'Coup Memo' Lawyer Loses Bid To Hold Up Records He Warns Could Convict Trump
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Mary Papenfuss March 5, 2022, 11:28 PM
The right-wing attorney who authored "coup memos" for Donald Trump and supporters on how to scuttle the presidential election lost a court battle Friday to hold back his documents from the House select committee investigating last year's Jan. 6 insurrection.
Lawyer John Eastman claimed the situation had turned him into a "pseudo-defense attorney for the former president" — so the emails are thereby protected by attorney-client privilege.
Eastman warned in his civil suit that granting the committee access to his emails involving the former president could amount to a historic legal finding that Trump may have committed a crime while he was a sitting president.
"Were this Court to sustain the defendants' claims, it may be the first formal finding of Presidential criminality by a federal court in United States history," Eastman wrote in his suit seeking to hold up access to his records.
The committee argued Wednesday that Eastman's records are indeed likely to show evidence of multiple crimes committed by both him and Trump, which would thereby trigger the "crime-fraud exception" to attorney-client privilege.
The explosive filing alleged that Trump and key allies conspired to defraud the U.S. and obstruct an official congressional proceeding: the certification of electoral votes.
Eastman also argued Friday that just as in a criminal trial, the committee should be required to turn over any exculpatory evidence it has — which could prove innocence — before he can cooperate.
U.S. District Court of Central California Judge David Carter dismissed Eastman's objections late Friday.
Carter noted that battles over attorney-client privilege in a civil lawsuit — even when they involve criminal allegations — don't merit protections for criminal defendants because there's currently no risk of jail time.
Eastman's records could be critical in the committee's investigation. He devised a strategy to throw out election results, and discussed it in the Oval Office. He also fired off haranguing emails to Greg Jacob, counsel at the time for then-Vice President Mike Pence, over electoral votes as the men hid during the Jan. 6 insurrection from Trump supporters stormed through the Capitol.
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I told you Eastman's memos were the smoking gun!
Lots and lots of people over the last 5 years have promised that they had the goods that would really, really "get" Trump.
What makes this any different?
Let me know when indictments come down for Trump.
Yes Trump has lied and stalled and intimidated witnesses butt now we have the proof of fraud.
The Eastman memo is like Nixon's tapes were.
The Proverbial Smoking Gun. A case's lynchpin!
Once again, what exactly is that proof?
Can you stop asking dumb questions?
Have some mercy on everyone.
Oh, c'mon, man.
Everyone knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that THIS time they really, really, really have what's going to get Trump after 5 years of hearing the same old thing, only to see Democrats sorely disappointed--again.
It's been 25 years running and we've head the same about the Clintons. @!@
Nice deflection, butt it might have been a great comment had anyone else been discussing that topic.
When all else fails, DEFLECT, eh?
Yawn.
What's this make--the 1,229th time Democrats have declared the exact same thing to no avail?
Ya'll crack me up!
When all else fails, cry "DEFLECTION", eh?
I think you have the gist of what I conveyed.
Excellent!
For weeks now, you've produced a lot of smoke and mirrors, but no fire. Get back to us when you have something significant to say.
Eastman's Memo is public. It has been shown to you many times. You can Google it. Do so...
I don't think that memo says what you wish it says.
It proves Trump and Co engaged in a criminal conspiracy to defraud the United States...
They have been wishing to find something to nail Trump with for over 5 years now.
How many times have we heard "We got him THIS time for sure!!"?
How many MORE times will we have to listen to it?
Until trumpism ends.
I dont care if Trump is legally guilty of crimes or not, he is totally unfit to lead a political party or have elected office. Totally. His followers need to denounce him.
Priceless!
Please wake me up when Trump is indicted.
At least then you MIGHT stand a chance at seeing what you wish so fervently for.
I bet I have read the same or very similar post from you 1000 times by now.
When will you learn that the American public isn't taking its cues from you?
You are a waste of [time.deleted]
Only in your mind does trumpism exist.
Please call CNN and MSDNC and tell them to stop frying the minds of fragile leftists.
When "could" becomes "does" then I will get excited.