Serious Trouble

A sandwich-throwing incident leads to a surprising jury acquittal, raising questions about jury nullification and justice. The podcast explores procedural issues in the Comey case and the challenges facing the Justice Department, from staffing shortages to prioritizing simpler prosecutions. Listeners also hear about Fannie Mae investigations and Bill Pulte's controversial political accountability efforts. The hosts dissect these intriguing topics, leaving you with plenty to ponder.

Two significant court rulings mandate the Trump administration to continue SNAP funding, stirring up political complexities amid a potential government shutdown. The podcast dives into the challenges of nationwide injunctions and litigation speed regarding food assistance. Additionally, it explores new motions in the James Comey case, analyzing the intricacies of testimony and legal defenses. There’s also an insight into ICE enforcement tactics in Chicago, revealing the messy intersection of law and politics.

This week, the discussion revolves around James Comey and Letitia James challenging criminal charges. The hosts explore the implications of Halligan’s role in grand jury proceedings and draw parallels to Barry Bonds' legal troubles. They also dive into controversy over press communication by the DOJ, examine a weak defamation lawsuit, and consider the D.C. bar's proposed restrictions on law firm settlements. Plus, there's an in-depth analysis of Ninth Circuit actions on national guard cases and debates over judicial misuse of AI.

This week delves into the intriguing indictment of John Bolton, highlighting the differences from Comey's case. Trump demands $230 million from the DOJ, stirring up debates on prosecution motives. The podcast also uncovers two outrageous NBA-related indictments involving rigged poker games and insider betting scandals. With mafia ties and complex legal issues, these cases are full of jaw-dropping details. Additionally, the hosts discuss developments in lawsuits regarding National Guard deployments and updates on Hunter Biden litigation.

The hosts dive into the indictment of Letitia James, exploring its political implications and questionable legal interpretations. They discuss the fallout of Ghislaine Maxwell's transfer to Club Fed and how it affects fellow inmates. In a surprising turn, Drake loses his defamation lawsuit against his label, with the court emphasizing that rap lyrics are opinion. Plus, a controversial ruling on school apparel catches attention, and U.S. Attorney replacements reveal political pressure in prosecutorial decisions.

James Comey's upcoming trial date is set for January 5, and his legal team is gearing up for a swift defense. The implications of a private message from the president to the Attorney General could play a crucial role in claims of vindictive prosecution. The podcast also dives into the complexities of Sean Combs' sentencing, exploring how wealth and fame influence legal outcomes. Plus, a shocking allegation connects an Uber driver to a major fire, with AI evidence making an unexpected appearance in the case.

This week dives into the indictment of James Comey, exploring the implications of a weak grand jury vote. The hosts discuss the unique strategy of using local grand juries to secure indictments and the potential legal setbacks for Comey. They also investigate the FBI's involvement in the Tom Homan inquiry and critique judicial practices regarding prosecutorial tactics. Additionally, a notable ruling against the Trump administration over immigrant rights and the ramifications of recent legal cases highlight the tumultuous landscape of American justice.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.serioustrouble.showJames Comey has been indicted, charged with making a false statement and obstruction of justice. Now, the government will try to prove he lied to Congress when he said he never “authorized someone else at the FBI to be an anonymous source in news reports” about the investigation of Hillary Clinton’s emails, even though he had, in fact, authorized “Person 3” to do this. But — who will prosecutors say Comey did authorize?That’s our conversation for free listeners. Paying subscribers also get our conversation about:* The Trump administration’s motion for the Supreme Court to issue a stay letting them kick Lisa Cook off the Federal Reserve Board for now, and the ways the court may try to avoid having to weigh in on the exact special, unique historical nature that makes the Federal Reserve special, unique, and not subject to the decision it’s surely about to issue overturning Humphrey’s Executor;* The guilty verdict against Ryan Routh and a judge’s admonishment of prosecutors in the case against Luigi Mangione;* What legal exposure Tom Homan could have faced if he really accepted $50,000 cash in a Cava bag; and* Updates on Trump’s try-hard defamation litigation against the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.serioustrouble.showDisney has “indefinitely” ceased airing Jimmy Kimmel Live under pressure from FCC chairman Brandon Carr and from Nexstar and Sinclair, two major owners of ABC affiliate stations, which themselves faced significant pressure from Carr. It is illegal for federal officials to “jawbone” private actors into punishing other private actors for their speech, but for relief to be possible, there has to be a pretty clear connection between the jawboning and the speech restriction. Listen for our analysis, and who could even sue here.Paying subscribers, there’s much more this week including:* Our look at the first criminal charges against Tyler Robinson, who faces the death penalty in Utah.* A look at Donald Trump’s new defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, and Nina Jankowicz’s loss on appeal in her suit against Fox News (about which she is incensed).* Why Lisa Cook remains on the Federal Reserve Board, for now (it has to do with the Fed being a special, unique entity in a long historical tradition).* The reason for the dismissal of terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione, and a look at why, in New York, a trial court is “Supreme” but premeditated murder is merely “second degree.”* And why Judge Tanya Chutkan found there was nothing she could do for migrants whose removals to Ghana sure appeared designed to get them back to their home countries, despite having court orders prohibiting their removal to those countries.Visit serioustrouble.show to upgrade your subscription.

This week’s show takes a look at federal charges in the widely discussed Charlotte train murder case. Murder, of course, is not generally a federal crime, but because the murder happened on a train, the Feds have charged it as a violation of 18 USC § 1992, which prohibits “an act, including the use of a dangerous weapon, with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury to any person” in various transportation-related places, including on train tracks.Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will soon weigh in on the IEEPA tariffs case — the court has set a fast briefing schedule and will hear arguments in June. Also in this episode: The Babylon Bee lawsuit that got California’s anti-deepfake law thrown out as unconstitutional; FBI agents suing over their political terminations (and why they stand a better chance in the courts than the various fired commissioners); the collapse of Michigan’s fake elector prosecution; another court decision upholding a judgment E. Jean Carroll won from President Trump; and the unhinged pro-se filings from would-be Trump assassin Ryan Wesley Routh (filed, of course, to Judge Aileen Cannon).Visit serioustrouble.show to find a transcript of this episode. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.serioustrouble.show/subscribe