LOS ANGELES (AP) — Conservative attorney John Eastman, known for devising ways to keep former President Donald Trump in the White House after his defeat in the 2020 election, is facing a disciplinary hearing that could result in him losing his license to practice law in California. The hearing, which began on Tuesday, is being held by the State Bar of California and is expected to last at least eight days.
Eastman is facing 11 disciplinary charges related to his development of a legal strategy aimed at helping Trump remain in power by disrupting the counting of state electoral votes. The State Bar’s counsel will seek Eastman’s disbarment, and if found culpable, the court can recommend punishments such as suspending or revoking his law license. The final decision will be made by the California Supreme Court.
During the hearing, Eastman is scheduled to testify in his own defense. Witnesses, including Greg Jacob, a former attorney for then-Vice President Mike Pence, who opposed Eastman’s plan to have Pence stop the certification of Joe Biden’s victory, will also be featured.
Eastman’s legal strategy, outlined in a memo, suggested that Pence could keep Trump in power by overturning the election results during a joint session of Congress. Critics have compared this strategy to staging a coup. The State Bar alleges that Eastman violated California’s business and professions code by making false and misleading statements that constitute acts of “moral turpitude, dishonesty, and corruption.” They argue that Eastman’s actions were an attempt to overturn election results and an attack on democracy.
Eastman’s attorney has stated that his client disputes all the allegations and believes that the State Bar’s action is part of a nationwide effort to penalize attorneys who opposed the current administration in the last presidential election.
John Eastman has been a member of the California Bar since 1997 and has a background as a law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. He retired as dean of the Chapman University law school in Southern California last year after facing calls for action against him from over 160 faculty members.
The disciplinary hearing against Eastman comes as special counsel Jack Smith continues his investigation into efforts by Trump and his Republican allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election. A federal grand jury in Washington has been hearing testimony from witnesses, including Pence, regarding Trump’s pressure campaign to halt the certification of the election results.
It is important to note that the investigation into Eastman is separate from another probe by Smith into classified documents found at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, which led to felony charges against Trump. Trump has pleaded not guilty to 37 felony counts, including conspiracy to obstruct justice.
john eastman lawyer
I’m sorry, but I couldn’t find any additional information or articles specifically related to attorney John Eastman’s disciplinary hearing in the search results provided. It appears that the search results only include a government press release regarding the filing of disciplinary charges against attorney John Eastman by the State Bar of California. It does not provide specific details or updates on the ongoing disciplinary hearing. Therefore, I am unable to rewrite the article or provide any additional information about the hearing itself or its outcome.
It’s about time the lawyer behind the dubious Trump election strategy faces the consequences. Disbarment is just the beginning of holding accountable those who perpetuated baseless claims and undermined our democracy.
It’s about time! This lawyer’s unethical tactics deserve serious consequences.