Podcast Summary
A Harvard Law graduate's involvement in Trump's coup attempt: A former top lawyer's actions in Trump's election overturn attempt were seen as illegitimate by a federal judge, leading to his indictment as a coconspirator.
The actions of Donald Trump and his lawyers, including Ken Chesebro, in connection to the January 6th committee and the efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, were not considered legitimate legal work by a federal judge. Instead, they were seen as part of a coup attempt in search of a legal theory. Chesebro, a Harvard Law School graduate and former attorney at top law firms, had a respectable legal career before joining Trump's team. However, his involvement in the efforts to overthrow the election results led him to become coconspirator number 5 in special counsel Jack Smith's latest indictment against Trump. The evolution of Chesebro's involvement, as outlined in a new report by Politico, shows how he went from providing initial memos to fully embracing the attempt to overturn the democratic process. The disturbing nature of these actions recalls Hannah Arendt's concept of the "banality of evil," highlighting how seemingly normal individuals can be involved in extraordinary and destructive actions.
Planning for Vice President Pence to disregard certified electoral votes: John Eastman and Jeffrey Clark suggested Vice President Pence ignore certified electoral votes and face potential legal challenges instead of holding hearings on the constitutionality of the Electoral Count Act
During the discussions between John Eastman and Jeffrey Clark, they planned for Vice President Pence to disregard the certified electoral votes and refuse to count those of President-elect Joe Biden. They believed that hearings on the constitutionality of the Electoral Count Act could lead to unwanted constraints, and it would be better for Pence to act boldly and face potential legal challenges. Meanwhile, in a different context, the discussion turned to the environmental impact of toilet paper production. The use of trees for toilet paper contributes to deforestation and cannot be recycled or reused. By contrast, using eco-friendly alternatives like bamboo paper is a sustainable solution that feels like an upgrade and reduces the environmental impact.
Real Paper's eco-friendly commitment and discount offer: Real Paper offers eco-friendly subscriptions or purchases with free shipping, use code 'Midas' for a 30% discount on first order. Legal expert Chesebro suggests VP Pence to lead in counting electoral votes for intense public scrutiny, ensuring valid electoral slates through serious examination of the election process.
Real Paper is committed to being eco-friendly and offers hassle-free subscriptions or one-time purchases with free shipping in recyclable packaging. For those interested, use the code "Midas" for a 30% discount on your first order. Meanwhile, in other news, Chesebro, a legal expert, suggests that Vice President Pence should firmly take the lead in counting electoral votes, ensuring intense public scrutiny on the election process and any potential abuses. According to Chesebro, this strategy would help focus media and public attention on any issues and could be carried out by surrogates of both the president and vice president. The Trump report concluded that there was no fraud capable of overturning the election, and additional scrutiny in courts and state legislatures would determine valid electoral slates. Chesebro believes this approach can be executed with the president and vice president remaining mostly above the fray, urging only for serious examination of the election process to prevent future occurrences.
Vice President's potential leverage during joint session for counting electoral votes: The Vice President could argue for greater scrutiny of electoral votes during the joint session, but this interpretation conflicts with the 12th Amendment and emphasizes the importance of judicial proceedings during the recount process as the ultimate deadline for determining the winner.
During the discussion, it was suggested that the Vice President, in his role as presiding officer during the joint session to count electoral votes, could use the argument that he has the power to determine the outcome of the election as leverage to secure greater scrutiny of the voting process. This argument, which was used unsuccessfully by Republicans in 1800 and 1877, hinges on the Vice President's role in making judgments on electoral votes, rather than just counting them. However, this interpretation conflicts with the 12th Amendment. In a memo from November 2020, Chesebro emphasized the importance of judicial proceedings during the recount process and noted that the January 6th joint session for counting electoral votes is the ultimate deadline for determining the winner. This argument, while complex and potentially problematic, highlights the significance of the Vice President's role in the electoral process and the potential for legal challenges to the certification of electoral votes.
Memo on alternate electors reveals manipulative intentions: During the 2020 election aftermath, some supporters planned to have alternate electors meet and cast votes, but the memo's tone suggested disregard for democratic processes and manipulation of media and leverage.
During the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, there were plans circulating among some Trump supporters to have alternate electors meet and cast votes, despite the official results. This is detailed in a memo by Chesebro, which was unearthed by Luke Broadwater of the New York Times. The memo discusses the importance of all electors and the contested voting states, and presents this as a routine measure. However, the underlying motivation was not to ensure a fair outcome, but to manipulate the media and create leverage for those trying to overturn the election results. The chilling aspect is the matter-of-fact tone of the memo, which suggests a disregard for democratic processes. Fortunately, these plans were not carried out, but the individuals involved, including Chesebro and Eastman, have faced criticism and potential legal consequences for their actions. It raises questions about the lengths some people went to in an attempt to maintain power, even if it meant sacrificing their own integrity and potentially harming the democratic process.
