NEW:

@DineshDSouza has issued an apology over his election conspiracy film “2,000 Mules” on his website.

D’Souza admits that the heart of the film - surveillance footage of vote drop boxes supposedly showing illegal “ballot trafficking” - is false and misleading.


D’Souza’s apology is directed at a Georgia voter named Mark Andrews, who was depicted in the film as a ballot “mule,” when he was legally dropping off ballots for his family members.

Andrews has sued D’Souza and True the Vote over his appearance in the film, book and promos.

There were Jan. 6 rioters who carried guns during the attack on the Capitol.

At a Univision town hall this month, Trump claimed "we didn't have guns," referring to his supporters.

Here's how we know that's wrong

🧵 Guy Reffitt was the first Jan. 6 defendant to go to trial.

He was convicted of carrying a handgun onto Capitol grounds. He left his AR-15-style rifle back at his hotel.

Reffitt recorded himself bragging to other Trump supporters that he was armed.

https://x.com/TomDreisbach/status/1542172582224338944

NEW:

We reviewed Trump’s speeches, interviews, and social media posts since 2022 and found that he has made more than 100 threats to investigate, prosecute, jail or otherwise punish his opponents, whom he sometimes calls “the enemy from within.”

🧵 First and foremost, Trump targets his political opponents.

If he wins the presidential election, he has promised to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate President Biden and Biden’s family on his first day in office.

NEW:

Donald Trump’s Bedminster golf club hosted a convicted Jan. 6 rioter and alleged Nazi sympathizer twice this summer, where he was celebrated and gave speeches.

At one event, Trump sent a video praising the attendees as “amazing patriots.”

At the other, he won an award.

The rioter, Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, has a lengthy and well-documented history of extreme racist and antisemitic comments.

He allegedly told coworkers, “Hitler should have finished the job.”

In 2020, he posted a lengthy video rant against Jewish communities in New Jersey.

The publisher of @DineshDSouza's election conspiracy theory film and book "2,000 Mules" has issued an apology to a Georgia voter accused in the film of illegal voting in the 2020 election.

"There will be no future distribution of the film or the book by Salem." @DineshDSouza Some key context Salem is a co-defendant, along with Dinesh D'Souza and True the Vote, in a lawsuit filed by this voter, Mark Andrews.

He is represented by lawyers with @protctdemocracy, which also represented the Georgia election workers who sued Rudy Giuliani for defamation.

New investigation:

Dozens of federal judges attended week-long seminars at luxury retreats - receiving free rooms, free meals and free money for travel worth thousands - and failed to fully disclose as required.

The judges with disclosure issues included some big names. Judge Aileen Cannon, currently presiding over Trump’s classified documents case, attended two week-long seminars at a luxury resort near Yellowstone National Park.

She failed to upload a disclosure within 30 days, as required.

The court said it was an “inadvertent” omission.

Donald Trump has made calls to "free" Jan. 6 rioters or issue pardons more than a dozen times.

That would mean ending ongoing prosecutions; freeing defendants from prison; and allowing hundreds of those convicted of felonies to own guns again.

npr.org/2024/01/04/121… We reviewed Trump’s speeches, rallies and social media.

At times he has signaled support for freeing all Jan. 6 defendants. In interviews, he has suggested he would pardon “a large portion” outside of “a couple of them.”

More legal fallout from "2,000 Mules":

A federal judge ruled that the defamation and voting rights lawsuit against Dinesh D'Souza, True the Vote, Salem Media, and Regnery can move forward, albeit with some counts dismissed.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco… Notably, the Judge's order describes the alleged conduct of D'Souza and True the Vote - making claims "based solely on conjecture and speculation" - as "disturbing."

The disciplinary trial of John Eastman is continuing today in State Bar Court of California.

We're expecting additional testimony by elections expert Justin Grimmer, who is testifying for the State Bar.

You can watch the livestream here: calbar.zoom.us/j/97985435232 Unfortunately, it sounds like Judge Yvette Roland's microphone is off and we can't here her. I'm emailing the State Bar to notify them.

The State Bar trial of John Eastman is just getting started today.

Follow along here:


The last two days of proceedings were canceled, because Eastman's attorney was sick.

