Tag

Legal Politics

All articles tagged with #legal politics

legal-politics6 months ago

Sen. Nicole Mitchell's Burglary Trial Nears Verdict

Sen. Nicole Mitchell's burglary case has gone to jury deliberation after a multi-day trial, where she faces charges of attempted burglary and possession of burglary tools. The trial focused on her entry into her stepmother's home, with prosecutors emphasizing her admitted actions and alleged deception, while her defense argued for reasonable doubt, citing her character and intentions. The outcome could impact the balance of power in the Minnesota Senate.

legal-politics1 year ago

"Legal Battle Over Trump's $175 Million Fraud Bond Escalates"

The New York Attorney General's office is seeking to void a $175 million bond posted by former President Donald Trump to secure a larger monetary damage award in his civil business fraud case, citing insufficient identifiable collateral and concerns about the surety company's qualifications. The AG's office opposes Trump's motion to justify the insurer and is asking for a replacement bond within seven days. Trump was found liable for fraud and ordered to pay $454 million in damages, which is growing with interest as he appeals the verdict.

legal-politics1 year ago

Smartmatic settles defamation lawsuits with conservative networks

Smartmatic has settled a defamation lawsuit with One America News Network (OAN) over false claims about the 2020 election, with details of the settlement remaining confidential. The lawsuit, filed in 2021, accused OAN of spreading disinformation about Smartmatic's involvement in the election. The settlement comes after OAN apparently obtained a spreadsheet with Smartmatic employees' passwords, and the network's internal documents will not become public as a result. This is part of a series of defamation cases seeking to hold media outlets accountable for spreading false information about the 2020 election, with Smartmatic still having a pending $2.7bn defamation lawsuit against Fox. Legal scholars are closely monitoring these cases to gauge the effectiveness of defamation law in combating misinformation.

legal-politics1 year ago

"Smartmatic Settles Lawsuit Against OAN Over 2020 Election Claims"

Voting technology company Smartmatic settles defamation lawsuit against One America News Network over false claims related to the 2020 election, marking the latest legal action by voting equipment companies targeted by conspiracy theories. Smartmatic's limited use in the election made it an odd target, but false claims linking the company to a conspiracy to flip the election gained traction. Similar lawsuits are ongoing against Fox News and Newsmax, while Dominion Voting Systems settled with Fox News for $787 million last year. The conspiracy theories have been debunked, with numerous reviews affirming Biden's victory, and Trump is facing legal challenges related to his attempts to overturn the election results.

legal-politics1 year ago

Supreme Court Rulings Shake Up Property Rights and Legislative Powers

The Supreme Court ruled that developers and home builders in California may challenge impact fees imposed by cities and counties for public improvements, potentially leading to the construction of more affordable housing. The decision could have wide impact in California, where local governments increasingly rely on impact fees to finance projects. The ruling opens the door for challenges to these fees as an unconstitutional taking of private property, but does not specify when such fees become unfair and unconstitutional. The case will now go back to the California courts, and the decision is seen as a significant victory for property rights.

legal-politics1 year ago

"Former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg Sentenced to 5 Months in Jail for Perjury"

New York Attorney General Letitia James, after winning a $454 million judgment against Donald Trump for fraud, is now pursuing claims that Trump withheld evidence from her fraud probe. She is seeking additional fines under NY law if evidence subpoenaed was lost or destroyed. The focus is on three internal Trump Organization email chains from 2016 that were not turned over to her office, which were used as evidence in sending former Trump CFO Allen Weisselberg to jail for perjury. The AG's office is pushing for a forensic review to determine if the emails were in the possession of the Trump Organization and why they were never turned over, potentially seeking sanctions for spoliation.

legal-politics1 year ago

"Special Counsel Urges SCOTUS to Reject Trump's Immunity Claim"

The special counsel pursuing federal criminal charges against Donald Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election loss urged the U.S. Supreme Court to reject Trump's bid for immunity from prosecution, arguing that no person is above the law. The case is set to be argued on April 25, with Trump appealing a lower court's rejection of his immunity request. The special counsel and a group of retired military officers and national security officials have backed the rejection of Trump's claim of immunity, while Trump and his allies continue to argue that a former president has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts.

