1 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Law with June Brusso from Bloomberg Radio. 2 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 2: Every individual charge in the indictment is charged with one 3 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:23,240 Speaker 2: count of violating Georgia's Racketeer, Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act 4 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 2: through participation in a criminal enterprise in Fulton County, Georgia 5 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 2: and elsewhere to accomplish the illegal goal of allowing Donald J. 6 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 2: Trump to seize the presidential term of office. Beginning on 7 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 2: January twentieth, twenty. 8 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 3: One, Fulton County DA Fani Willis announced the indictment of 9 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 3: Donald Trump and eighteen others over their efforts to overturn 10 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 3: his twenty twenty election loss in the state. It was 11 00:00:56,280 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 3: a sweeping indictment under Georgia's RICO Statute, alledging forty one 12 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:05,320 Speaker 3: felonies and a vast conspiracy that stretched from the Oval 13 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 3: office and Trump's infamous call to the Secretary of State 14 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 3: to find him eleven seven hundred and eighty votes, to 15 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:16,960 Speaker 3: the fake electors scheme to apply to access voting machines 16 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 3: in a rural county in Georgia, and even to the 17 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 3: harassment of election worker Ruby Freeman. Joining me is former 18 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 3: federal prosecutor Jimmy Garoul a professor at Notre Dame Law School. 19 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 3: This is a sweeping indictment. What was your general impression. 20 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 4: Well, my first impression was the scope of the indictment. 21 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:39,119 Speaker 4: So here we're talking about an indictment that charges former 22 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 4: President Trump and eighteen other defendants. These are not unindicted 23 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 4: co conspirators. These are actually individuals that are charged in 24 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 4: the indictment itself. So a total of nineteenth defendants charged, 25 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 4: and then collectively the indictment alleges forty one counts, you know, 26 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 4: forty one violations of criminal activity. Former President Trump himself 27 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 4: was charged in thirteen counts. And then the big ticket 28 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:10,359 Speaker 4: item is the inclusion of the Georgia Rico Statute. And 29 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,400 Speaker 4: not only was former President Trump and others charged with 30 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 4: substance of RICO, a violation of the Rico Statute itself, 31 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 4: but also conspiracy to violate RICO, which is just sweeping 32 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 4: in scope in terms of the type of criminal activity 33 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 4: that can be included and litigated prosecuted in the case. 34 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 5: You know, there are. 35 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 3: Sort of different baskets of charges. How does a jury 36 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 3: take it all in? You know, the false statements to 37 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:41,959 Speaker 3: Georgia officials, the fake electors, the harassment of an election worker, 38 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 3: the theft of election data and ballots in a rural 39 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 3: county in Georgia. I mean, the indictment is just sprawling. 40 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 4: Well, it really is. And so you compair the Georgia 41 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 4: indictment with the January sixth indictment that Special Council Jack 42 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 4: Smith brought, and they are dramatic, dramatically different. And so 43 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 4: the January sixth indictment charged only one individual, you know, 44 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 4: nineteen individuals, and the number of criminal accounts were substantially fewer. 45 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 4: And so the problem that I see with the Georgia 46 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 4: indictment is just the logistics, first of all, of how 47 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 4: you're going to prosecute in a single trial nineteen individuals, 48 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 4: each of which are likely to be represented by multiple 49 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 4: criminal defense lawyers. So just in the well of the courtroom, 50 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 4: what is that courtroom going to look like. That's going 51 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 4: to have nineteen defendants, you know, who knows, twenty thirty 52 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 4: forty defense lawyers, and then each of those defense lawyers 53 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 4: is going to have an opportunity to individually cross examine 54 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 4: each government witness. Each defendant will have an opportunity to 55 00:03:56,720 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 4: make an individual opening statement and closing argument. So that's 56 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 4: nineteen opening statements just by the defense, nineteen closing arguments 57 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 4: just by the defense, every government witness examined, cross examined, 58 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 4: potentially nineteen different times. And then by the way, in 59 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 4: the Rico conspiracy count it alleges one hundred and sixty 60 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:22,799 Speaker 4: one acts in furtherance of the conspiracy. And so how 61 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 4: is the jury going to consolidate and organize and keep 62 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:29,479 Speaker 4: straight all of the counts. And not all of the 63 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 4: counts relate to each of the nineteen defendants. So some 64 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 4: counts relate only to certain defendants, other counts relate to 65 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 4: other defendants, And so it's going to be a monumental 66 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 4: challenge for the jury to understand and compartmentalize and collate 67 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 4: and keep straight the criminal charges against each defendant. 