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I watched 30 minutes of the Kari Lake trial, and had to turn it off out of frustration.
The judge is a corrupt prick. Right off the bat, he struck down ALL 3 of Lake’s witnesses on the basis that they’re unqualified and their testimony would be irrelevant to the case.
Erich Speckin and Shelby Busch will not be allowed to testify at all.
Virtually every exhibit that Lake planned to present at trial in order to make her case has been limited in favor of the defendants, and I don’t foresee this ending well.
The judge is a corrupt prick. Right off the bat, he struck down ALL 3 of Lake’s witnesses on the basis that they’re unqualified and their testimony would be irrelevant to the case.
Erich Speckin and Shelby Busch will not be allowed to testify at all.
Virtually every exhibit that Lake planned to present at trial in order to make her case has been limited in favor of the defendants, and I don’t foresee this ending well.
Now Stephen Richer is whining on the stand about receiving death threats as county recorder. His attorney is compelling this sob story to make the argument that it is not in the states interest to disclose mail in ballot signatures.
Someone should tell Stephen that he would receive less “death threats” if he stopped rigging elections and didn’t defy the law by denying Kari Lake’s public record request.
It’s actually in the states interest to be transparent with the public regarding their own elections.
Someone should tell Stephen that he would receive less “death threats” if he stopped rigging elections and didn’t defy the law by denying Kari Lake’s public record request.
It’s actually in the states interest to be transparent with the public regarding their own elections.
Let’s hope Lake attorney Brian Blehm AKA “The Dude” doesn’t drop the ball during cross examination.
I’m hoping Blehm is weaving an intricate 5D chess trap for Stephen to walk into that’s so sophisticated, the average lay observer can’t even comprehend it. I guess we’ll find out after recess.
If I had to guess, I’d say he’s trying to argue an equal protection clause. That mail in voters are not being obligated to prove identity, whereas in person voters have to show ID.
If their signatures don't get reviewed properly, there’s a disparity between the two. Makes sense.
If I had to guess, I’d say he’s trying to argue an equal protection clause. That mail in voters are not being obligated to prove identity, whereas in person voters have to show ID.
If their signatures don't get reviewed properly, there’s a disparity between the two. Makes sense.
Blehm works in mysterious ways. I’ve seen him make some blunders in past hearings, but I’ve also seen him work magic. It usually depends on whether or not he can get to the point without pissing off the judge, or getting objected 20x by the defendants counsel.
To this point though, I worry that the judge will see this as irrelevant since the judge is completely uninterested in hearing WHY Kari Lake wants the ballot affidavits, or what she plans to do with them.
He only seems to care whether or not it is in the state’s interest to comply with Kari Lake’s public records request, and whether or not the county is legally obligated to hand them over.
That was his reasoning for not allowing any of Lake’s witnesses. He said that calling Erich Speckin and Shelby Busch to the stand was irrelevant.
Stephen Richer is claiming it is not in the state’s best interest to hand over the signatures. It is up to Lake’s counsel to prove that he’s wrong. Anything outside of that scope appears to be irrelevant to this judge.
He only seems to care whether or not it is in the state’s interest to comply with Kari Lake’s public records request, and whether or not the county is legally obligated to hand them over.
That was his reasoning for not allowing any of Lake’s witnesses. He said that calling Erich Speckin and Shelby Busch to the stand was irrelevant.
Stephen Richer is claiming it is not in the state’s best interest to hand over the signatures. It is up to Lake’s counsel to prove that he’s wrong. Anything outside of that scope appears to be irrelevant to this judge.
Blehm needs to destroy the “state’s interest” argument and make that his main focus. Otherwise he’s going to get objected and shut down for relevancy over and over.
Back from the break. Blehm started off pursuing lines of questioning that the judge has CLEARLY stated are irrelevant. After the judge told him to move on, he goes on scrutinizing the signature verification process itself. Again, objection! Relevancy.
