Exclusive: if ex-president succeeds, prosecutors could be left with only a sliver of evidence for obstruction charge

Donald Trump is expected next week to ask the federal judge presiding in the criminal case over his retention of classified documents to revoke prosecutors’ access to memos made by his ex-lawyer that became key evidence of his efforts to obstruct the investigation, according to sources familiar with the plans.

The request will be made before US district judge Aileen Cannon at a sealed hearing Tuesday. The former president last month challenged prosecutors’ access to transcripts of voice memos made by ex-lawyer Evan Corcoran, but what Trump will seek behind closed doors has not been reported.

Trump’s lawyers are expected to argue that none of the memos should have been given to prosecutors on the crime-fraud exception, which allows prosecutors to see privileged communications between a defendant and a lawyer, if their legal advice was used in furtherance of a crime.

  • evatronic@lemm.ee
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    5 months ago

    The Court has to know that ruling a former President immune for breaking the law isn’t a viable decision.

    Like, it would immediately make any sitting President a king, and supercede the Court’s power.

    Which is why they’ll wait, but rule he isn’t immune. Not because it’s the right thing, but because doing otherwise would make the Court less, and they’re selfish fucks that want to be on top.

    • SkyezOpen@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      It’s also holding up one or two other trump trials while they wait for the decision. Though a tiny part of me hopes they rule presidents are kings and biden just goes “OK bet” and does whatever the hell he wants. I can imagine him watching helmetcam footage of a few supreme court justices getting black bagged by seals while eating an ice cream cone.

    • Dragomus@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      I will not be suprised if they rule him immune in that very specific case, under his excuse that he was “defending democracy with the information he had at that time”.

      It blocks full immunity for everything and gives Trump a free pass, the SC will retain power, and the US saves a little bit of face, on paper, in legitimizing the jan 6 troubles.