{"id":2273370,"date":"2024-06-21T10:19:02","date_gmt":"2024-06-21T14:19:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/this-week-in-lawfare-land-incoming-scotus-decisions-could-hamstring-jack-smith\/"},"modified":"2024-06-21T10:21:30","modified_gmt":"2024-06-21T14:21:30","slug":"this-week-in-lawfare-land-incoming-scotus-decisions-could-hamstring-jack-smith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/this-week-in-lawfare-land-incoming-scotus-decisions-could-hamstring-jack-smith\/","title":{"rendered":"This Week in Lawfare: Upcoming SCOTUS Decisions May Limit Jack Smith"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthis-week-in-lawfare-land-incoming-scotus-decisions-could-hamstring-jack-smith%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2273370&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The legal proceedings against former President Donald \u2063Trump \u2063have seen \u2062significant developments across \u200bvarious\u200c jurisdictions. In Manhattan, New \u200cYork, DA Alvin Bragg secured a conviction against Trump \u2064with\u2062 a\u2062 guilty verdict on 34 felony charges related to falsifying business records, involving a payment to\u200d Stormy Daniels. Trump&#8217;s conviction\u200b marks the first time a former U.S. president\u2062 has been convicted \u200bof a felony, with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-sets-trump-sentencing-date-four-days-before-gop-convention\/\" title=\"Judge schedules Trump sentencing just before GOP convention\">sentencing date set<\/a> for \u2064July 11.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, in Fulton County, Georgia, Trump\u200c faces 13 felony \u200bcounts, including racketeering\u200c charges over \u200bhis actions challenging the 2020 election\u2064 results. This case is currently paused\u200b as the Georgia Court of Appeals considers\u2063 an appeal concerning the disqualification of District Attorney Fani \u2063Willis.<\/p>\n<p>At the federal level, Trump faces charges\u2063 in the\u2063 Southern District of \u2064Florida for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-launches-2024-presidential-bid\/\" title=\"Trump Launches 2024 Presidential Bid\">allegedly mishandling classified documents<\/a>,\u200b with Special Counsel Jack Smith overseeing the prosecution. The case has been postponed indefinitely, with upcoming hearings on the constitutionality of Smith&#8217;s \u2064appointment.<\/p>\n<p>In Washington, \u2064D.C., Trump \u2062has been charged with \u200bconspiracy and obstruction related to\u2063 his speech\u200d and\u2062 actions on January 6, 2021. The case is in limbo, waiting for the \u200bSupreme\u200c Court\u2019s decisions on presidential immunity and the application of \u200dan <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/proud-boys-leader-ethan-nordean-handed-record-18-year-prison-term-for-jan-6-attack\/\" title=\"Ethan Nordean, Proud Boys leader, gets historic 18-year sentence for Jan. 6 assault.\">evidence-tampering statute<\/a> in relation to the January 6 \u2064defendants, which could impact Trump&#8217;s \u2064charges.<\/p>\n<p>Trump&#8217;s legal challenges are complex and\u200c multifacated, spanning multiple states and\u2064 involving various aspects of law. The outcomes of these cases could have significant implications for \u2064his future political activities.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-content\">\n<p>Following the criminal trial in Manhattan, the legal proceedings against President Trump have slowed to nearly a halt. <\/p>\n<p>The next major developments will likely be the U.S. Supreme Court\u2019s decisions in two Trump-related cases. In one, the justices are weighing the extent of presidential immunity from prosecution; in the other, the court will rule on whether an evidence-tampering statute was <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/01\/02\/why-scotus-will-likely-smack-down-two-of-jack-smiths-get-trump-charges-as-non-crimes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">misapplied<\/a> when used to bring \u201cobstruction of an official proceeding\u201d charges against Jan. 6 defendants. Notably, Special Counsel Jack Smith has brought the same kind of charge against the former president.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2-long d-flex justify-content-center\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; \" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-657547206\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1379703300879-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-eb77a871449b16ad95545d305d3dddcb fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-eb77a871449b16ad95545d305d3dddcb\"><\/div>\n<p>Here\u2019s the latest information you need to know about each case.<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/this-week-in-lawfare-land\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read our previous installments here.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Manhattan, New York: Prosecution by DA Alvin Bragg for NDA Payment<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>How we got here<\/strong>: In this New York state criminal case, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg \u2014 who The New York Times <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/04\/09\/magazine\/alvin-bragg-donald-trump-trial.