68 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 3: In the case, Rico chargers were designed to combat organize crime. 69 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 3: It's a way to get to the mob boss at 70 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:02,840 Speaker 3: the top who doesn't get his hands dirty. And then 71 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:07,600 Speaker 3: there are lower levels of players or defendants. Is it 72 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 3: likely in this case that some of those other defendants 73 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 3: might flip on the guy at the top and his 74 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:17,600 Speaker 3: close associates and testify for the prosecution. 75 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:21,719 Speaker 4: Well, he could, certainly. I mean the Georgia Rico statue 76 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 4: carries a penalty of up to a maximum of twenty 77 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,280 Speaker 4: years in prison and a minimum five years in prison. 78 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 4: So the sensing judge is not going to have any 79 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 4: discretion with respect to, for example, placing someone on probation. 80 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:38,279 Speaker 4: The judge would have to is required by statue to 81 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:41,360 Speaker 4: impose a sense of at least five years and conceivably 82 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,279 Speaker 4: up to a maximum of twenty years. So every defendant 83 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 4: has a very strong incentive to cooperate and not go 84 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 4: to trial to avoid receiving at least sense of five 85 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,600 Speaker 4: years in prison. But I think the advantage of the 86 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 4: Rico statute, and you touched on this, I mean it 87 00:05:55,839 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 4: was initially drafted and targeted against organized crime. And the 88 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 4: value is this, and the justification for RICO is this 89 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 4: that criminal organizations engage in diverse criminal activity. So for example, 90 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 4: if we took a drug enterprise a drug cartel, members 91 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 4: of the drug cartel, some of them would engage in 92 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 4: drug trafficking, the sale, the trafficking and illicit drugs. Others 93 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:24,920 Speaker 4: may engage in bribery. Others may engage in extortion. Other 94 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 4: members may engage in violent crimes directed at members of 95 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 4: a rival drug organization. So traditional conspiracy law isn't adequate 96 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:37,559 Speaker 4: to deal with that type of diverse criminal activity because 97 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 4: you wouldn't have a single agreement. You know, one group 98 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:42,039 Speaker 4: of members of the drug cartel would say, well, we 99 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 4: had an agreement to engage in violent crime, we had 100 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 4: an agreement to engage in bribery. Others we had an 101 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:48,919 Speaker 4: agreement to engage in extortion, we had an agreement to 102 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 4: engage in drug trafficking. So there are multiple different agreements. Well, here, 103 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 4: under RICO, the focus is not on the agreement. The 104 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 4: focus is on the nature of the organization itself, and 105 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 4: if the organization has a common purpose and engages in 106 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:07,919 Speaker 4: diverse criminal activity to further that single criminal purpose, that 107 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 4: all of those individuals can be charged in a single 108 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 4: indictment in the absence of a single agreement. 109 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 5: So, now, what does. 110 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 3: A prosecutor have to prove in order to get a 111 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 3: RICO conviction. It should that is charged with RICO and 112 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 3: one or more other charges. 113 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 4: Right, Well, they're going to have to prove that all 114 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 4: nineteen defendants were members of an enterprise. An enterprise is 115 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 4: a legal term of art and basically it means any 116 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 4: group of individuals associated in fact, and that were acting 117 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 4: in furtherance of a single criminal purpose. So this association 118 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 4: in fact enterprise is very loose knit. There has to 119 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 4: be relationships between the individuals. They have to work together 120 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 4: as a unit. They have to work in furtherance of 121 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 4: a common criminal purpose. And so the argument would be 122 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 4: here that all of these nineteen individuals charge in the 123 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 4: Georgia indictment, we're working together. They were working in association 124 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 4: and collaboration for the single purpose of keeping President Trump 125 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 4: in power, to ensure that the electoral votes were cast 126 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 4: in favor of President Trump and not in favor of 127 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 4: President Biden, even to the tune of just disregarding legitimate 128 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 4: electoral votes and replacing those with again the slate of 129 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 4: bake electors. So that's the enterprise, and that's the purpose 130 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 4: of the enterprise, all these individuals working together in furtherance 131 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 4: of this common scheme to keep President Trump in power. 