Some highlights once I give the story an update. In the meanwhile, give the order inside the story a read.
Earlier this morning, Trump's lawyers argued that the civil probe was essentially a way to extract information without having to offer immunity that a grand jury would afford in a criminal investigation.
Engoron: "This argument completely misses the mark."
Engoron:
Trump and his children have the "absolute right" to assert Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
Eric Trump did it more than 500 times, he notes.
Justice Engoron:
Trump was "hardly a stranger" to the NYAG's office when Tish James took over.
Her predecessors reached significant settlements with Trump's "University" and "Foundation," the judge says—his scare quotes.
Engoron:
The thousands of documents responsive to the subpoenas that I've viewed privately show "significant basis" for continuing the investigation, undercutting notion that it's based on animus rather than facts and law.
Engoron:
"As has often been said, that a prosecutor dislikes someone does not prevent a prosecution."
Engoron:
It would have been "blatant dereliction of duty" not to investigate and issue subpoenas.
Engoron:
Trump's spin on Mazars ditching him is Orwellian, "audacious" and "preposterous."
Engoron:
NYAG found "copious evidence of possible financial fraud."
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Trump will be sentenced for 34 felonies at 9:30 am ET. He will appear by video and likely will face no criminal penalties. It could be over in an hour.
But the fight over its symbolism gives it historic weight. I’m covering it live.
Consider: Over the past week, Trump's lawyers filed hundreds of pages of high-pitched arguments in four courts, at every level of the NY judiciary and SCOTUS, in a failed bid to stop these proceedings.
Prosecutors and the judge fought just as tenaciously to complete this trial record.
A federal judge grants sanctions against Rudy Giuliani for discovery violations.
The requested relief was an adverse inference moving the Georgia election workers he defamed closer to getting his $3.5M Palm Beach condo.
Judge Liman is reciting his ruling and its scope now.
Earlier today, Giuliani's lawyer described adverse inferences as the "death penalty" for the case.
Liman granted adverse inferences, not yet specified.
So far, the Trump appointee slammed Giuliani's "blithe disregard" for the court's holding and "preposterous" conduct.
Liman quotes then-10th Circuit Judge Gorsuch's comments against Giuliani:
"Discovery is not supposed to be a shell game, where the hidden ball is moved round and round and only revealed after so many false guesses are made and so much money is squandered."
He was order to appear after the Georgia election workers he defamed say he "secreted away" assets from his N.Y. apartment — and reportedly went to Trump's polling station in a Mercedes convertible ordered to be turned over to them.
The hearing has begun.
Attorney for Giuliani: Ken Caruso.
For Ga. election workers Shaye Moss and Ruby Freeman: Aaron Nathan
Nathan:
Giuliani disclosed new bank accounts opened in July 2024.
On Aug. 30, Giuliani and his associates opened up a new entity: Standard USA LLC, over which he has +80% ownership interest.
"Suffice it to say, it's troubling that we learned about it on Monday for the first time."
A Georgia judge has VOIDED several rules passed by the GOP-dominated State Election Board.
The Georgia GOP reportedly plans to appeal, per @Bluestein.
I'll break down the now-stricken rules in a thread below, summarizing the ruling linked here. 🔗 assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2…
1) 183-1-12-.02(c.2):
This rule would have allowed county board members to conduct a "reasonable inquiry" of election results, an undefined power they previously never had and was the purview of the courts.