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">acknowledged<\/a> had \u201ccampaigned as the best candidate to go after the former president\u201d \u2014\u00a0charged former President Donald Trump with 34 felony charges for alleged falsification of business records. Trump\u2019s former attorney Michael Cohen paid pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 presidential election as part of a nondisclosure agreement in which she agreed not to publicize her claims that she had an affair with Trump (who denies the allegations). Nondisclosure agreements are not illegal, but Bragg <a href=\"https:\/\/manhattanda.org\/district-attorney-bragg-announces-34-count-felony-indictment-of-former-president-donald-j-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">claims<\/a> Trump concealed the payment to help his 2016 election chances and in doing so was concealing a \u201ccrime.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>This criminal trial concluded on May 30, with the jury returning a guilty verdict on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. This case marks the first time a former U.S. president has been convicted of a felony. President Trump, who is expected to appeal the verdict, will be sentenced on July 11. <\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-51bf6b001945ee8ff5c5ec0103e6399a fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-6\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-51bf6b001945ee8ff5c5ec0103e6399a\"><\/div>\n<p>The conviction does not affect President Trump\u2019s ability to run for president, though it may present complications with his ability to run a modern presidential campaign. For instance, if he were to receive a sentence including home confinement, he may be forced to request permission from a New York State bureaucrat for permission to travel to hold a campaign rally.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Latest developments<\/strong>: On Tuesday, the New York Court of Appeals, which is the state\u2019s highest court, dismissed President Trump\u2019s bid to remove his gag order. The gag order remains in place even though the trial concluded on May 30. <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Fulton County, Georgia: Prosecution by DA Fani Willis for Questioning Election Results<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>How we got here<\/strong>: The Georgia state criminal case is helmed by District Attorney Fani Willis and her team of prosecutors \u2014 which until recently included Nathan Wade, with whom Willis had an improper romantic relationship. Willis charged Trump in August 2023 with 13 felony counts, including racketeering charges, related to his alleged attempt to challenge the 2020 election results in Georgia. This case is currently stalled while the Georgia Court of Appeals hears an appeal on whether Willis should be disqualified from the case.\u00a0The hearing is scheduled for Oct. 5, 2024.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Latest developments<\/strong>: On June 12, Fulton County prosecutors asked the Georgia Court of Appeals to dismiss Trump\u2019s appeal regarding whether District Attorney Fani Willis should be disqualified from the case. In a filing on Thursday, President Trump\u2019s legal team opposed the prosecutors\u2019 motion to dismiss and asserted that the motion was a \u201cdesperate bid to avoid disqualification.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-c6ff01bcaeaa4fb2ee4141e927f49654 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-10\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-c6ff01bcaeaa4fb2ee4141e927f49654\"><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Southern District of Florida: Prosecution by Biden DOJ for Handling of Classified Documents<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>How we got here<\/strong>: In this federal criminal case, special counsel Jack Smith and federal prosecutors with Biden\u2019s Justice Department <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/06\/09\/biden-doj-indicts-former-president-donald-trump-over-classified-documents-squabble\/\">charged former President Trump in June 2023 with 40 federal charges related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents<\/a> at his Mar-a-Lago residence. In early May, Judge Aileen Cannon postponed this trial indefinitely. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Latest developments: <\/strong>On Friday June 21, Judge Aileen Cannon will hear arguments about whether Special Counsel Jack Smith\u2019s appointment was constitutional. <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Washington, D.C.:\u00a0 Prosecution by Biden DOJ for Jan. 6 Speech<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>How we got here<\/strong>: In this federal criminal case, Special Counsel Jack Smith <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/08\/03\/jack-smiths-latest-indictment-is-legally-flawed-and-politically-suspect\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">charged former President Trump with four counts of conspiracy and obstruction<\/a> related to his actions on Jan. 6, 2021. President Trump\u2019s lawyers have argued that immunity extends to actions taken by a president while acting in his official capacity and that, in any event, the First Amendment protects his right to raise legitimate questions about a questionable election process.