Special guest David Lat joins Ken White to discuss 'Trump Derangement Syndrome' among lawyers defending Donald Trump, highlighting attorneys who went astray, such as Jeffrey Clark and John Eastman. They also delve into Rudy Giuliani's fall from grace and critique Supreme Court fantasies. The hosts express gratitude to listeners and remind them to donate.
The phenomenon of 'Trump Derangement Syndrome' affects both liberals and conservatives, as showcased by the descent of once-respected lawyers like Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell into questionable legal and political tactics.
The incidents involving attorneys Jeffrey Clark and John Eastman highlight the role of lawyers in both creating and preventing legal problems, with Clark attempting to overturn election results and Eastman descending into pushing fringe conspiracy theories to reverse the election outcome.
Deep dives
The descent of conservative lawyers into Trump Derangement Syndrome
The podcast episode discusses the phenomenon of 'Trump Derangement Syndrome' affecting not just liberals, but also conservatives. The host interviews guest David Lat, a lawyer and journalist, who explores how prominent conservative lawyers, such as Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, Jeffrey Clark, and John Eastman, seemingly lost their sanity in defending Donald Trump. Lat highlights their once-respectable backgrounds and how they descended into questionable legal and political tactics. The episode also touches on the controversy around the Federalist Society and whether they should take a stance against these lawyers.
Jeffrey Clark's involvement in an attempted election overturn
Clark, a well-respected lawyer, went from relative obscurity to national attention when he was accused of conspiring with Trump to overturn the 2020 election results. According to reports, Clark sought to replace Acting Attorney General Jeff Rosen and use his position to pressure Georgia lawmakers into changing the state's election outcome. However, other Department of Justice officials threatened to resign en masse, forcing Trump to abandon the plan. The incident highlights the role of lawyers in both creating and preventing legal problems.
The downfall of John Eastman from respected lawyer to conspiracy propagator
Eastman, a former law professor and highly regarded conservative lawyer, descended into pushing fringe conspiracy theories and attempting to reverse the election results. He gained attention for questioning Kamala Harris's eligibility to be vice president and later supported legal efforts to overturn the election outcome. Eastman even spoke at the January 6 rally, promoting baseless claims and inciting opposition to the election results. This drastic transformation showcases the stark departure from his once-respected legal career.
What is ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’? It’s a condition that afflicts conservatives and liberals alike – and lawyers in particular. This week, Ken White and special guest David Lat discuss the attorneys that, uh, have gone astray defending Donald Trump.
Ken White and special guest David Lat discuss Jeffrey Clark, who tried to oust fellow Jeffrey (Rosen) as acting attorney general and get Georgia to change its election results. John Eastman, a respected attorney and former clerk to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, is now under fire for a memo he wrote outlining six steps for handing the presidency back to Donald Trump. Perhaps two of the most public examples of what David calls TDS are that of Rudy Giuliani, once the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and “America’s mayor,” and Sidney Powell, a top law school graduate and respected appellate attorney, who is now most known for representing Michael Flynn, legal challenges of the 2020 election, and being sued for defamation by Dominion Voting Systems.
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