All articles tagged with #legal experts
A federal jury rejected the government's racketeering conspiracy claim against Sean 'Diddy' Combs, with legal experts noting that the case's allegations of organized crime-like behavior were a stretch and not surprising to be dismissed.
President Trump has ordered an investigation into whether President Biden used an autopen to sign documents, amid broader concerns about Biden's cognitive health and Trump's claims of conspiracy. Experts note autopen use is common and does not invalidate presidential actions, and legal opinions suggest such signatures are constitutionally valid. The controversy is part of ongoing political disputes and scrutiny of Biden's mental fitness.
Jay-Z, facing a civil lawsuit alleging he raped a 13-year-old girl in 2000, has denied the accusations and accused the plaintiff's lawyer of extortion. Legal experts suggest that while criminal charges could be pursued, they may be hindered by the statute of limitations and evidentiary challenges. Jay-Z's attorney has requested the plaintiff's identity be revealed or the case dismissed. The case is under intense media scrutiny, and Jay-Z has filed a separate lawsuit against the plaintiff's lawyer for extortion. No court dates have been set yet.
Legal experts express concern over the broad pardon granted to Hunter Biden, questioning its implications and potential impact on the Biden administration's credibility. The decision has sparked controversy and debate over its appropriateness and the message it sends regarding accountability and justice.
Donald Trump, convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments to Stormy Daniels, faces possible community service as part of his sentencing. Legal experts suggest he is unlikely to receive prison time due to the non-violent nature of his crimes and lack of prior convictions. Instead, he may be sentenced to probation, conditional discharge, or community service tasks such as trash pickup or graffiti cleanup. Trump's legal team plans to appeal the verdict, arguing potential jury bias and judicial prejudice.
CNN's Laura Coates explores the potential for an unfair "sleeper" juror to infiltrate the Trump jury selection process and its implications for the trial, prompting legal experts to weigh in on the matter.
Legal experts predict that former President Donald Trump has run out of options to delay the start of his Manhattan hush-money trial, with three appellate judges rejecting emergency delay bids. Jury selection is set to begin as scheduled on Monday, and mid-trial legal delays are unlikely. Trump's lawyers still have three appellate efforts underway, but even if successful, they are unlikely to stop or pause the trial. However, by raising constitutional issues in their failed delay bids, Trump's legal team may be laying the groundwork to challenge his conviction in higher courts.
Legal experts are concerned about a violent image shared by Donald Trump on social media, depicting President Joe Biden kidnapped and tied up, with a historian warning of the dangers of Trump's recirculation of the image. A constitutional law professor noted that the image came in the "background" of Trump's online attacks on the daughter of the New York judge overseeing his upcoming hush-money trial, prompting concerns about the need for the judge to take action to control the situation.
Legal experts and lawmakers are raising concerns about the potential for presidential abuse of the Insurrection Act, which grants the president broad powers to deploy the military on American soil during emergencies. They are advocating for updates to the law to limit the president's authority, including clarifying the circumstances for its use, requiring consultation with state officials and Congress, and imposing time limits on its deployment. The recent history of attempts to exploit the law, including during the Capitol riot and the potential use by former President Trump, has prompted bipartisan calls for reform to prevent potential abuse by any future president.
Legal experts suggest that former President Donald Trump could argue that the $454 million judgment in the New York civil fraud case violates his constitutional rights, specifically the Eighth Amendment's ban on "excessive fines." The case involves allegations of inflating property values to secure better loan rates, with experts debating whether the judgment constitutes a punitive fine. While historically the Eighth Amendment has applied to criminal cases, recent Supreme Court decisions suggest that it could be invoked in civil cases as well.
Judge Aileen Cannon, overseeing Donald Trump's classified-documents trial, has been criticized for requesting competing scenarios from both sides regarding the interpretation of the Presidential Records Act to be given to the jury before deliberations. Legal experts have condemned this request, with some calling it "legally insane." Trump is seeking to dismiss the federal case, claiming the PRA allowed him to determine the sensitive materials he took from the White House as his personal property. The trial is scheduled for May 20, but Cannon is expected to postpone the start of proceedings in a future decision.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene demanded the recusal of Judge Scott McAfee in the Fani Willis case, citing his past association with Willis and a campaign donation. Legal experts dismissed Greene's arguments, emphasizing that there was no sufficient basis for judicial recusal and that McAfee's ruling was critical of Willis' behavior. Despite the controversy, Willis is allowed to remain on the Trump criminal case, leading to outrage from Greene and criticism from legal professionals who refuted her claims of bias and conflict of interest.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is expected to refile three charges against former President Donald Trump after a judge dismissed them due to a lack of detail. Legal experts predict that Willis will amend and refile the charges, emphasizing that if the charges were important enough to bring in the first place, they can be fixed relatively easily. Trump's attorney welcomed the decision as a "step in the right direction," while Willis and a special prosecutor appointed by her face claims of an inappropriate romantic relationship and are under investigation by the Georgia state Senate. Trump is also facing three other criminal trials and has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
The Supreme Court has agreed to review former President Donald Trump's claims of immunity from prosecution related to charges of election subversion, potentially delaying his trial until after the 2024 election. Legal experts believe that even with a conservative-leaning court, it's unlikely that Trump will prevail in his immunity claims. The court's decision to hear the case is seen as a win for Trump, but experts doubt that the court will grant him carte blanche presidential immunity, and they expect any ruling to be narrow.
Legal experts suggest that Vince McMahon's non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with women may not be enforceable due to lack of specificity, potential breach of contract, and poor drafting. If proven unenforceable, this could allow the women who signed them to share their stories publicly, potentially impacting McMahon's legal troubles and the ongoing federal investigation.