First, Thomas. Now, Alito. SCOTUS Has An Ethics Problem.

Fred Wertheimer’s Weekly Note | June 22, 2023 For some inexplicable reason, the Justices on the Supreme Court have strongly resisted applying the same ethics rules to themselves that apply to all other federal judges. It is as if they are saying to the American people, “Don’t worry, trust us. We would never do anything […]

Key Facts In The Trump Classified Documents Case

On June 13, 2023, former President Donald Trump was indicted on 37 felony counts related to his handling of classified documents. The former President has pleaded not guilty. The federal charges were brought by the Justice Department, led by Special Counsel Jack Smith. Here are key facts in the case: #1. According To The Indictment, Trump Knowingly […]

Where The Trump Indictments Go From Here

Fred Wertheimer’s Weekly Note | June 15, 2023 With the historic 37-count indictment of former President Donald Trump in Florida last week in the Mar-a-Lago documents case, Trump has now been indicted twice. He currently faces two more potential criminal indictments. The first indictment, filed by the Manhattan District Attorney in April for falsifying business records and other crimes […]

Eisen, Painter, Wertheimer: Aileen Cannon’s Previous Rulings About Trump Demand Her Recusal In Docs Case

Judge Aileen Cannon, the judge assigned last week to oversee the government’s case against former President Donald Trump regarding his possession and refusal to return classified government documents, “should do the ethical thing and recuse herself,” Amb. Norman Eisen (ret.), Richard Painter, and Fred Wertheimer write in an op-ed published today on Slate. Eisen served as […]

E.J. Dionne Jr.: Trump’s Indictment Is Tragic For Our Country But An Imperative For Justice

“On Thursday, accountability overcame fear. In bringing the first federal charges ever against a former President, the Justice Department made the less political decision.” – E.J. Dionne Jr.   This op-ed by E.J. Dionne Jr. appeared in The Washington Post on June 9, 2023. Read it online or below. ____________________ The Washington Post   |  June 9, 2023 Trump’s Indictment […]

Will Trump’s Own Words Convict Him In Docs Case?

Fred Wertheimer’s Weekly Note | June 8, 2023 Recent reports indicate that Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith is closing in on a decision about whether to indict former President Donald Trump in the investigation into Trump’s possession and handling of top-secret and classified documents he took from the White House. The Guardian reported that Trump […]

The Mar-a-Lago Documents Case – Do Trump’s Own Words Convict Him?

The publicly known evidence in the Mar-a-Lago documents case keeps growing, and some of the strongest evidence has come from former President Donald Trump himself, Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer writes in an op-ed published today on Medium. “Trump’s own words may well play a pivotal role in convicting him,” Wertheimer writes. Recent reports indicate […]

Nine Former Prosecutors, Legal Experts Conclude Sufficient Evidence Exists For DOJ To Indict Trump In Classified Documents Case

“There is sufficient evidence to obtain and sustain a conviction.” The Justice Department should indict former President Donald Trump for crimes relating to classified documents removed from the White House, according to a new report published in Just Security. That conclusion is based upon government filings and statements and media reports concerning the evidence. The […]

Powerful New Mar-a-Lago Docs Revelations Make Case Against Trump Even Stronger

Fred Wertheimer’s Weekly Note | June 1, 2023 Recent developments have further imperiled former President Donald Trump as Special Counsel Jack Smith appears close to deciding whether to indict Trump for taking and retaining classified and top-secret documents that did not belong to him. A recent Washington Post report indicated that boxes of documents were removed from their […]