen continues to build and is already overwhelming.” After acknowledging that the ECA ruled out his theory, Eastman then blamed the attack on the Capitol on Pence himself. “The ‘siege’ is because YOU and your boss did not do what was necessary to allow this to be aired in a public way so the American people can see for themselves what happened,” he concluded. The bar’s notice said that these statements, made during and shortly after the attack, amounted to “moral turpitude.”

Eastman is not the only Trump lawyer facing the end of their legal career for their role in the 2020 coup attempt. A New York court suspended Rudy Giuliani’s license to practice law in 2021 for his voter fraud claims in court, while a D.C. bar discipline committee concluded last December that he violated professional rules, setting the stage for his potential disbarment in the district sometime this year. The Texas State Bar is also weighing whether to disbar Sidney Powell, of kraken-releasing infamy, for filing frivolous lawsuits after the 2020 election with false claims of voter fraud. Courts have also levied sanctions and fines against multiple Trump-aligned lawyers for their conduct during the pivotal months between Election Day and January 6.

It’s still unclear whether Trump himself will face any direct legal consequences for his actions other than his second impeachment. If he does, he’ll need lawyers to defend himself. And if his history of legal representation is any roadmap, they might need lawyers themselves. I am deeply skeptical that algorithmic chatbots like ChatGPT can ever replace genuine legal counsel. But if they are ever accepted by courts, then Trump will have finally found his perfect lawyer: something that says whatever he wants it to say and can’t be disbarred or sued for it.

[Chip-skiff]

Truer words were never spoken. . .

“We need a president who’s ready to hit the ground running on day one and boy, am I hitting the ground,” Trump told the New Hampshire state Republican party’s annual meeting.

[Tom Montgomery]

.
MAGA = Making Attorneys Get Attorneys

[skuthorp]

To what extent is Merrik Garland the problem in the hood up of an endightment of Trump. The DOJ has more than enough evidence. Kids her and others were saying any day now after the mid terms weeks ago and still nothing. It’s getting to look like corruption runs deeper than many suspect with regard to holding Trump in particular accountable. A question that has popped into my head is this: Is it Trump in particular or is it another issue, a political outcome and their best hope of achieving it is by using Trump as the vehicle. He gained so much ground they now see light at the end of what seemed a near impossible outcome? And that outcome is along the lines of weakening the democratic process or more importantly the process of government and accountability to such an extent that they can take control. Already for years with the Rebublicsn disruptive style it’s near impossible for any real advancement of a reformist agenda with policy that is obviously good for the nation.

The foot dragging by the Dems and thr DOJ etc stems from a desire NOT to reate a precedent by jailing an ex President. A case of 'there but for……..' etc.

[ron ll]

The foot dragging by the Dems and thr DOJ etc stems from a desire NOT to reate a precedent by jailing an ex President. A case of 'there but for……..' etc.

You think the Republicans wouldn’t do it if they had a chance?

[Peerie Maa]

You think the Republicans wouldn’t do it if they had a chance?

Possibly, but they cannot think past bedtime, let alone next election.

[icyb]

^ thank the lord that true patriots like jim jordan still exist in this land

I could go all Joe on Gym

[shortboot]

If Trump is toast biden is burnt toast and he gets thrown out to feed the birds.

[Hallam]

……..and down on the animal farm, who feeds from the trough of Trump?