Former Trump lawyer slams ex-president’s latest legal strategy
At least one of Donald Trump’s former lawyers appears to have a pretty low opinion of the newest defence that the ex-president’s legal team is trying out for size. Ty Cobb, former White House counsel, was speaking on CNN when he was asked about a whirlwind Sunday morning media tour embarked upon by John Lauro, one of Mr Trump’s currently defence attorneys. On several shows across the major TV networks, Mr Lauro displayed the Trump camp’s newest excuse for the former president’s efforts to pressure various Republican officials to interfere with state or federal election processes on his behalf, including his vice president, Mike Pence. In multiple interviews, Mr Lauro used the same word — “aspirational” — to describe Mr Trump’s urgings for Mr Pence to attempt to halt the Senate’s process certifying the 2020 election that he did to describe a phone call in which the former president was heard urging Georgia officials to “find” thousands of votes for him that did not exist. Mr Cobb was asked by CNN’s Erin Burnett whether there was any First Amendment defence that would come into play when a politician or elected official requests that a subordinate violate the law. “Not at all. I’m not aware of the ‘aspirational’ defence or the free speech defence to a gang leader saying to two of his subordinates, ‘I need you two to please rob a bank for me,’ and they do it. That’s aspirational but it leads to a crime and that’s exactly what Trump did with Pence,” Mr Cobb responded. His analysis appeared to poke a hole cleanly through the argument that the Trump team has made all weekend — that merely encouraging a crime to be committed is not an offence. Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty to all of the 78 criminal charges that the former president is accused of, including the four related to the 2020 election. But the “aspirational” defence appears to be the closest the Trump team has come to acknowledging that the actions the president requested, if carried out, would have been blatantly illegal. DoJ special counsel Jack Smith has argued that Mr Trump conspired to violate the constitutional rights of millions of Americans when he worked to change the results of the 2020 election even after losing all of his court challenges and being told, repeatedly, by his own expert authorities that his claims of election fraud were false. The ex-president is separately charged in two other cases involving classified documents retained from the White House as well as his own hush payments to a porn star in 2016. Despite his professed innocence, his lawyers have said that they expect more charges related to the 2020 election to be handed down in Georgia. His latest criminal indictment has been understood by numerous experts to have been engineered by the Justice Department for speed in the hopes that it will play out, one way or another, before the 2024 presidential election concludes. Mr Trump remains the dominant candidate in the Republican presidential primary. Read More Trump lawyer calls Trump request to Pence for Jan 6 ‘aspirational’ Chris Christie thinks this ex-Trump aide has already flipped Pence says he's now met polling, donor qualifications for first Republican debate Ron DeSantis replaces campaign manager as 2024 bid falters Gavin Newsom rips DeSantis terms for debate: ‘What a joke’ Trump-appointed judge orders Southwest attorneys to take ‘religious liberty training’ from right-wing group
2023-08-09 04:18
Trump rails against ‘bulls***’ charges in latest angry rant over indictment
Former president Donald Trump decried the multiple charges and indictments, calling them “bulls***,” during a rally in New Hampshire on Tuesday afternoon. Mr Trump spoke during a rally in the state that holds the first presidential primary and the one that gave him his first primary win in 2016. The twice-impeached and now three-times-indicted former president said that President Joe Biden’s administration indicted him to hamper his 2024 run despite the fact that Attorney General Merrick Garland nominated Special Counsel Jack Smith to handle the probes into Mr Trump independently. “How can my corrupt political opponent, crooked Joe Biden put me on trial during an election campaign that I'm winning by a lot, but forcing me nevertheless to spend time and money away from the campaign trail in order to fight bogus made up accusations and charges,” he said. “So what they're doing, I'm sorry, I won't be able to go to Iowa today. I won't be able to go to New Hampshire today because I'm sitting in a courtroom on bulls**t because his Attorney General charged me,” he said. In response, attendees in Windham proceeded to chant “bulls**t.” Last week, a federal grand jury indicted Read More Pence says he's now met polling, donor qualifications for first Republican debate Thousands in Haiti march to demand safety from violent gangs as killings and kidnappings soar New Hampshire is sued over removal of marker dedicated to Communist Party leader
2023-08-09 03:54
Bollywood superstar Alia Bhatt makes her Hollywood debut in Netflix's ‘Heart of Stone’
Alia Bhatt had been weighing her Hollywood options for a few years
2023-08-09 03:49
Friends gather in Philadelphia to remember O'Shae Sibley, killed in a confrontation over dancing
A funeral was held in Philadelphia for O’Shae Sibley, who was fatally stabbed after he confronted teenagers who taunted his group of gay, Black friends as they danced at a New York City gas station
2023-08-09 03:45
‘Native American’ or ‘Indigenous’? Journalism group rethinks name
The Native American Journalists Association is aiming to become more inclusive as its members vote on whether to rebrand as the Indigenous Journalists Association
2023-08-09 03:26
DJ Casper, Chicago disc jockey and creator of 'Cha Cha Slide,' dies after battle with cancer
Willie Perry Jr., a Chicago disc jockey known as “DJ Casper” and creator of the iconic “Cha Cha Slide” dance, has died
2023-08-09 03:22
Jay-Z's Made In America fest canceled due to 'severe circumstances outside of production control'
Jay-Z’s annual Made in America festival in Philadelphia has been canceled
2023-08-09 03:18
Pence rolls out energy plan with goal to make US top energy producer by 2040
Former Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday outlined his energy policy plan with the goal to overtake China as the world's top energy producer by 2040.
2023-08-09 03:16
US Supreme Court restores Biden's curbs on homemade 'ghost guns' - for now
By Andrew Chung (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday granted a request by President Joe Biden's administration to reinstate
2023-08-09 03:16
Montgomery police announce arrest warrants issued for 3 men in massive brawl at Alabama riverfront dock
Montgomery Police announced Tuesday arrest warrants were issued for three men in the chaotic brawl at the Alabama city's riverfront dock that was captured on video and showed punches thrown, people hit with chairs and at least one person tossed into the water. One of those men has surrendered and is in custody, police said.
2023-08-09 02:58
Mike Rockenfeller to replace suspended Noah Gragson in next NASCAR Cup Series races
Two-time LeMans winner Mike Rockenfeller has been chosen to replace suspended driver Noah Gragson in the next two NASCAR Cup Series races
2023-08-09 02:55
6-year-old boy who shot teacher later boasted about it, affidavit says
A 6-year-old who shot his teacher in January later boasted in a conversation with a school employee that "I shot that b[ ] dead," according to unsealed redacted search warrants.
2023-08-09 02:49
