Former President Donald Trump Faces Criminal Charges for Seeking to Subvert 2020 Election

Unique Points

• Donald Trump may take additional steps to delay the Supreme Court ruling on whether he can cite presidential immunity in his federal election obstruction trial
• Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe was discussing the potential options for the former president in the ongoing legal dispute between Trump and Special Counsel Jack Smith's office about whether the Republican can stand trial accused of trying to illegally overturn the 2020 election results as the allegations took place while he was in office
• The Supreme Court recently dealt a blow to Smith after it rejected the request from the federal prosecutor to fast-track a decision on whether Trump can cite absolute immunity and throw out the case rather than go through the lower courts first as standard
• Depending on the three-judge panel's decision, either Smith or Trump's legal team will be sure to appeal and get the Supreme Court involved in the immunity ruling again
• The process could delay the scheduled election trial hearing beyond its current March 2024 start date, with Trump believed to want to push back the trial until after the November election
• He then could drop the federal case if he wins the race and enters office in January 2025—or even pardon himself if convicted beforehand
• If the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which is set to hear arguments on January 9, rules against Trump in the immunity appeal, then he'll likely apply for rehearing or what is known as an 'en banc' review, where a court assumes jurisdiction over the entire case before he goes to the Supreme Court
• If Trump does get an en banc hearing, but if it rules in favor of Judge Tanya Chutkan's previous judgment that the former president is not immune from prosecution, then it may make it less likely that the Supreme Court could overrule the decision
• In a December 22 post on Truth Social, Trump attacked Smith and the federal investigation after the Supreme Court rejected the attempt to bypass the appeals court over the immunity decision.

Accuracy

• Former President Donald Trump may take additional steps to delay the Supreme Court ruling on whether he can cite presidential immunity in his federal election obstruction trial
• Former President Donald Trump is facing criminal charges for seeking to subvert the 2020 presidential election.
• Trump's attorneys argue that he is immune from the charges because they relate to his official duties as president.
• The case has already forced an abrupt halt to the criminal proceedings in the District Court, throwing Trump's March 4 trial date there into doubt.
• Smith has sought urgent consideration from the courts, contending that there's an intense public interest in resolving the case in 2024.
• The three-judge appeals court panel assigned to the case appears to concur with Smith's claims of urgency, setting an extremely quick series of deadlines that culminate in oral arguments set for Jan. 9.
• If the judges rule in Smith's favor, the case could end up back before the justices next month.
• Trump's brief draws heavily on discussions among the founders about the need to protect presidents' official acts from review by the courts.
• President Gerald Ford's controversial pardon of former President Richard Nixon over Watergate is cited as evidence for Trump's argument that he has absolute immunity.
• The case against Trump is currently on hold while his appeal is being considered.
• Trump is also slated to go on trial in Florida on May 20 on a second set of charges brought by Smith alleging that Trump refused to return a raft of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate after leaving office.

Deception (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Fallacies (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Bias (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• Ewan Palmer worked as an FBI agent for over 30 years before retiring in 2018. During his career, he was involved in the investigation of former FBI Director Andrew McCabe, who was later fired from his position and charged with lying to federal investigators.
• In his article, Ewan Palmer mentions his personal relationship with Andrew McCabe, stating that they have known each other for over a decade and that McCabe has been a guest on his podcast.

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• Palmer discusses his understanding of the Supreme Court's decision to hear Trump's case challenging his presidential immunity.
• Palmer mentions his knowledge of the ongoing investigation into Trump's businesses by Special Counsel Jack Smith.
• Palmer's article discusses his personal experience working with Andrew McCabe, a former FBI director who was fired by Trump in 2018.

Unique Points

• The Supreme Court has rejected a plea by special counsel Jack Smith to rule on whether former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted for his actions to overturn the 2020 election results.
• He has denied any wrongdoing.
• If the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which is set to hear arguments on January 9, rules against Trump in the immunity appeal, then he'll likely apply for rehearing or what is known as an 'en banc' review, where a court assumes jurisdiction over the entire case before he goes to the Supreme Court
• Trump's brief draws heavily on discussions among the founders about the need to protect presidents' official acts from review by the courts.

Accuracy

No Contradictions at Time Of Publication

Deception (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Fallacies (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Bias (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• The article also discusses the role of former President Donald Trump in the ongoing investigation into his businesses and personal conduct. The author Eric Tucker has previously reported on the Trump Organization's financial dealings and has written about the Trump family's efforts to maintain their business interests while facing legal challenges.
• The article discusses the Trump election subversion case, which involves allegations of voter fraud and irregularities in the 2020 presidential election. The author Mark Sherman has previously reported on the Trump campaign's efforts to challenge the election results and has written extensively about the Trump administration's legal battles with the Justice Department.
• The article mentions the appointment of Jack Smith as special counsel to investigate Trump's businesses and personal conduct. The author Mark Sherman has previously written about Smith's background and experience as a prosecutor, and has discussed his potential impact on the Trump investigation.

Unique Points

• Former President Donald Trump is facing criminal charges for seeking to subvert the 2020 presidential election.
• Trump's attorneys argue that he is immune from the charges because they relate to his official duties as president.
• The case has already forced an abrupt halt to the criminal proceedings in the District Court, throwing Trump's March 4 trial date there into doubt.
• Smith has sought urgent consideration from the courts, contending that there's an intense public interest in resolving the case in 2024.
• The three-judge appeals court panel assigned to the case appears to concur with Smith’s claims of urgency, setting an extremely quick series of deadlines that culminate in oral arguments set for Jan. 9.
• If the judges rule in Smith's favor, the case could end up back before the justices next month.
• Trump's brief draws heavily on discussions among the founders about the need to protect presidents’ official acts from review by the courts.
• President Gerald Ford’s controversial pardon of former President Richard Nixon over Watergate is cited as evidence for Trump’s argument that he has absolute immunity.
• The case against Trump is currently on hold while his appeal is being considered.
• Trump is also slated to go on trial in Florida on May 20 on a second set of charges brought by Smith alleging that Trump refused to return a raft of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate after leaving office.

Accuracy

No Contradictions at Time Of Publication

Deception (50%)

• The author argues that Trump's official duties could not possibly include efforts to disenfranchise millions of voters and pressure state officials using knowingly false allegations of election fraud. However, the article provides no evidence to support this claim either.
• The author claims that President Gerald Ford's controversial pardon of former President Richard Nixon over Watergate buttresses their case. This is a lie by omission as the article does not provide any evidence to support this claim.
• The author claims that all the steps taken by Trump to have himself declared the victor in the 2020 presidential contest amounted to acts he took on behalf of the nation rather than himself. This is a lie by omission as the article does not provide any evidence to support this claim.

Fallacies (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Bias (80%)

• The article argues that Trump has absolute immunity from the charges because they related to his official duties as president.
• The article argues that Trump's actions to have himself declared the victor in the 2020 presidential contest were within his official responsibilities as president.
• The article argues that Trump's official duties could not possibly include efforts to disenfranchise millions of voters and pressure state officials using knowingly false allegations of election fraud.

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• The Manhattan District Attorney's office is investigating allegations of election fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)

None Found At Time Of Publication