Georgia grand jury investigating Trump returns indictments

[Redban]

So it’s not enough for disqualification. But it’s not a “nothing-burger” or a mess (as the Biden stooges ITT allege). There is still reason for public distrust of Fani, which will surround the case going forward so long as she is there. She should step aside even if she isn’t disqualified

https://twitter.com/AnthonyMKreis/status/1762590750334722525

[brucejoel99]

So it’s not enough for disqualification. But it’s not a “nothing-burger” or a mess (as the Biden stooges ITT allege). There is still reason for public distrust of Fani, which will surround the case going forward so long as she is there. She should step aside even if she isn’t disqualified

https://twitter.com/AnthonyMKreis/status/1762590750334722525

How are you really gonna call people using their eyes & ears to accurately describe what was happening at the hearing they were following the news of "Biden stooges" when you told us less than 100 hrs. ago - before McAfee, who afawk isn't you, had even finished hearing the attorney-client privilege issue, I might add - that iN cOnJuNcTiOn WiTh AlL tHe OtHeR dAtA, tHe ToTaLiTy Of ThE eViDeNcE iS eNoUgH tO sUpPoRt DiSbArMeNt PrOcEeDiNgS oR eVeN iNvEsTiGaTiOnS oF pErJuRy?

[Redban]

So it’s not enough for disqualification. But it’s not a “nothing-burger” or a mess (as the Biden stooges ITT allege). There is still reason for public distrust of Fani, which will surround the case going forward so long as she is there. She should step aside even if she isn’t disqualified

https://twitter.com/AnthonyMKreis/status/1762590750334722525

How are you really gonna call people using their eyes & ears to accurately describe what was happening at the hearing they were following the news of "Biden stooges" when you told us less than 100 hrs. ago - before McAfee, who afawk isn't you, had even finished hearing the attorney-client privilege issue, I might add - that iN cOnJuNcTiOn WiTh AlL tHe OtHeR dAtA, tHe ToTaLiTy Of ThE eViDeNcE iS eNoUgH tO sUpPoRt DiSbArMeNt PrOcEeDiNgS oR eVeN iNvEsTiGaTiOnS oF pErJuRy?

1). Don’t know for sure what the bolded is saying. I suggest grammar lessons

2). If we have to actually be judge McAfee to offer a prediction or our take on how the proceeding is going (ie “afawk isn’t you”)), then almost everyone's posts in this thread is meaningless, and it raises the question of why you’d bother reading what anyone except McAfee has to say about the proceeding

[brucejoel99]

So it’s not enough for disqualification. But it’s not a “nothing-burger” or a mess (as the Biden stooges ITT allege). There is still reason for public distrust of Fani, which will surround the case going forward so long as she is there. She should step aside even if she isn’t disqualified

https://twitter.com/AnthonyMKreis/status/1762590750334722525

How are you really gonna call people using their eyes & ears to accurately describe what was happening at the hearing they were following the news of "Biden stooges" when you told us less than 100 hrs. ago - before McAfee, who afawk isn't you, had even finished hearing the attorney-client privilege issue, I might add - that iN cOnJuNcTiOn WiTh AlL tHe OtHeR dAtA, tHe ToTaLiTy Of ThE eViDeNcE iS eNoUgH tO sUpPoRt DiSbArMeNt PrOcEeDiNgS oR eVeN iNvEsTiGaTiOnS oF pErJuRy?

1). Don’t know for sure what the bolded is saying. I suggest grammar lessons

2). If we have to actually be judge McAfee to offer a prediction or our take on how the proceeding is going (ie “afawk isn’t you”)), then almost everyone's posts in this thread is meaningless, and it raises the question of why you’d bother reading what anyone except McAfee has to say about the proceeding

The "stooge" recommending it seemed to understand everything just fine, have you tried reading comprehension?

[Dan the Roman]

I thought CNN's team and Kreis have the best takes which is that three things seem to be the case

1. There is a lack of linkage for the disqualification charge which was brought to be seriously entertained, namely that this whole thing has anything to do with Trump, or that Fani Willis had a Nathan Wade related motivation to pursue the Trump prosecution, or that this would skew the trial in any way.

2. Other issues have arisen, both direct - did Willis commit perjury? And indirect- were employees of the Fulton DA's office in contact with defense attorneys leaking information and gossip in an effort to manipulate them to settle personal score? After today there is no beyond reasonable doubt evidence for either, but everyone on CNN except for the 2018 D candidate for AG who dodged the question, made is abundantly clear they believed in the second of these if not the first.