132 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:40,520 Speaker 5: And then it has to be an avert act. 133 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:43,840 Speaker 4: Then the next important element is there has to be 134 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 4: a pattern of racketeering activity, So the members of this 135 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:52,720 Speaker 4: enterprise has to engage and racketeing activity. Racketeering activity is 136 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:56,679 Speaker 4: really kind of an umbrella term that incorporates within it 137 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 4: very specific crimes enumerated in the status such as false statements, 138 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:06,079 Speaker 4: you know, bribery and other you know, similar types of offenses, 139 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:09,199 Speaker 4: So that would be racketing activity. But then there has 140 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 4: to be a pattern of racketing activity. So the pattern 141 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:16,199 Speaker 4: is the third element, and that requires that each individual, 142 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 4: if you're charged with the substance of RICO offense, engaged 143 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:23,079 Speaker 4: in two or more acts of racketing activity again in 144 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 4: further into the enterprise. But if you're charged with conspiracy 145 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 4: to commit RICO, then you just have to agree to 146 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 4: further the objective of the enterprise, you know, keep President 147 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 4: Trump in power at all means, and some member of 148 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:44,719 Speaker 4: the enterprise of the conspiracy must have committed two or 149 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 4: more acts of racketeering activity the pattern of racketing activity. 150 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:51,440 Speaker 4: So under the conspiracy provision, you don't have to prove 151 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:55,640 Speaker 4: that each member of the conspiracy himself or herself committed 152 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 4: two acts of racketeering activity, just that they agreed that 153 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 4: some member of the conspiracy or members of the conspiracy 154 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 4: would commit two or more actual recturing activity. 155 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:11,679 Speaker 3: So you prosecuted Rico as a federal prosecutor in LA 156 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:14,680 Speaker 3: the way she's laid this out, will it make for 157 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:16,320 Speaker 3: an easy case for her to prove? 158 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:18,200 Speaker 5: I mean, a lot is going on here. 159 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:21,679 Speaker 4: Well, I think the difficulty again is the breadth of 160 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:24,960 Speaker 4: the indictment, even the recoindictment. It's just going to be 161 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:27,840 Speaker 4: a lot for the jury to have to digest and 162 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 4: keep straight again, one hundred and sixty one acts, overt acts, 163 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:37,520 Speaker 4: and further into the conspiracy, nineteen defendants, forty one counts, 164 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 4: and so it's just going to be a lot of information, 165 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 4: a lot of evidence to keep sorted out, to keep 166 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:48,240 Speaker 4: straight in their minds with respect to each defendant in 167 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:51,719 Speaker 4: the case. So, therefore, what are the kind of implications 168 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 4: of that? I mean, it just strikes me that this 169 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:56,959 Speaker 4: is not a case that's going to go to trial quickly. 170 00:10:57,360 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 4: Because you've got nineteen defendants. Each of these defendants and 171 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:03,720 Speaker 4: their defense counselor are going to file pre trial motions, 172 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 4: probably multiple pre trial motions that the court is going 173 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 4: to have to rule on that There's going to have 174 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 4: to be time set aside for briefing each of these motions, 175 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 4: time for the judge to consider and rule on each 176 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:17,680 Speaker 4: of these motions. Some of these rulings may be appealed, 177 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:22,600 Speaker 4: not could delay the trial further, and then picking a jury. 178 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 4: Picking a jury is going to be an incredible challenge 179 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 4: to ensure that you have an unbiased and impartial jury 180 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 4: in this super high profile case. 181 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 3: Filton County DA Finni Willis said last night that she 182 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 3: wants to try this in six months. Do you think 183 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 3: that's just out of the question. 