August 14, 2023 - Your Daily Digest

4th Trump indictment imminent, major climate victory for young people, SBF hit with a superseding indictment, and more

Today is August 14, 2023, and here are five stories that you may have missed. If you enjoy these daily digests, then consider becoming a monthly subscriber to help support my work and for more exclusive content.

1) 4th Indictment of Trump Imminent

Donald Trump’s team is actively expecting an indictment to be issued by a Fulton County grand jury as soon as this evening. This morning, there was widespread speculation that an indictment had already been issued, and many on social media circulated an image of a webpage showing that Trump had been indicted on multiple felony charges.

According to reports, Trump has yet to be indicted as the grand jury is working late this evening, hearing from witnesses. As soon as the witnesses finish their testimony, the grand jury will be asked to vote on multiple indictments. In Georgia, once an indictment is issued that indictment becomes public. In addition, the judge who has overseen the grand jury’s work as ruled that any legal proceedings, following an indictment, will be televised. This runs contrary to the other three indictments Trump currently faces, where all three courts have prohibited televised hearings.

Donald Trump is expected to face several felony charges including solicitation, conspiracy to interfere with an election, and racketeering. As previously noted, racketeering is considered to be a “serious felony” and is typically reserved for prosecuting large-scale organized crime syndicates. In Georgia, RICO charges must have an underlying predicate offense, and reports suggest that DA Fani Willis is examining whether Trump and his team assisted with various data breaches in voting machines in Coffee County, Georgia. If indicted and convicted of RICO, Donald Trump will face a mandatory minimum term of five years in Georgia prison. Because this charge includes a mandatory minimum sentence, if convicted, a judge will not be able to depart below the 5 year minimum.

In any event, we are expecting multiple indictments as soon as this evening. I will provide you updates as soon as we learn them.

2) Major Climate Victory for Young People

Today, in a major climate-related victory for young people, a Montana judge held that the state violated Montana’s Constitution by passing a law that prohibited the state from considering the impacts of fossil fuel projects on the environment when approving such projects. The Montana Constitution is one of many that explicitly codifies the right to a clean and health environment. Over one dozen young people sued the state alleging that its approval of fossil fuel drilling and other projects violates the Montana constitution. In the first ever ruling of its kind, the court agreed. While this ruling will not stop fossil fuel projects from being approved, it does overrule the law challenged and will allow future lawsuits against against that impact a state’s natural environment.

3) Update on Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom

Tensions are flaring as Russia fired warning shots at a Turkish-owned cargo vessel passing through the Black Sea. The cargo ship was empty at this time. This comes weeks after Russia pulled out of the Black Sea grain deal and announcing that it would consider cargo and civilian ships to be carrying military equipment. On the battlefield, Ukraine has continued its counteroffensive in the areas of Melitopol and Berdiansk, making slow progress in each. Meanwhile, the White House has announced a new $200 million aid package for Ukraine that will include air defense munitions, artillery rounds, and additional mine-clearing equipment. The White House is hopeful that this latest package will pass Congress with bipartisan support.

4) Military Junta Issues Threat

Today, the military junta currently in charge of Niger has threatened to charged recently deposed President Mohamed Bazoum with high treason and for undermining state security. The recently threatened to kill Bazoum if other African states intervened military, and now it could sentence Bazoum to death. This announcement comes after the ECOWAS announced sanctions against Niger. In response, the junta called these sanctions "illegal, inhumane and humiliating." The situation in Niger continues to remain unstable and I will update you as we learn more.

5) Sam Bankman-Fried Hit With Superseding Indictment

Days after a federal judge revoked Sam Bankman-Fried’s bail, he is facing a superseding indictment charging him with misappropriating over $100 million worth of FTX funds to make political contributions in the name of another. Bankman-Fried is currently housed at MDC Brooklyn, the same facility where Ghislaine Maxwell was held pre-trial, where Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide, and where other high profile inmates are currently and have been held. The conditions in this facility have long been critiqued by politicians and judges alike. Bankman-Fried still faces decades in federal prison, with many legal experts agreeing that it is highly unlikely Bankman-Fried will be released for many years.