John Eastman: California Attorney Discloses Disciplinary Allegations Against Trump Attorney

CNN
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The State Bar of California has unveiled new disciplinary charges against John Eastman for his involvement in former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.

State Bar Association trial counsel are bringing 11 charges against Eastman, accusing Eastman of violating various rules of bar ethics in multiple episodes, court cases and other acts.

Among the gambles the new disciplinary process is targeting are Eastman court papers filed in Georgia, a pressure campaign against then-Vice President Mike Pence filed in the Supreme Court, obstruction of congressional certification, and Eastman’s promotion of false election fraud claims.

“There is nothing more sacrosanct to our American democracy than free and fair elections and the peaceful transfer of power. “The Notice of Disciplinary Charge alleges that Mr. Eastman violated this duty in order to further an attempt to usurp the will of the American people and overturn the results of the election for the highest office in the land – an outrageous and unprecedented attack on our democracy. do. He has to take responsibility.”

Eastman’s attorney, Randall Miller, argued in a lengthy statement that the charges were political in nature, claiming that Eastman “is disputing ‘all aspects’ of the lawsuit filed against him by the State Bar Association.” Miller said Eastman would also challenge them and offer his position.

The charges say he violated ethics rules by pushing claims of voter fraud in lawsuits, public statements and other aspects of his legal practice. He is also accused of relying on “fundamentally flawed” legal theories he knew or should have known to argue that Pence could hamper congressional approval of the 2020 results.

Eastman now faces a deadline for responding to the allegations.

Proceedings eventually go to the State Bar Court for adjudication, but the State Supreme Court has the final say on whether an attorney must go through disciplinary proceedings in the case of suspension or removal.

In the new charges, lawyers say Eastman knew or should have known that the Pence plan was unconstitutional, and indictment papers pointing to an October 2020 email from Eastman appear to reject the idea that the state could file an alternative electoral roll. . – a key element of the proposal he championed after the election.

Eastman violated the Code of Ethics for Lawyers by not upholding the Constitution, the disciplinary documents allege. He was also charged with moral confusion, including charges of attempting to mislead the court and making false statements.

The disciplinary filings, citing post-election lawsuits and comments from members of the Trump administration, election officials, and other “reliable sources,” claim that Eastman, who uncovered election fraud allegations, knew or should have known that he was creating false information. claims about elections.

Eastman is the latest Trump-affiliated attorney to face disciplinary proceedings for his work on the election cancellation plan. A DC disciplinary panel recently released a preliminary finding that former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani had violated a code of ethics in his campaign lawsuit.

Former Justice Department attorney Jeffrey Clarke, who spurred Trump’s campaign reversal efforts, and attorney Sidney Powell, who represented the Trump campaign in a lawsuit challenging the 2020 results, are also facing disciplinary proceedings.

This story has been updated with a statement from Attorney Eastman.