Supreme Court Rejects Appeal, Hands Pro-Trump Lawyers a Hefty Legal Bill

The Supreme Court rejected reviewing sanctions against two pro-Trump attorneys, Sidney Powell and Lin Wood, and five others who challenged the outcome of the 2020 election in Michigan.

Powell and Lin likely to testify in Georgia

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Powell and Lin are expected to be called by the prosecutors as witnesses in the Georgia RiCO case against Trump and co-defendants that charged them with interfering with 2020 election results in the state. Wood had already testified before a Fulton County grand jury while Powell took the plea deal.

SCOTUS rejected the appeal

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The Supreme Court did not offer an explanation after rejecting appeals from Powell, Wood, and five other lawyers connected to the former President. This automatically means that the lower court’s ruling will be upheld

“Abuse of the judicial system”

The district judge in Michigan called their lawsuit a “historic and profound abuse of the judicial process” and issued fines and disciplinary sanctions. The lawyers have to pay $132,693.75 to the city of Detroit and an additional $19,639.75 in legal expenses to the state of Michigan. The state was represented by a group called the Lawyers for the City of Detroit, and they will be paid from this sum.

“Legitimate election challenges”

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In the appeal to the Supreme Court, the lawyers stated they were trying to fight for “legitimate election challenges.” But, according to the initial filing in the Michigan suit, the lawyers brought up a conspiracy theory that involved Venezuela and China and tied it to the alleged election interference.

Blaming democrats

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In the appeal, the lawyers also accused Democrats of trying to “marginalize political opponents and destroy their counsel.” While the appellate court lowered the sum the lawyers owed, it largely upheld the ruling from US District Judge Linda Parker for the Eastern District of Michigan. With SCOTUS’ denial, this ruling stays mainly in place.

Judge Parker’s ruling

The Judge wrote that the attorneys’ lawsuit was based on “speculation, conjecture, and unwarranted suspicion.” The Judge’s 2021 verdict added, “It is one thing to take on the charge of vindicating rights associated with an allegedly fraudulent election,” but “It is another to take on the charge of deceiving a federal court and the American people into believing that rights were infringed, without regard to whether any laws or rights were in fact violated. This is what happened here.”

Other challenges

Election technology firm Dominion Voting Systems sued Powell, known as the “Kraken” lawyer, for over $1.3 billion over her claim that the company rigged the election in President Biden’s favor. Dominion also sued Rudy Guilliani for the same amount.

“Release the Kraken”

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In 2020, while on Fox, Powel alleged that massive voter fraud had been “organized and conducted with the help of Silicon Valley people, the big tech companies, the social media companies, and even the media companies.” She added, “I’m going to release the Kraken,” which soon became a joke representing election deniers.

The Supreme Court has more Trump-related decisions

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One of the vital questions in Trump’s defense is the claim of presidential immunity. Trump’s lawyers argued that he should be “immune” from the criminal prosecution in the charges alleging that he tried to overturn the 2020 elections. This case, brought by special couple Jack Smith and presided over by Judge Chutkan, is paused until SCOTUS’s decision.

Question of the 14th Amendment’s Section 3

Justices heard oral arguments regarding the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to remove Trump off the ballot, citing the 14th Amendment’s Section 3. Based on what was reported, SCOTUS will likely side with Trump.

Georgia case in trouble

District Attorney Fani Willis, who brought the charges against Trump and 18 co-defendants, was forced to deny “salacious” claims that she and top prosecutor Nathan Wade profited from their affair. The allegations, brought by one co-defendant, claimed that Willis hired Wade, and the two were already engaged in an affair, so they used taxpayers’ money to pay for lavish vacations.

The case still does not have a trial date

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While Willis believed that the trial could be finished before the election, the optics were not in her favor. The recent development in Willis’ personal life could cause delay and even disqualify her from the case. But, the case is believed to be quite strong, and if Trump were found guilty on the Georgia charges, a sitting president wouldn’t be able to pardon him due to state laws.