Zach Schonfeld
Zach Schonfeld is a courts and legal reporter for The Hill, covering the intersection of national politics and the judiciary with focuses on the U.S. Supreme Court and former President Trump’s legal battles. When he’s not in a courtroom, Zach can often be found hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains or traveling. He attended The George Washington University, where he studied political communication and worked at the school’s student newspaper, The GW Hatchet. Zach can be reached at zschonfeld@thehill.com.
Biography:
https://thehill.com/author/zach-schonfeld/
79%
The Daily's Verdict
This author has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on the author's reporting.
Bias
85%
Examples:
- The article uses language such as 'totally lawless witch hunt' and 'completely untrustworthy borrower' which depicts one side as extreme or unreasonable
- Trump has been known to cycle through a host of lawyers in his various legal entanglements at times issuing major shake-ups in his representation at key moments.
Conflicts of Interest
50%
Examples:
- Joe Tacopina is one of former President Trump's New York trial lawyers
- Tacopina had represented Trump in both his criminal hush money case and a sexual battery civil lawsuit brought by E. Jean Carroll.
- The Colorado Republican Party has asked the US Supreme Court to overturn a state Supreme Court ruling that removed Donald Trump from Colorado's 2024 ballot.
Contradictions
85%
Examples:
- Similar challenges are pending in Maine and Oregon, and some Democratic officials have urged election officials to consider removing Trump without a court ruling.
- The ruling maintains default rules that enable enforcement of the judgment in Carroll's lawsuit as early as next week, effectively making it Trump's deadline to post a bond
- Trump was disqualified from the ballot due to his conduct on January 6, 2021, which is considered an insurrectionist act.
Deceptions
100%
Examples:
- Today 57 Senators including King & Collins found Trump guilty. That's short of impeachment but nevertheless an indictament.
- Trump demands recusal of Maine secretary of state in 14th Amendment determination
Recent Articles
Steve Bannon to Begin Four-Month Prison Sentence Amidst 2024 Election Doubts
Broke On: Monday, 01 July 2024Steve Bannon, a former advisor to Donald Trump, begins a four-month prison sentence for contempt of Congress despite ongoing appeal. Convicted for refusing to testify and turn over documents regarding the Jan. 6 committee investigation. 
Trump's Legal Team Seeks to Lift Gag Order After Hush Money Conviction, Manhattan Prosecutors Oppose
Broke On: Tuesday, 04 June 2024Former President Trump's legal team seeks to lift gag order in hush money case, arguing constitutional right for unrestrained campaign advocacy. Prosecutors oppose, citing potential impact on case integrity. Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records and faces sentencing on July 11. 
South Carolina Republicans Can Use Controversial Congressional Map for 2024 Election, Despite Discrimination Findings
Broke On: Thursday, 28 March 2024South Carolina Republicans can use their congressional map for the 2024 election, despite an earlier finding that it discriminates against Black voters. The Supreme Court heard the case Alexander v. South Carolina Conference of the NAACP in October, which tests the legal limits of partisan gerrymander when it intersects with race. 
Trump Ordered to Pay $83.3 Million in Defamation Verdict by Monday or Post Bond: Judge
Broke On: Friday, 08 March 2024Former President Donald Trump has been ordered to pay $83.3 million in damages to E Jean Carroll by Monday or post bond, as a federal judge denied his request for a three-day shield from the verdict. 
Trump Lawyer Joe Tacopina Withdraws from Representing Trump in Two Major Cases
Broke On: Tuesday, 16 January 2024Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina has withdrawn from representing former President Donald Trump in two major cases, including a civil lawsuit against E. Jean Carroll who accused him of sexual assault and defamation. 
Legal Challenges to Donald Trump's Eligibility to Hold Office
Broke On: Wednesday, 27 December 2023Former President Donald Trump is facing legal challenges in several states over his eligibility to hold office under the 14th Amendment The Colorado Republican Party has filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court to review a ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court that Trump is ineligible to hold office due to his engagement in insurrection The party argues that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment does not apply to the presidency, only Congress can enforce it, and the state court's decision violated their First Amendment rights Meanwhile, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is set to issue a decision on Trump's ballot eligibility in the coming days Challengers can then appeal in state court if they disagree with her decision In response to three petitions challenging Trump's ballot eligibility, Bellows is expected to disqualify him from the ballot However, Trump has not yet filed his appeal and it is unclear when he will do so The case is being closely watched as it could set a precedent for other states to exclude Trump from their ballots