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Latest developments<\/strong>: This case is currently stalled while awaiting a ruling from the Supreme Court on former President Trump\u2019s immunity claim. The court <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scotusblog.com\/faqs-announcements-of-orders-and-opinions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">generally<\/a> issues its decisions by the end of June or early July. The court\u2019s imminent decision in <em>Fischer v. United States<\/em> on whether 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 1512, an evidence-tampering statute, can be used to prosecute Jan. 6 defendants for \u201cobstruction of an official proceeding\u201d will also have <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/01\/02\/why-scotus-will-likely-smack-down-two-of-jack-smiths-get-trump-charges-as-non-crimes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">implications<\/a> for the Trump case, since two of the four charges brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith are based on that statute.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>New York: Lawsuit by A.G. Letitia James\u00a0for Inflating Net Worth<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>How we got here<\/strong>: In this New York civil fraud case, Democrat Attorney General Letitia James \u2014 who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2018\/12\/19\/new-yorks-next-attorney-general-targeted-slumlords-now-shes-going-after-trump\/\">campaigned<\/a> on going after Trump \u2014 sued former President Trump under a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/last-week-in-lawfare-land-what-to-know-about-each-legal-crusade-against-trump\/\" title=\"Recap of Recent Legal Battles Against Trump: Key Points to Remember\">civil fraud statute alleging<\/a> that he misled banks, insurers, and others about his net worth to obtain loans, although the loans have been paid back and none of the parties involved claimed to have been injured by the deals.\u00a0Following a no-jury trial,\u00a0Judge Arthur Engoron \u2014 whom Trump\u2019s lawyers have accused of \u201castonishing departures from ordinary standards of impartiality\u201d \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/02\/16\/trump-fined-350-million-in-democrats-latest-gambit-to-rig-the-2024-election\/\">issued a decision<\/a> in February\u00a0ordering Trump to pay a $454 million penalty. Trump has appealed this decision and posted a required <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/03\/26\/trumps-reduced-bond-doesnt-make-letitia-james-election-meddling-lawfare-any-less-scandalous\/\">$175 million appeal bond<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Latest developments<\/strong>: On Thursday, President Trump\u2019s legal team filed a motion to remove Judge Engoron from the case, asserting that Judge Engoron \u201cmay have engaged in actions fundamentally incompatible with the responsibilities attendant to donning the black robe and sitting in judgment.\u201d Specifically, the motion alleged that Judge Engoron violated the New York Code of Judicial Conduct by discussing the case with a real estate lawyer prior to issuing his decision. <\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-6a9913b51d86f30a0b4a7f8476f52216 fdrlst__b89e9-after-post-content\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-6a9913b51d86f30a0b4a7f8476f52216\"><\/div>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">    \t\t\t\t\t   \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After the Manhattan criminal trial, legal actions against President Trump have nearly stalled. The next significant events are expected from the U.S. Supreme. They are deliberating on presidential immunity in one case and will issue a ruling in another related case<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3036,"featured_media":2273371,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2022_Roberts_Court_Formal_083122_Web.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2273370","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2022_Roberts_Court_Formal_083122_Web.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2273370","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3036"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2273370"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2273370\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2273371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2273370"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2273370"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2273370"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}