JUST IN: Jack Smith provides new details about the origins of the classified documents case against Trump, including how Biden WH counsel came to be involved — with knowledge and participation of Trump's representatives. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…
Smith repeatedly describes the "cautious" and "incremental approach" that government officials took toward Trump's retention of sensitive documents. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…
Prosecutors accuse Trump attorneys of making ominous sounding claims about an "undifferentiated" Biden administration when, drilling down, it's distinct career officials at different agencies exercise "specific portfolios and responsibilities." storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…
NEW: Jack Smith used tonight’s filing — ostensibly to Judge Cannon — to mount an unbridled defense of his documents case against Trump, one that seemed more akin to an opening argument a jury might hear.
NEW: If the House can't elect a speaker tomorrow, it could upend Congress' ability to certify the 2024 election results in ways that range from minor hiccups to — the longer the stalemate — unmitigated chaos.
The simplest option would be the appointment of a caretaker speaker, one who would be tasked with swearing in the new members, adopting Jan. 6 procedures and convening the Jan. 6 session.
Rep. Jamie Raskin just told reporters that he's confident the House will convene on Jan. 6, even without a speaker because it's constitutionally required. But it's unclear under what authority they would meet, especially if members aren't sworn in. politico.com/live-updates/2…
Before Jan. 6, 2025, the branches could theoretically change the date to give the House breathing room to resolve internal matters — but we’ve heard nothing concrete on this front.
The House/Senate must also adopt procedures to govern the Jan. 6 session — a typically boilerplate matter but one that has become newly challenging since Trump and allies have challenged the constitutionality of the Electoral Count Act.
The Justice Department treated Friday’s sentencing like a coda of sorts for its 4–year investigation of the Jan. 6 attack, vowing on the eve of the Trump presidency that
“The institutions that protected democracy on Jan. 6 cannot and will not forget.”
Judge Mehta also used his remarks to lament how many veterans were among the Jan. 6 mob and have described, in court proceedings, dealing with mental/physical health challenges with minimal support. politico.com/news/2024/12/2…
MORE: The department's sweeping effort to identify a classified info leak — which included seeking phone/email logs for Schiff/Swalwell and 43 staffers — was done without proper oversight and risks chilling Congress' legitimate work, the IG found. politico.com/news/2024/12/1…
Kash PATEL was among those swept up in this search, and he unsuccessfully sued over it last year. But the IG found that the 43 searched staffers were split along partisan lines w/ no evidence of political motivation. politico.com/news/2024/12/1…
Judges are pushing back on efforts to sweep Jan. 6 under the rug but worried that a large swath of the public has moved on. politico.com/news/2024/12/0…
Judge Lamberth ordered a misdemeanor defendant — previoulsy convicted of a felony that was tossed because of SCOTUS — immediately jailed for a 12mo sentence.
And Judge Jackson worried that the "volume's getting turned up" on disinformation about 2020. politico.com/news/2024/12/0…
HAPPENING NOW: Enrique Tarrio, testifying at the trial of MPD officer Shane Lamond, has been combative, evasive and, at times, contradictory.
He seems to be relishing his attempt to fluster prosecutors. Drew a contempt threat from Juge Jackson when he refused to discuss Jan. 6.
The contempt threat for the former Proud Boys leader came on the first question from DOJ, when the prosecutor asked him if Proud Boys traveled to Washington on Jan. 6. Tarrio refused to answer and suggested he would plead the 5th even though he waived his 5th yesterday.
Tarrio also talked about timing his trip to Washington, D.C. for Jan. 4, 2021 because he knew he would be arrested for burning a BLM banner the month before and wanted to ensure he could be arrested and processed in time to be out for Jan. 6 events.