184 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 4: I don't think it's realistic. I think that once the 185 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:47,959 Speaker 4: judge starts scheduling the timing for the pre trial motions, 186 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 4: the time that it's going to take again to argue 187 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 4: these motions for the court to consider them to rule 188 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:56,840 Speaker 4: on them. Discovery, the prosecution has to disclose materials to 189 00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 4: the other side, to the defense. The defense has to 190 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:02,319 Speaker 4: be given a reasonable time to consider the discovery materials, 191 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:05,439 Speaker 4: file pre trial motions thereafter. So there's so many moving 192 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:09,200 Speaker 4: parts here. It's just difficult for me to see how 193 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 4: all of this can be resolved in time for the 194 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:15,440 Speaker 4: trial to take place. I mean, it's even difficult for 195 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:18,240 Speaker 4: me to imagine that a trial would begin in six months. 196 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 4: And then the next question is, well, how long is 197 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:23,320 Speaker 4: the trial going to take itself? So the trial itself 198 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 4: could be multiple months in duration, and so when you 199 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:30,560 Speaker 4: start adding all of this up, it's inconceivable to me 200 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:32,600 Speaker 4: that it could be completed in a six month period 201 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:33,080 Speaker 4: of time. 202 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:36,560 Speaker 3: So Fanny Willa says she wants to try all nineteen together. 203 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 3: Could a judge say that can't be done. We have 204 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:40,439 Speaker 3: to split this up. 205 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 4: It could certainly happened, and it has in the past. 206 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 4: And the argument would be that the defendant or defendants 207 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:49,319 Speaker 4: couldnot receive due process, you know, a fair trial if 208 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 4: they're charged you know, collectively. And so part of the 209 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 4: problem here, and you've alluded to this that some of 210 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 4: the defendants named in the indictment were minor players. There 211 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:02,680 Speaker 4: are more peripheral players, their criminal activity was more limited 212 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:07,359 Speaker 4: in scope, and other players like former President Trump, Rudy Giuliani, 213 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:11,080 Speaker 4: John Eastman, and others, their activity was much more substantial. 214 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:15,079 Speaker 4: And so the argument would be by the peripheral defendants 215 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 4: that for them to be tried along with these individuals 216 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 4: who were more heavily substantially involved in criminal activity. There's 217 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 4: this fear that there's going to be the spillover effect 218 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 4: of evidence that Giuliani allegedly committed that former President Trump 219 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:32,959 Speaker 4: that is going to be considered against some of these 220 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:37,160 Speaker 4: more minor participants in the criminal activity. So I would 221 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 4: not be surprised at all if, first of all, there's 222 00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 4: going to be motion to several There'll be multiple motions 223 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 4: to sever defendants from the case, and I would not 224 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:48,360 Speaker 4: be surprised if the judge granted some of those motions 225 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:48,920 Speaker 4: for severance. 226 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:52,880 Speaker 3: What's the hardest thing about trying a Rico case as 227 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:53,800 Speaker 3: a prosecutor? 228 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:56,240 Speaker 4: Well, I think again, establishing, You know, you have to 229 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:59,840 Speaker 4: establish the enterprise, and so you have to be able 230 00:13:59,880 --> 00:14:03,960 Speaker 4: to fit each individual in the enterprise. I think, you know, establishing, 231 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:05,920 Speaker 4: you know, what was their role, what was their function, 232 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 4: what was the purpose of the enterprise, what was its goal, 233 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 4: what was its objective? And then what did each of 234 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 4: these nineteen defendants do in furtherance off that goal and 235 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 4: those of those objectives. And so I think, you know, 236 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 4: the enterprise is going to be a challenging issue. I 237 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 4: think more so for some defendants than others. I think 238 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 4: with certain defendants, in particular former President Trump, it's going 239 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 4: to be easier to place him in the enterprise. I mean, 240 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 4: he was the orchestra conductor. He was the one who's 241 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 4: directing the activities of the enterprise, you know, telling Juliani 242 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 4: what to do in Eastman and other members of the 243 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 4: enterprise what to do. So it's going to be easier 244 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 4: with respects to him, but with respect to others, you know, 245 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 4: it's going to be it's going to be difficult to 246 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 4: fit them into the contours of the enterprise. So that's 247 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 4: going to be a major challenge. 248 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 5: And one defense. 249 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 3: Let's say former President Trump doesn't necessary, I really have 250 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 3: to know the other defendants in the enterprise. 