3. Critically, even if there is no smoking gun and probably will not be one which comes out, there are clear signs from Judge McAfee's behavior that he has lost confidence in the state to tell the truth.

This is a real problem for him. Because if McAfee is convinced that Willis lied on the stand, it is impossible for him to preside over the rest of this process impartially if she remains on the case. On the other hand, without any clear proof other than the intuitive common sense reaction of having watched this testimony play out and not being a moron, it is a major step for McAfee to disqualify Fani Willis because he does not personally trust her to tell the truth to him, rather than on the basis of the disqualification motion that was brought or a criminal charge of perjury.

I think there is a non-zero chance we get a new judge because if McAfee cannot justify removing Willis and Fulton County, but cannot trust a word they say, he may have no choice but to remove himself.

Today was a bad day for McAfee because it became transparently obvious Bradley was lying in his current testimony, and the only reasons for him to have done so almost all point to covering for others.

[Progressive Pessimist]

This entire thing has been a mess for MAGA. Every time they try and have one of these hearings, it seems to backfire on them even further.

Republicans are so bad at trying to will their conspiracies into existence.

[GP270watch]

 Trump is trying to run out the clock. All these moves are desperation moves because the evidence is clear, they have Trump dead to rights.

[Progressive Pessimist]

Trump is trying to run out the clock. All these moves are desperation moves because the evidence is clear, they have Trump dead to rights.

Unfortunately they're working.

[Inmate Trump]

Trump is trying to run out the clock. All these moves are desperation moves because the evidence is clear, they have Trump dead to rights.

Why shouldn’t he try to run out the clock? Our system is designed to help people like him, and he’d be an even bigger moron than he is not to take advantage of it.

[wbrocks67]

At this point, we're done with all of this extra nonsense on the side, right? Now we just wait for McAfee to make his decision?

[GeorgiaModerate]

At this point, we're done with all of this extra nonsense on the side, right? Now we just wait for McAfee to make his decision?

Not quite.  There is a hearing tomorrow as to whether McAfee will allow the defense to introduce Wade's cellphone data.  (I expect not, because McAfee seems to be running out of patience with the defense shenanigans.)

[wbrocks67]

At this point, we're done with all of this extra nonsense on the side, right? Now we just wait for McAfee to make his decision?

Not quite.  There is a hearing tomorrow as to whether McAfee will allow the defense to introduce Wade's cellphone data.  (I expect not, because McAfee seems to be running out of patience with the defense shenanigans.)

Oh FFS. Yeah, this is getting outrageous. It's clear that the MAGA defense is literally just throwing spaghetti at the wall every week just to get another week delay over and over again. At some point, this needs to stop.

[Pres Mike]

If today is closing arguments, how long for McAfee to decide? A week?

[wbrocks67]

If today is closing arguments, how long for McAfee to decide? A week?

And if so, say he rules by next week that Fani stays on the case. How fast can a trial date get set?

[GeorgiaModerate]

If today is closing arguments, how long for McAfee to decide? A week?

And if so, say he rules by next week that Fani stays on the case. How fast can a trial date get set?

Whenever McAfee is ready to set it, I guess.  The prosecution has proposed an August 5 start.

[Redban]

Closing arguments should happen soon

I think the judge should grant the motion remove Fani, and both she and Wade should face disbarrment hearings in georgia . A special prosecutor should be hired to get to the bottom of the funds, their relationship, and their lying under oath etc.


Bradley texted very definitively that he knew exactly when the relationship  happened, and he confirmed multiple times in text that his timeline was all accurate. He even said he was nervous and that Fani / Wade would just deny it.

Then, between those texts and the trial, someone (i forget the name) in Fani's camp reaches out to him. The wife of this person works under Fani. He likely threatened Bradley. Suddenly Bradley has amnesia and can't remember anything. Most people watching knew he was lying.

Between the lack of paper trail of Fani's "cash," multiple people admitting that they were dating prior to him being hired, cellphone data showing 1000s of calls and texts as well as his being at her house overnight on multiple occassions during the timeline in question, etc... Short of Wade/Fani admitting it under oath, this is a slam dunk.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Closing arguments should happen soon

I think the judge should grant the motion remove Fani, and both she and Wade should face disbarrment hearings in georgia . A special prosecutor should be hired to get to the bottom of the funds, their relationship, and their lying under oath etc.