legal-politics1 year ago

"Fani Willis Stands Firm Against Trump's Attempt to Remove Her from Georgia Election Subversion Case"

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is resisting attempts by Donald Trump and his co-defendants to disqualify her office from prosecuting the Georgia election subversion case, arguing that there was no conflict of interest and no misconduct. The appeals court is considering the request to review the initial ruling that allowed Willis to remain on the case, while Trump's legal team is also seeking to have the indictment tossed on First Amendment grounds. Willis plans to continue with the prosecution, aiming to put Trump and his co-defendants on trial before the November presidential election.

legal-politics1 year ago

Legal Battle Escalates: Aileen Cannon's Ongoing Clash in Trump Case

Former U.S. attorney and federal prosecutor Joyce Vance believes that the issues surrounding recent rulings by Judge Aileen Cannon in Donald Trump's classified documents trial are far from over, as the judge's decisions have left ambiguity and potential for appeal. The case in Florida involves the retaining of classified documents at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, and federal prosecutors argue that the Presidential Records Act should not apply. Cannon's handling of the case has prompted criticism and concerns about potential delays, with the prosecution likely to appeal outstanding issues to a higher court before the trial begins in late May.

legal-politics1 year ago

"Letitia James Stunned by Trump's Secret Bond Deal: A $175 Million Fraud?"

New York Attorney General Letitia James "stunned" former President Donald Trump after his $175 million bond was rejected in his civil fraud case, leading to a new hearing with Judge Engoron. Mary Trump commented on the rejected bond, emphasizing the spotlight on the financial capabilities of the surety company chosen by Trump. James also sought confirmation to communicate with the overseer of The Trump Organization's finances, Barbara Jones, without Trump's lawyers being present.

legal-politics1 year ago

"Judge Denies Trump's Bids to Dismiss Classified Docs and Georgia Election Cases"

Former President Donald Trump lost attempts to dismiss criminal charges in Florida and Georgia, with judges rejecting his arguments related to mishandling classified documents and election interference. The rulings come as Trump faces upcoming criminal trials, including the first hush money trial set to begin jury selection in less than two weeks. While the rulings were losses for Trump, they also pushed back on special counsel Jack Smith's criticisms, with the judge emphasizing that her orders should not be misconstrued as the final word on any essential piece of the case.

legal-politics1 year ago

"Judge Denies Trump's Bid to Dismiss Classified Documents Case"

A federal judge has denied former President Donald Trump's attempt to have his classified documents case dismissed based on the Presidential Records Act. Trump's attorneys argued that he should have custody of the documents in question, even after his presidency, but the judge rejected this argument. The judge also criticized the special counsel's filing and dismissed the suggestion that she should clarify her position on jury instructions. Trump has pleaded not guilty to 37 criminal counts related to his handling of classified materials and has denounced the probe as a political witch hunt.

legal-politics1 year ago

"Judge Denies Trump's Request to Delay Hush-Money Trial for Supreme Court Ruling"

A judge rejected Donald Trump's request to delay his hush-money trial until the Supreme Court rules on presidential immunity claims he raised in another case, ruling it untimely and questioning the sincerity of the motion. Trump contends he is immune from prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office. The hush-money case involves allegations that Trump falsified his company’s records to hide payments to his former lawyer Michael Cohen, and the trial is scheduled to begin on April 15. Trump and his lawyers have been lobbying for delays, including arguing for the trial to be delayed indefinitely until prejudicial media coverage dissipates.

legal-politics1 year ago

"Trump's Legal Maneuvers and Judicial Warnings in Hush Money Case"

Donald Trump's lawyers are seeking the recusal of Judge Juan Merchan from the hush money trial, citing his daughter's work for a digital consulting firm tied to Democratic clients as creating a financial interest. Prosecutors argue that the defense's request is factually flawed and should be denied, emphasizing that there is no direct connection between the judge and the case. The trial is set to begin on April 15 in New York City.