251 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 4: Well, that's correct, that's correct, and that's a plus for 252 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 4: the prosecution. So there's no requirement that each member of 253 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 4: the enterprise know the identities of the other members of 254 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 4: the enterprise and their criminal activity, you know, what they're 255 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 4: engaged in. It's just enough that each defendant was a 256 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 4: member of the enterprise. What's the evidence that the infentant 257 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:28,080 Speaker 4: was a member of the enterprise and what role did 258 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 4: that individual play in furthering the objectives of the enterprise. 259 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 4: So it could be that conceivably one of the members 260 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 4: of the enterprise, maybe only knew one or two other 261 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 4: members of the enterprise, wasn't aware of fifteen or so 262 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 4: members that it doesn't matter the prosecution does have to 263 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 4: prove this knowledge of the identities of each member and 264 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 4: the role that they played. 265 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:53,240 Speaker 3: This district attorney likes rico cases. She likes to bring 266 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:56,720 Speaker 3: rico cases. But what's the downside of bringing a rico 267 00:15:56,880 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 3: case when she's behind now the other criminal cases because 268 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 3: she's filed last and the election is coming up. 269 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 5: He could become a president. 270 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 2: Yeah. 271 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 4: I think the argument that she would likely make for 272 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 4: charging the case the way that she charged it was 273 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 4: that she wants to give the jury the complete picture 274 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 4: that she wants to the jury to know the full nature, 275 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 4: you know, the scope and breadth of the criminal activity 276 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:26,440 Speaker 4: that former President Trump and others were allegedly involved in. 277 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:29,000 Speaker 4: And so she doesn't want to carve it out into 278 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 4: sections or pieces, but she wants the full scope, the 279 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 4: full breadth of the criminal activity with respect to again 280 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 4: preventing the peaceful transfer of power to then President elect Biden. 281 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 4: So I think that's the argument that she would make. 282 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 4: But the counter argument is, well, logistically, this is going 283 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 4: to be so difficult, it's going to be almost unmanageable 284 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:54,560 Speaker 4: to present this type of case before a single group 285 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:55,120 Speaker 4: of jurors. 286 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:57,320 Speaker 5: And if this does. 287 00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 3: Not get tried before the election, And there are a 288 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 3: lot of ifs here. If it doesn't get dried before 289 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:06,920 Speaker 3: the election, if Trump wins the election, even though he's 290 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:09,639 Speaker 3: supposed to then come to Georgia for the trial, I mean, 291 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:12,159 Speaker 3: there'll be a lot of different ways for him to 292 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:12,920 Speaker 3: put it off. 293 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:14,919 Speaker 4: Right, Well, I can try to put it off. The 294 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:18,639 Speaker 4: other interesting thing here is that with the federal cases, 295 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:22,240 Speaker 4: a federal indictment, I think that former President Trump's strategy 296 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 4: may be, well, let's delay, delay, delay. If he is 297 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:30,120 Speaker 4: elected president, then he'll pardon himself, or let's delay delay, delay, 298 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:33,399 Speaker 4: even if he's not the Republican nominee, but there's some 299 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 4: other Republican nominee that person is elected president, then the 300 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:43,040 Speaker 4: Republican president will pardon former President Trump. That doesn't work 301 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:48,240 Speaker 4: in Georgia because again, the president has no authority, no 302 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 4: power to grant a pardon with respect to a state 303 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:55,720 Speaker 4: criminal conviction. So then one would argue, yeah, well the 304 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 4: governor must Well, in some cases that may be true, 305 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 4: but that's not the case in Georgia. So it's not 306 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 4: the governor who has the power to grant a pardon. 