DJT indicted on four counts related to January 6

And if there's anything left of Rudy after this, Dominion is coming for the scraps.

Some are claiming there is a nefarious Reason that Rudy has defended himself so poorly. Including refusing to provide discovery and admitting guilt.

it’s because discovery would implicate Trump and the 2020 campaign.

His actions make sense when viewed under that lens. He is still on team Trump.

Rudy's job is to run interference for DJT. That's what he has always done. The 4 Seasons press conference, the dripping hair dye press conference - these were designed to distract from DJT's efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Now he's doing the same.

It is called being a republican. The default for a republican is to hate Jesus, hate America, be a felon thug, be a serial liar, be a draft dodging coward. Rudy hits all the republican buttons.

Addiction can be a terrible thing.

Here is Trump's opposition to the SCOTUS reviewing the presidential immunity issue.

The hypocrisy in Trump opposing this is still enormous. On the one hand, Trump is saying that the presidential immunity issue that he raised will require that ALL charges against him be immediately dismissed. Yet, when the opportunity arises to have the SCOTUS rule definitively that he is correct and all charges must be dismissed and he is free forever on everything 2020 election related, he tells the SCOTUS they need to slow down, take their time, no rush, it's Christmas time, etc.

Very difficult to predict what SCOTUS will do. This is extremely important and their job is to handle extremely important legal matters. But I'll bet with the appeals court reviewing this on expedited basis, they will deny the prosecution's request and kick the can down the road. They seem to usually hate deciding things unless they absolutely have to.

It looks like such a no-brainer. A president cannot commit crimes in order to (for example) stay in office. They cannot murder their opponents. A president is NOT a king (or a dictator). AND Citizen Trump is NOT president. If SCOTUS delays and Trump gets elected he will attempt (and quite possibly succeed) to become an autocrat/king with powers that cannot be checked by SCOTUS or any other body. I believe that most of the SCOTUS judges (including Kavanaugh and ACB) will not find that acceptable. I think they will rule fairly quickly.

It’s hilarious the mountains of legal contradictions Trump is amassing.

in this case Trump has been screaming and yelling to his red cap base that he would most certainly appeal his cases all the way to the Supreme Court and be completely exonerated.

Jack Smith decides to leapfrog and have the Supreme Court get started on that.

Trump: “Wait just a minute there! Not fair! Witch hunt! Political prosecution!”

Prosecution burning the midnight oil -- filed a Reply brief on the petition one day after Trump filed his opposition.

A compelling case can be made that this is an issue and a case of enormous importance to the nation and the justice system, and only the Supreme Court can resolve it and it needs to be resolved fast.

The SCOTUS will probably decide whether to take this up by tomorrow. I'm guessing they say No.

SCOTUS has asked to be briefed. They are moving FAST, much like SCOTUS did re US v Nixon and re Bush v Gore.

Rudy is in so deep his only hope is to stay in the Trump cult and pray Trump is elected so he gets a pardon.

I love this stuff. "Work with us, man. Toss that certificate stuff out. We got your back. We'll get you all lawyered up if things go south."

It becomes clear why some of the Trump crazies are crazy and will not quit him. Just like a mob boss, he has leverage over all his co-criminals. The Ronna, Gym Jordans, Mo Brooks, Matt Gaetz all have to continue to carry Trump's water because he will rat on them for their help with his election crimes.

Ronna is the one promising they will get them lawyered up if they do the deeds they want.

When you watch Trump crazies being super crazy, view it as a tell that they are under Trump's leverage.

SCOTUS punts on the prosecution's petition for cert on the presidential immunity. This is all they said: "Petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment DENIED."

This virtually guarantees the trial will not go forward on March 4. Assuming Trump loses the appeal (which is not guaranteed), it will be August 2024 at a minimum, but quite easily after the November election.

After the lower court rules in January : ) that ex-presidents do not have immunity from criminal prosecution, and Citizen Trump appeals to SCOTUS, I would think Jack Smith will again file asking SCOTUS to move quickly.

Here is Trump's opening appeal brief in the DC Circuit. Prosecution response due 12/30.

One thing that sticks out is that Trump has ZERO amici briefs. He can't find one legit organization out there to submit one on his behalf.

The other part I don't get is that Judge Chutkan decided there is no absolute immunity and stopped there. But Trump's appeal argues that even if there is no absolute immunity and immunity is limited to acts within official responsibilities, then all of Trump's behavior is immunized because it falls within his official responsibilities. It looks like it depends how you characterize his behavior. Some of it is comical -- regarding attempts to get Pence to toss certain electoral certificates, Trump says he was "communicating with Members of Congress, including the Vice President in his capacity as President of the Senate, about their exercise of their official duties." Okay. I wasn't robbing a bank, I was communicating with the teller about her official duties.

But what I don't get is why Chutkan never addressed any of that and what the appeals court and the SCOTUS will do about that, because I'm pretty sure the SCOTUS will decide presidential immunity does exist to some degree, probably for "official responsibilities." What then? The SCOTUS decides right then on all this? Does this all go back to the district court to figure all that out? Does that happen at trial or beforehand? All very complicated and its hard to find answers.

Confessions of a Fake Elector. The true, dark story of how one man escaped the Trump criminal cult.

dnyuz.com

A Fake Trump Elector in Michigan Told Prosecutors of Regret, Anger

New York Times

One of the Republicans in Michigan who acted as a fake elector for Donald J. Trump expressed deep regret about

Link:dnyuz.com/2023/12/27/a-fake-trump-elec...

He should be careful. They may decide to Ray Epps him now. Or worse. The M@GA insurgency plays hardball like the Taliban, I hear.

The prosecution filed its Answering Brief to Trump's appeal on presidential immunity.

Regarding the vague rhetorical question in the Maine and Colorado threads ("why wasn't Trump charged with insurrection?"), toward the end of this Answer Brief there is kind of a clue as to why Trump was not charged with insurrection under 18 USC 2383. It may be because the prosecution was worried about Trump's double jeopardy claim regarding his impeachment trial. Pages 64 and 65. I'm reading this as also suggesting the prosecution thought "incitement" of insurrection, which is not an element in the four felonies charged, may be relatively more difficult to prove.

The point is, ladies and gentleman, that autocracy-- for lack of a better word -- is good.
autocracy is right.
autocracy works.
autocracy clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit.
autocracy, in all of its forms --autocracy for life, for money, for love, knowledge -- has marked the upward surge of mankind.
And autocracy-- you mark my words -- will save malfunctioning corporation called the USA.