We're expecting the State Bar to continue its case against Eastman today.calbar.zoom.us/j/97985435232 Eastman's attorney Randy Miller says he's feeling better, and thanks the State Bar's attorneys for the "civility and graciousness" they showed while he recuperated.

Good morning from L.A.!

It's day 4 of the State Bar trial of pro-Trump attorney John Eastman.

This morning, he's set to continue testifying under oath.

Watch live here:
calbar.zoom.us/j/97985435232 My wrap-up of the trial so far:
npr.org/2023/06/23/118…

Day 3 of the California State Bar disciplinary trial of John Eastman is getting started now.

We're expecting testimony from election officials across the country, along with additional testimony from Eastman himself.

You can watch the livestream here:
calbar.zoom.us/j/97985435232 Last night, the State Bar filed a motion to block testimony from multiple people on Eastman's witness list, including Mark Finchem.

Finchem is a far-right Arizona politician connected to the Oath Keepers who ran unsuccessfully for AZ Secretary of State in 2022.

Court is resuming in the state bar disciplinary trial of John Eastman.

We're expecting Eastman's attorney to cross-examine Greg Jacob, who served as counsel to VP Pence.

Earlier today, Jacob testified that Eastman's legal theories helped contribute to the Capitol riot. You can watch the proceedings live via Zoom here:
calbar.zoom.us/j/97985435232

Good morning.

It's Day 2 of the California State Bar trial of attorney John Eastman over his work to overturn the 2020 election.

Eastman is expected to continue his testimony.

I'm not in the courtroom today, but will be following via the public Zoom:
calbar.zoom.us/j/97985435232 I chatted with @NPRMichel on @UpFirst about Day 1:
npr.org/2023/06/21/118…

OK, we're back in California State Bar Court waiting for John Eastman to testify as he fights to keep his law license.

We heard opening statements from both sides, and Eastman is the very first witness up. Notably, Eastman repeatedly asserted his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination called to testify before the Jan. 6 Select Committee in Congress.

I've been wondering about his plans for this case, given that Jan. 6 remains under criminal investigation.

Good morning from beautiful downtown L.A., where attorney John Eastman is fighting to keep his law license.

I’m at the State Bar Court, where Eastman’s disciplinary trial kicks off today.

Eastman is on the witness list today, but we’ll see what happens.

New:

We compared the official release of @DineshDSouza's "2,000 Mules" election denial book with the version recalled by Regnery.

All references to specific, named nonprofits that D'Souza accused of "ballot trafficking" have been removed.

npr.org/2022/10/25/113… @DineshDSouza The film version of "2,000 Mules" alleged that left-wing nonprofits acted as "stash houses" for a "ballot trafficking" operation by the so-called ballot "mules."

D'Souza said the film did not name them for legal reasons, but promised the book would name names.

Attorneys for Konnech CEO Eugene Yu are pushing back against criminal charges filed by the LA County DA's office.

In a new motion, Yu's attorneys say the evidence does not support the charges, and suggest the DA is getting played by True the Vote.

documentcloud.org/documents/2317… "This case began with an organization known by the misnomer True the Vote, Inc. and its wealthy QAnon associated leaders..."

Alright, the Jan. 6 Committee is back from its recess and has the second half of its hearing.

Watch live here:
npr.org/live-updates/h… Rep. Aguilar:

When President Trump encouraged people to march to the Capitol on Jan. 6, he had already been told that members of the crowd were armed.

Here we go:

The latest @January6thCmte hearing has started.

NPR's livestream is available here:
npr.org/live-updates/h… @January6thCmte Chairman Bennie Thompson notes that "almost all" of the testimonial evidence the Committee has presented has come from Republicans, including former Trump White House aides, cabinet officials, and DOJ attorneys.

News:

▪️Dinesh D’Souza’s “2,000 Mules” election denial book was abruptly recalled. I got a copy.

▪️When told of the book’s allegations against them, one group said it was potentially “libelous.”

▪️True the Vote completely distanced itself from the book.
npr.org/2022/09/08/112… Getting a copy of the book was a slight challenge. My online order was cancelled.

So I just started heading to bookstores all over Southern California. No luck.

Then, at the third Barnes & Noble I visited, tucked into the Current Affairs section, there it was.