FINALLY, he starts pursuing a relevant line of questioning, and starts getting to the “states interest” argument. He asked whether or not death threats are exclusive to one side, or if both sides of the aisle are subjected to them.
This is a good line to pursue, because it challenges Richer’s argument that “we can’t give Kari Lake the signatures because we’re being subjected to death threats”. This shows that it’s just part of the job, not exclusive to election matters, and therefore, not a valid excuse…
Blehm needs to stay on this path, and proceed to challenging the “voter privacy” issue.
FINALLY, he starts pursuing a relevant line of questioning, and starts getting to the “states interest” argument. He asked whether or not death threats are exclusive to one side, or if both sides of the aisle are subjected to them.
This is a good line to pursue, because it challenges Richer’s argument that “we can’t give Kari Lake the signatures because we’re being subjected to death threats”. This shows that it’s just part of the job, not exclusive to election matters, and therefore, not a valid excuse…
Blehm needs to stay on this path, and proceed to challenging the “voter privacy” issue.
Blehm made a roundabout argument challenging the “voter privacy” issue.
He somewhat explained that virtually all of the voter information that Kari Lake is seeking is publicly available information and can be easily obtained by other means, thereby defeating the “voter privacy” argument.
But it’s not clear if the judge was convinced due to Blehm’s inability to make a clear and concise point.
The judge, the witness, and the defendants counsel were all confused by what he was getting at until FINALLY, he clarified his point well enough for the judge to somewhat get it.
But then… He proceeded to deviate and started asking questions that have to do with election security. The very thing that the judge has told him over, and over, and over is irrelevant.
2 steps forward, 1 step back.
He somewhat explained that virtually all of the voter information that Kari Lake is seeking is publicly available information and can be easily obtained by other means, thereby defeating the “voter privacy” argument.
But it’s not clear if the judge was convinced due to Blehm’s inability to make a clear and concise point.
The judge, the witness, and the defendants counsel were all confused by what he was getting at until FINALLY, he clarified his point well enough for the judge to somewhat get it.
But then… He proceeded to deviate and started asking questions that have to do with election security. The very thing that the judge has told him over, and over, and over is irrelevant.
2 steps forward, 1 step back.
OMG. Maricopa just put a witness on the stand to tell her sob story about how Liz Harris’s canvassers came to her door to ask if she received more than one ballot!
She explained how shocked and appalled and angry it made her. Then proceeded to explain how everything was polite and respectful, but she was STILL angry because she suspected it had something to do with the audit.
This is their best attempt at justifying why releasing the mail in ballot affidavits to Kari Lake would pose a threat to the society…
Give me a f**cking break!
She explained how shocked and appalled and angry it made her. Then proceeded to explain how everything was polite and respectful, but she was STILL angry because she suspected it had something to do with the audit.
This is their best attempt at justifying why releasing the mail in ballot affidavits to Kari Lake would pose a threat to the society…
Give me a f**cking break!
Next up, some random they/them from an LGBTQ lobbying firm takes the stand to explain why they’re also a victim. Again, Maricopa is trying to make the case that releasing signatures to Lake poses a threat to voters.
But… This was the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen. Basically, all it was, was some person who’s gender we’ll never know saying “I advocate for children to chop off their genitals. Republicans don’t like it. That’s why Kari Lake shouldn’t get the signatures.”
Wtf was the point of putting this, and why is this allowed, while NONE of Kari Lake’s witnesses were allowed to take the stand?!
But… This was the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen. Basically, all it was, was some person who’s gender we’ll never know saying “I advocate for children to chop off their genitals. Republicans don’t like it. That’s why Kari Lake shouldn’t get the signatures.”
Wtf was the point of putting this, and why is this allowed, while NONE of Kari Lake’s witnesses were allowed to take the stand?!
Today was an absolute shit show.
On all sides.
Same time Monday?
On all sides.
Same time Monday?
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