Former US attorney John Durham has indicted attorney Michael Sussman for making false statements to federal officials. The podcast discusses the unusual aspects of this indictment. They also analyze a memo produced by a lawyer for the Trump campaign, arguing that Mike Pence had the authority to set aside election results and declare Donald Trump the lawful president. Other topics include Alan Weisselberg's potential indictment, Trump's lawsuit against Mary Trump, and the risks of opening litigation for a two-decade-old financial settlement.
Former US attorney John Durham has indicted attorney Michael Sussman for making false statements to federal officials in the Trump campaign investigation, raising questions about the case's strength and the unusual circumstances surrounding it.
Law professor John Eastman's theory suggesting that the Vice President could set aside electoral college votes and declare a different winner in the presidential election raised concerns about election result overturning and the limits of the Vice President's power.
Deep dives
The Durham Investigation and Indictment of Michael Sussman
The former US attorney for Connecticut, John Durham, continues his investigation into the origins of the 2016 Trump campaign investigation. Durham has brought an indictment against attorney Michael Sussman for allegedly making false statements to federal officials. Sussman is accused of falsely claiming that he was not representing any client when approaching the FBI with research material on Trump-Russia links during the 2016 campaign. The indictment has raised questions about the strength of the case and the unusual circumstances surrounding the investigation.
Indictment of Jesse Benton and Campaign Finance Violations
Jesse Benton, a former Republican political operative, has been indicted for allegedly raising foreign funds to support Donald Trump's campaign in 2016. Benton is accused of facilitating a meeting between a Russian national and Trump by accepting a $100,000 wire transfer and purchasing a $25,000 ticket to an RNC fundraising event. The indictment raises concerns about the extent of foreign involvement in the 2016 election and the potential legal consequences for those involved in campaign finance violations.
John Eastman's Theory on Vice President's Power
John Eastman, a law professor, proposed a theory that the Vice President could have the ability to set aside electoral college votes and declare a different winner in the presidential election. This theory was debunked by legal experts who argued that it lacked legal basis and was based on flawed interpretations of the Constitution. The theory raised concerns about attempts to overturn election results and the limits of the Vice President's power.
Donald Trump's Lawsuit Against Mary Trump and the New York Times
Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against his niece, Mary Trump, and the New York Times, alleging that they induced her to violate a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and provide financial information about him to the newspaper. Trump is seeking $100 million in damages. Legal experts question the viability of the lawsuit, as Mary Trump and the New York Times are not parties to the NDA, and the agreement itself may not be enforceable or clear enough to prevent disclosure of the information.
John Durham, the former US attorney who was appointed special counsel to investigate the origins of the investigation into the 2016 Trump campaign and its alleged connections to Russia, has turned an indictment. A grand jury has indicted Michael Sussmann, an attorney at election law firm Perkins Coie, for making false statements to federal officials. Good lawyers and listeners of this podcast know that’s 1001 violation. But what’s unusual about this one? Ken and Josh talk through the interesting points of this indictment.
Then: John Eastman, a lawyer for the Trump campaign, produced an internal memo arguing that former Vice President Mike Pence had the legal and constitutional authority to set aside the results of the election and declare Donald Trump the lawful president of the United States. Uh, was that illegal? Was it ethical? Bad lawyering?
Plus: it’s sort-of news that Allen Weisselberg’s attorney said he “expects” more indictments, why Donald Trump is suing his niece Mary, and campaign finance indictments are rare but not as rare as two presidential pardons.
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