307 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 4: It's the pro board that has been afforded the power 308 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 4: not the governor to grant a pardon, but to make 309 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 4: matters even worse for former President Trump, the pro board 310 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 4: can only grant a pardon after the defendant has served 311 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 4: his or her sentence, and then only five years after that, 312 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:30,560 Speaker 4: assuming there have been no criminal offenses, no criminal activity, 313 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:34,439 Speaker 4: that persons not engaged in criminal activity during that subsequent 314 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:37,720 Speaker 4: five year period of time. So assuming you know the 315 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 4: what if you know what if President Trump were convicted 316 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:45,359 Speaker 4: in Georgia and sought a pardon, well, the part would 317 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:48,600 Speaker 4: have to go before the pro board in Georgia. President 318 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:51,439 Speaker 4: Trump would have to serve his sentence, and then he 319 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:54,640 Speaker 4: could only be eligible for a pardon five years after 320 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:57,720 Speaker 4: his sentence, assuming he had not engaged in criminal activity 321 00:18:57,760 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 4: during that five year period of time. So it's a 322 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:04,639 Speaker 4: much much worse situation for President Trump with respect to 323 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:08,320 Speaker 4: a pardon than it would be under the federal indictments. 324 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:11,400 Speaker 3: Do you see any defenses for him? I mean First 325 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:13,159 Speaker 3: Amendment he keeps on talking about. 326 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:13,600 Speaker 2: No. 327 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:16,680 Speaker 4: The problem here is that I think it's a stronger 328 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:19,920 Speaker 4: case in a way than the January sixth federal indictment 329 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:23,959 Speaker 4: against Trump, because I mean, the productate offenses themselves involve 330 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:29,160 Speaker 4: false statements to government officials, specifically members of the Georgia 331 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:33,879 Speaker 4: House of Representatives or the Georgia State Senate. So making 332 00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:36,639 Speaker 4: a false statement I won the election, I won the election, 333 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 4: and you're making that statement to state legislative officials, that's 334 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 4: a crime in Georgia. And so he doesn't have a 335 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:49,399 Speaker 4: First Amendment right to make false statements. Giuliani does not 336 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:52,439 Speaker 4: have a first Amendment right to make false statements to 337 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:57,360 Speaker 4: Georgia legislative officials. And then in addition, one of the 338 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:01,040 Speaker 4: criminal charges that are included in the indict in a solicitation. 339 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:06,200 Speaker 4: So if you're soliciting someone at public official to violate 340 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:09,879 Speaker 4: their oath as a public officer, then that's a crime. 341 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:14,160 Speaker 4: So where he is reaching out to Raffensberger and saying, 342 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 4: find me eleven thousand, seven hundred and eighty votes, so 343 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 4: he's soliciting him to violate his oath of office, especially 344 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:29,800 Speaker 4: when Brad Rafthensburger's told him there aren't eleven thousand plus votes. 345 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:33,840 Speaker 4: You know, the irregularities voting the regulatories were minor, They 346 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:37,880 Speaker 4: weren't significant enough to make a difference. We have audited 347 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:43,240 Speaker 4: and re audited the election and the votes that were cast. 348 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:47,520 Speaker 4: We've determined that there were only minor irregularly. Doesn't matter. 349 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 4: Find me seven hundred and eighty votes. So he's soliciting him, 350 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 4: the Secretary of State, to violate his oath in office. 351 00:20:55,840 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 4: If that's not protected free speech. 352 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:01,440 Speaker 3: Thanks for being on the show, Jimmy. That's Professor Jimmy 353 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 3: Garule of Notre Dame Law School. 354 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 1: The appointment of mister Weiss's reinforces for the American people, 355 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:13,679 Speaker 1: the Department's committed meant to both independence and accountability in 356 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 1: particularly sensitive matters. 357 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:19,639 Speaker 3: Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed a special counsel to 358 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:24,880 Speaker 3: oversee the Justice Department's ongoing criminal investigation into President Joe 359 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:28,960 Speaker 3: Biden's son, after a controversial plea deal for Hunter Biden 360 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:33,159 Speaker 3: fell apart in court last month. Delaware US Attorney David 361 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:36,960 Speaker 3: Wise has already been overseeing the probe for five years 362 00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:39,639 Speaker 3: and requested special council status. 363 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:43,440 Speaker 1: A special counsel, he will continue to have the authority 364 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:47,879 Speaker 1: and responsibility that he has previously exercised to oversee the 365 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: investigation and decide where, when, and whether to file charges. 366 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:57,199 Speaker 3: The special council appointment was announced. Justice prosecutors revealed in 367 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 3: court that Plea talks with Hunter Biden had read an 368 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:04,639 Speaker 3: impasse and file to dismiss the tax charges against Biden 369 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:08,639 Speaker 3: and Delaware, indicating they could charge him instead in another court. 