December 18, 2023 - Daily Digest

Legal troubles mounting for Trump & Co.

Today is December 18, 2023, and here are the critical stories that you may have missed. If you enjoy these digests and want access to more, exclusive content then consider becoming a monthly subscriber at the link below:

1) More Legal Troubles For Trump & Co.

From Donald Trump to Mark Meadows to Rudy Giuliani, Trump & Co. had a very rough day in the courtroom today. First, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals officially ordered Mark Meadows' criminal indictment in Georgia to remain in state court, rebuking Meadows' attempt to remove the case to federal court. This decision comes after a District Court Judge ruled that Meadows' claims do not have jurisdiction in federal court. The appellate court decision was unanimous, and was written by Judge William Pryor, a Bush appointee known for being one of the more conservative judges on the 11th Circuit. The court held that the removal statute does not apply to former federal officials and that Meadows' acts were not conducted within the scope of his official duties.

Then, former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani was hit with another defamation complaint from Georgia poll workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss just days after a D.C. jury found that Giuliani owed Freeman and Moss over $148 million in damages for making defamatory statements about their actions during the 2020 election in Georgia. The new complaint asks the court to issue injunctive relief permanently barring Giuliani from making defamatory statements against Moss and Freeman. In the complaint, Freeman and Moss allege that Giuliani continues to make defamatory statements about them, even making them during and after the recent damages trial. They do not seek any specific damages outside of the injunction, as the latest $148 million verdict will likely wipe out Giuliani financially, but Freeman and Moss do seek an award for the costs of this legal action, including attorney's fees and "such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper."

Finally, Donald Trump lost his fifth attempt at a directed verdict in his civil fraud trial in New York, with Judge Engoron blasting Trump’s attempt to dismiss the claims brought by the New York Attorney General. Overall, a terrible day for Trump & Co.

2) Actor Found Guilty

A jury has found Marvel actor Jonathan Majors guilty of assault and harassment stemming from a domestic dispute he previously had with his girlfriend. He was also acquitted of two other charges, an assault charge and a harassment charge. Following the verdict, Marvel announced that they would not be employing Majors in future movies. As a result of the conviction, the actor could face up to a year in prison for the assault conviction. He also faces a maximum of 15 days in jail and a $250 fine for the harassment violation.

3) Hostage Update

Today is the 11 month birthday of Kfir Bibas, one of the last remaining infants in Hamas custody. On October 7th, Kfir was taken from his kibbutz in Israel alongside his father, mother, and four year old brother, Ariel. Both Kfir and Ariel are the last remaining children in Hamas custody. Previously, Hamas claimed that Kfir and Ariel were killed in an Israeli airstrike. However, there has been no evidence of this yet, and Kfir’s family has stated that they do not believe the veracity of Hamas’ claims. Assuming he is still alive, Kifr will have now spent 20 percent of his life in captivity. This latest news comes after Israeli military officers accidentally shot and killed three hostages during a raid in Gaza. According to reports, the hostages were waving a white flag and speaking in Hebrew at the time of their death. Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli officials called the deaths a complete failure on the part of the Israeli military and vowed that the military would be more cautious when conducting operations in Gaza.