April 25, 2024 - Daily Digest

Today is April 25, 2024, and here are the critical stories that you may have missed from today. If you enjoy this content and want access to more, exclusive content or to support my work, then consider becoming a monthly subscriber below:

1) Trump's Attorney Argues That Assassination And Creating A Fake Elector Slate "Could Be" Official Acts

This morning, during oral argument in front of the United States Supreme Court on Donald Trump's absolute immunity claims, Justice Sonya Sotomayor asked John Sauer, Trump's attorney, whether a President who orders the assassination of a political opponent could be immune from prosecution.

The answer should have been simple, but instead of an absolute "yes," Sauer stated that under that hypothetical, the assassination order could be an official act that one would be immune for. Trump's attorney went on to state that creating a fake slate of electors could also be considered an official act that would grant him immunity

Watch below:

2) Trump's Motion For New Trial In E. Jean Carroll Case Has Been Denied

Judge Lewis Kaplan has denied Donald Trump's motion for a new trial and for judgment as a matter of law in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case that has left Trump with a judgment of at least $80 million. 

Previously, Trump argued that a new trial should be ordered for several reasons including that the punitive damages jury charge was improper and the the punitive damages award was unconstitutional. 

Donald Trump will now likely appeal the decision to the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, and has already posted a bond to satisfy the appellate bond requirement.

This civil judgment is just one of several that Trump is currently dealing with including the previous $5 million judgment in the E. Jean Carroll sexual abuse case and the over $300 million judgment in the civil fraud judgment. 

3) Harvey Weinstein's New York Conviction Overturned

This morning, a New York appellate court has overturned Harvey Weisntein's sexual assault conviction in New York City, in a 4-3 decision. The appellate court opined that the trial court improperly introduced prior bad acts evidence in the form of testimony and evidence from women who were not included in the charged conduct. The women testified and provided evidence that Weinstein sexually assaulted them as well in the past. 

Weinstein is currently serving a sixteen year prison sentence in California, so he will remain behind bars no matter what ends up happening with the New York case. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg will now have to decide whether to retry Weinstein in New York, or whether to merely keep the California conviction in place.

4) Arizona Attorney General Indicts Rudy Giuliani and Others As Part Of Fake Elector Scheme

An Arizona grand jury has officially indicted eleven Arizona fake electors with several felony charges including including conspiracy and fraudulent schemes and artifices. The indictment also includes several redacted names, that are also defendants in the action, yet prosecutors have not released further identifying information. 

The indictment alleges that the fake electors, along with the remaining seven redacted defendants, conspired to overturn the 2020 election in favor of Donald Trump in Arizona, with the hopes of overturning the election for him nationally. The felony charges carry possible prison sentences if the defendants are convicted. 

Donald Trump is listed as an un-indicted co-conspirator in the indictment. 

In addition, one of the seven redacted defendants appears to be former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani given the reference to "The Mayor" nickname. The Washington Post has also confirmed that Mark Meadows, Jenna Ellis, Christina Bobb, John Eastman, Mike Roman, and Boris Epshtyn have also been indicted. 

5) President Biden Signs Foreign Aid Bill Which Includes TikTok Divestment Bill

President Biden has signed a bipartisan bill that will provide more than $95 billion in foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The legislation was championed by both Republicans and Democrats in both House of Congress, passing overwhelmingly over the past several days. Today's signage comes after months of delay from House Republicans over the Ukraine spending part of the legislation. 

As part of the bill, TikTok will be forced to divest from its parent company, Bytedance, within nine months. Although, the bill does include a possible three month extension in the event the Administration deems negotiations being fruitful. However, expect this piece of the bill to be challenged by TikTok and creators in the legal system.

The bill also includes a provision that allows the United States to sell assets seized from Russian oligarchs since the start of the war. While it will take several weeks before the aid will make it to our allies, this is a critical step to ensure that democracy is protected abroad from those who threaten it.