Stone Was Handled With Velvet Gloves [UPDATE: And Flynn Walks!]

Ken AshfordCourts/Law, L'Affaire Russe, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

And then Barr got rid of the US Attorney for DC and replaced him with a former staffer and put heavy pressure on his former staffer then acting US attorney for DC to go easy on Stone sentencing because of Stone’s relationship with the president, Zelinsky is saying. — Laura Rozen (@lrozen) June 23, 2020 &then Barr clumsily tried to … Read More

Document Dump: Judge Gleeson On Why Flynn’s Charges Should Not Be Dropped

Ken AshfordCourts/Law, L'Affaire Russe, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

The short version, however, is this. Gleeson argues there are two bases for denying a motion to dismiss a prosecution: the prosecutor’s reasons for doing so, or clear evidence of gross prosecutorial abuse. Guided by Rule 48(a)’s text and history, as well as separation of powers principles, there are two grounds for denying leave of court. First, “the requirement of … Read More

Document Dump: Judge Sullivan Files His Brief In Flynn’s Mandamus Request

Ken AshfordCourts/Law, L'Affaire RusseLeave a Comment

So here's the most important bits of Judge Sullivan's response to Flynn's request for mandamus. First (as I have written), he argues the request is premature since Sullivan hasn't even ruled on the gov't motion to dismiss yet. pic.twitter.com/ZlaH4RouCE — Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) June 1, 2020 Third, argues that the "presumption of regularity" attached to prosecutorial discretion is not irrebuttable … Read More

“I Can’t Breathe”

Ken AshfordCourts/Law, Racial HomicidesLeave a Comment

A Minnesota man is dead after being handcuffed and pinned under the knee of a police officer in front of numerous onlookers. Video of the encounter appeared on social media Monday, and the Star Tribune reports that an attorney for the man’s family has identified him as George Floyd. The video shows Floyd lying facedown on the cement, almost under the back wheel of … Read More

If It Ain’t COVID, It’s Corruption

Ken AshfordCourts/Law, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

After an extraordinary public campaign by President Trump and his allies, the Justice Department dropped its criminal case on Thursday against Michael T. Flynn, Mr. Trump’s first national security adviser yesterday. Flynn had previously pleaded guilty twice to lying to F.B.I. agents about his conversations with a Russian diplomat during the presidential transition in late 2016. The Justice Department’s decision to drop the … Read More

Stone Sentencing: Live

Ken AshfordCourts/Law, L'Affaire Russe, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

latest updateRoger Stone: 3.5 yrs (pending pardon)Gates: jail, 3 yrs probationCohen: 3 yrs prison Manafort: 4 yrs prisonFlynn: awaiting sentencingIndividual-1: FUCKING IMPEACHED FOR LIFE Hillary: having a nice walk in the woods me: laughing at all you “lock her up” morons — Jeff Tiedrich (@itsJeffTiedrich) February 20, 2020 Roger Stone was found guilty of lying to Congress and threatening a … Read More

Federal Judges To Convene On Issue Of Trump’s Political Intervention Into Cases

Ken AshfordCourts/Law, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

The leaders of a group of federal judges will meet Tuesday to “address growing concerns” about the recent intervention of President Donald Trump and the Justice Department in “politically sensitive cases,” USA Today reports. Trump and Attorney General William Barr ignited fresh concerns about the impartiality of the Justice Department last week when Barr retracted a recommended sentence for Trump ally Roger … Read More

Barr Still On The Hot Seat

Ken AshfordCourts/Law, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

More than 1,100 former Department of Justice officials are calling on Attorney General William Barr to resign after his department lowered the prison sentence recommendation for Roger Stone, a longtime ally of President Trump, in a move that’s led to accusations of political interference. The letter was released yesterday. It was signed by former DOJ officials who have worked across Republican … Read More

Barr Complains That Trump’s Tweets Make It “Impossible” To Carry Out His Corruption…. Er, I Mean, Job

Ken AshfordCourts/Law, Political Scandals, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Welp, this is an interesting development: “I’m not going to be bullied or influenced by anybody….whether it’s Congress, newspaper editorial boards, or the president," Bill Barr tells @ABC News. "I cannot do my job here at the department with a constant background commentary that undercuts me.” https://t.co/yOoXO2wbmA pic.twitter.com/ihzrmAcWDx — ABC News (@ABC) February 13, 2020 He complains about Trump’s tweets, … Read More

Trump Goes After Federal Judge

Ken AshfordCourts/Law, L'Affaire Russe, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Is this the Judge that put Paul Manafort in SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, something that not even mobster Al Capone had to endure? How did she treat Crooked Hillary Clinton? Just asking! https://t.co/Fe7XkepJNN — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2020 Actually, Trump is not only attacking the judge but the integrity of the system, calling into question whether the jury was … Read More

Political Meddling In Stone Sentencing: A Story In Three Tweets & DOJ Implosion

Ken AshfordCourts/Law, Crime, L'Affaire Russe, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

< BREAKING: Justice Department just requested up to 9 years in prison for Roger Stone, convicted on all seven criminal counts in Nov and set to be sentenced Feb 20. @CourthouseNews pic.twitter.com/WjJeue0YVY — Megan Mineiro (@MMineiro_CNS) February 10, 2020 This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. ... Read More