370 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:11,840 Speaker 3: Biden's attorneys are arguing that the second part of the deal, 371 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:15,439 Speaker 3: a diversion agreement on a felony gun charge, is valid 372 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:19,359 Speaker 3: and binding. My guest is Joshua Castenberg, a professor at 373 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:22,240 Speaker 3: the University of New Mexico Law School and a former 374 00:22:22,359 --> 00:22:25,879 Speaker 3: prosecutor and judge in the US Air Force. Weis a 375 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:30,720 Speaker 3: Trump appointee, had already been operating largely independently, and he 376 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:33,439 Speaker 3: told Congress last month that he'd never been denied the 377 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 3: authority to bring charges in any jurisdiction. So why ask 378 00:22:38,119 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 3: to be made special counsel? What does that give him? 379 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:41,879 Speaker 4: So? 380 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:46,800 Speaker 6: In theory, a special council has greater protections from being 381 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:50,680 Speaker 6: arbitrarily dismissed from the case, can run the case more 382 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:54,920 Speaker 6: independently without the oversight or direct oversight of the Attorney 383 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:59,160 Speaker 6: General until the special council concludes her or his report. 384 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:03,920 Speaker 6: He may remember where Durham gave his report to Americ Garland, 385 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:08,000 Speaker 6: and there was really no oversight involved whatsoever. By the 386 00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:11,480 Speaker 6: Biden administration into that. So that's the theory behind the 387 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:15,879 Speaker 6: special Council, greater protections, more independence than the normal United 388 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:19,320 Speaker 6: States attorney. Whether that's true or not in all cases 389 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:21,160 Speaker 6: is you have to take it on a case by 390 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:24,520 Speaker 6: case basis. But the idea of a special Council actually 391 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:28,080 Speaker 6: goes back one hundred years ago to the Teapot Dome scandal. 392 00:23:28,359 --> 00:23:31,440 Speaker 6: Most Americans that they know about special Council, they think 393 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:36,400 Speaker 6: back to Leon Jaworski or Archibald Cox during Watergates. They 394 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:40,640 Speaker 6: think about the Iron Contra investigations. But here's the thing 395 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 6: about a special Council that they think is important for 396 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:46,480 Speaker 6: the American people to understand. In this case, it makes 397 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:50,879 Speaker 6: sense to have a special council if allegations are at 398 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:53,879 Speaker 6: or very close to the President of the United States. 399 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:57,360 Speaker 6: It builds more confidence in the Justice Department because there's 400 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:01,439 Speaker 6: a different set of governing regulations under the CFR, the 401 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 6: Code of Federal Regulations, than there are under US attorneys. Now, 402 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:08,800 Speaker 6: not every American and certainly not some Americans on the 403 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:11,480 Speaker 6: right or the representatives in Congress, are going to buy 404 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:13,880 Speaker 6: off on what I'm saying. But this is about the 405 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:17,119 Speaker 6: best you can have in terms of the executive branch 406 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:21,639 Speaker 6: investigating itself, there's no better substitute than what's going on now. 407 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:25,200 Speaker 3: Do you think that part of the reason Garland agreed 408 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:32,000 Speaker 3: to this is because of criticism from congressional Republicans and 409 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:36,880 Speaker 3: the testimony of two IRS whistleblowers who said that there 410 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:40,040 Speaker 3: was improper political interference in the investigation. 411 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:44,800 Speaker 6: I think that's probably in all likelihood that's a major factor. 412 00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:48,440 Speaker 6: But there's another factor involved too, and that is former 413 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:53,520 Speaker 6: President Trump is facing two federal indictments. And if you 414 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:58,600 Speaker 6: think about the optics of going after a former president 415 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:01,920 Speaker 6: as the Justice Department and should be doing, but going 416 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:06,040 Speaker 6: after the former president vigorously and ethically, you want the 417 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:09,440 Speaker 6: same set of rules to apply to the current president's son. 418 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:14,080 Speaker 6: And the fundamental question that the Independent Council can get at, 419 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:18,080 Speaker 6: more likely than a sitting in the United States Attorney 420 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:21,960 Speaker 6: is whether or not Hunter Biden was simply trading on 421 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:25,920 Speaker 6: his dad's name, which is entirely possible, or whether the 422 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 6: President or others in the Oval Office knew about it 423 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:32,359 Speaker 6: and did nothing about it. And so that's really what 424 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:35,359 Speaker 6: the Special Council was likely to get at. The things 425 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:39,480 Speaker 6: we already know the tax fraud. It's probably going to 426 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:43,399 Speaker 6: be wrapped up again in a Weiss's report, just like 427 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:46,359 Speaker 6: there was already an indictment under him for this. But 428 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 6: I think that's the important feature here. Not pre judging 429 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:52,520 Speaker 6: the case at all, but I do think it's to 430 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:56,120 Speaker 6: satisfy people who are wondering whether there's two standards, one 431 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:59,200 Speaker 6: for a sitting president, one for a former president. 