Bradley texted very definitively that he knew exactly when the relationship  happened, and he confirmed multiple times in text that his timeline was all accurate. He even said he was nervous and that Fani / Wade would just deny it.

Then, between those texts and the trial, someone (i forget the name) in Fani's camp reaches out to him. The wife of this person works under Fani. He likely threatened Bradley. Suddenly Bradley has amnesia and can't remember anything. Most people watching knew he was lying.

Between the lack of paper trail of Fani's "cash," multiple people admitting that they were dating prior to him being hired, cellphone data showing 1000s of calls and texts as well as his being at her house overnight on multiple occassions during the timeline in question, etc... Short of Wade/Fani admitting it under oath, this is a slam dunk.

The key is that Georgia law requires an actual conflict of interest, not just appearance of a conflict, to remove a prosecutor, and so far the defense has not (IMO and that of many commentators) sufficiently proven there was an actual conflict.  Is there suggestion of it?  Sure, but that's not enough. 

I'm reminded of a felony trial in which I served on the jury.  We found the defendant not guilty, even though there was some evidence he did the crime, because the state fell far short of proving it beyond a reasonable doubt.  In my mind there was about a 60-70% chance the defendant was guilty -- and that's not nearly enough.

[Redban]

The key is that Georgia law requires an actual conflict of interest, not just appearance of a conflict, to remove a prosecutor, and so far the defense has not (IMO and that of many commentators) sufficiently proven there was an actual conflict.  Is there suggestion of it?  Sure, but that's not enough. 

I'm reminded of a felony trial in which I served on the jury.  We found the defendant not guilty, even though there was some evidence he did the crime, because the state fell far short of proving it beyond a reasonable doubt.  In my mind there was about a 60-70% chance the defendant was guilty -- and that's not nearly enough.

The lawyer speaking right now just argued that an appearance of a conflict is indeed enough and that judges have to consider how the public would view the alleged conflict. He cited a whole set of cases in his argument

[brucejoel99]

Relevant piece timely published yesterday:

https://twitter.com/AnthonyMKreis/status/1763007140342464602https://twitter.com/AnthonyMKreis/status/1763007144037675512https://twitter.com/AnthonyMKreis/status/1763007146642354252
more in the 🧵

[Redban]

Saddow argues the standard is preponderance, not beyond reasonable doubt

[GeorgiaModerate]

The AJC is also live blogging the hearing at https://www.ajc.com/news/live-updates/court-hearing-about-trump-prosecutors/.

[Redban]

Merchant likely won't speak in the closing argument. They're approaching 90 mins. I believe judge said all the defense lawyers get 90 mins total

[GeorgiaModerate]

Merchant likely won't speak in the closing argument. They're approaching 90 mins. I believe judge said all the defense lawyers get 90 mins total

Yep, 90 min total for the defense and the same for the prosecution.

[Redban]

Judge sounds a bit skeptical about prosecutor's belief that appearance of impropriety isn't sufficient and that there must be finding of actual conflict; judge hints that he may buy the defense claims that appearance of impropriety can be used because of the "ambiguity" in higher courts' rulings

 Judge is also grilling prosecutor about his claim that defense relies on conjecture and speculation (ie. Judge says, "We're beyond that ... we know there was a relationship and money changed hands in some way")

[brucejoel99]

Judge sounds a bit skeptical about prosecutor's belief that appearance of impropriety isn't sufficient and that there must be finding of actual conflict; judge hints that he may buy the defense claims that appearance of impropriety can be used because of the "ambiguity" in higher courts' rulings

 Judge is also grilling prosecutor about his claim that defense relies on conjecture and speculation (ie. Judge says, "We're beyond that ... we know there was a relationship and money changed hands in some way")

A story told across several tweet timestamps:

https://twitter.com/emptywheel/status/1763655473591390456https://twitter.com/AnthonyMKreis/status/1763658163885138238https://twitter.com/AnthonyMKreis/status/1763659092399136878https://twitter.com/AnthonyMKreis/status/1763661767354327493https://twitter.com/emptywheel/status/1763664680638206338
& last but certainly not least:

Relevant piece timely published yesterday:

https://twitter.com/AnthonyMKreis/status/1763007140342464602
https://twitter.com/AnthonyMKreis/status/1763007144037675512
https://twitter.com/AnthonyMKreis/status/1763007146642354252

more in the 🧵

https://twitter.com/AnthonyMKreis/status/1763667383896404014