432 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:04,440 Speaker 3: Has been investigating Hunter Biden for five years, and Biden's 433 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 3: attorneys say, if there was anything to be found, wouldn't 434 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:09,520 Speaker 3: he have found it already? 435 00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:12,680 Speaker 6: Well, I think that's a fair comment. I absolutely think 436 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:15,280 Speaker 6: it's a fair observation. And look, you know, you and 437 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:18,040 Speaker 6: I and people across the spectrum have been around the 438 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:21,440 Speaker 6: block to know that. Let's say that mister Weis determines 439 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 6: that there's no there there regarding the president, it's not 440 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:28,080 Speaker 6: going to satisfy a certain fraction of the American people 441 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:31,440 Speaker 6: who are willing to see the worst in the Biden administration. 442 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 6: Just like if Jack Smiths found there was no there 443 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:37,920 Speaker 6: there on the January sixth investigation, there'd be a certain 444 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:40,840 Speaker 6: fraction of the American people who would think that would 445 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:42,600 Speaker 6: be a cover up. As it turns out there was 446 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:46,720 Speaker 6: a lot of there there in regard to Jack Met's investigation. 447 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:49,919 Speaker 6: But I think there's a political aspect to the appointment 448 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:53,359 Speaker 6: of mister Weiss, you know, transitioning from the United States 449 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:56,359 Speaker 6: Attorney to a special Council. But it is a fair 450 00:26:56,480 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 6: question that you know, Biden's attorneys have raised, good gosh 451 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:02,520 Speaker 6: five years to look at this and what else is 452 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:04,480 Speaker 6: there to be found? And you know, at the end 453 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:06,440 Speaker 6: of the day, it may be that there's nothing more 454 00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 6: to be found and we're back to just the tax indictments. 455 00:27:09,720 --> 00:27:13,479 Speaker 3: Wis's team told the federal court they'd likely move forward 456 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:16,400 Speaker 3: with charges in California or Washington. Do you think that's 457 00:27:16,440 --> 00:27:17,920 Speaker 3: part of it too, that they don't want to try 458 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:18,840 Speaker 3: this in Delaware. 459 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:21,760 Speaker 6: Well, it'd be tough to try this in Delaware. But 460 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:25,040 Speaker 6: Hunter Biden is entitled, like all of us are, to 461 00:27:25,119 --> 00:27:28,399 Speaker 6: a fixed amendment protection known as the vicinage clause. And 462 00:27:29,040 --> 00:27:31,720 Speaker 6: not so jolly Old England, which this country had a 463 00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:34,880 Speaker 6: rebellion from. You could have been alleged to have committed 464 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:38,400 Speaker 6: a crime, you know, up in Glasgow, Scotland, and four 465 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:40,840 Speaker 6: years or five years go by and you're hauled down 466 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:44,399 Speaker 6: to London to be tried there and your witnesses don't show, 467 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:47,320 Speaker 6: and you know, evidence that you need to secure your 468 00:27:47,320 --> 00:27:50,199 Speaker 6: innocence isn't there. And so the framers of our constitution 469 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:54,199 Speaker 6: understood that people are supposed to be tried in the 470 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:57,000 Speaker 6: criminal court where the crime is alleged to have happened. 471 00:27:57,480 --> 00:27:59,880 Speaker 6: You know, in the Internet age, the government can skirt 472 00:27:59,880 --> 00:28:02,760 Speaker 6: around the plane language of that because you can always 473 00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:05,720 Speaker 6: make the argument, well, there's an aspect of the crime 474 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:09,119 Speaker 6: in California, even if it was completed in Delaware. And 475 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:12,440 Speaker 6: that's something Hunter Biden can challenge. But it makes sense 476 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:16,040 Speaker 6: to me why this special counsel would look at California 477 00:28:16,119 --> 00:28:19,760 Speaker 6: other than Delaware. And maybe they can point to a 478 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:23,680 Speaker 6: major feature of an allegation that occurred in California, but 479 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:26,040 Speaker 6: that hasn't really been open to us yet. 480 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:29,440 Speaker 3: Now I want to go back to what happened here, 481 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:30,880 Speaker 3: Why we're at this point. 482 00:28:31,359 --> 00:28:32,840 Speaker 5: How strange was it? 483 00:28:32,920 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 3: How unusual that the prosecution and the defense didn't have 484 00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:42,480 Speaker 3: the plea deal nailed down. They seem to disagree about 485 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:44,760 Speaker 3: what the plea deal was about when they were before 486 00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:46,200 Speaker 3: the judge in Delaware. 487 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:50,160 Speaker 6: It's a rarity, It's an absolute rarity. But it does happen. 488 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:53,040 Speaker 6: I mean, as a former prosecutor, I remember one case 489 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:57,000 Speaker 6: where you know, we had written down in our agreement 490 00:28:57,040 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 6: with the defendant no further prosecution out. Our defendant was 491 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 6: wanted and charged in absentia with crimes in the Philippines. 492 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 6: He and his attorneys believed that he wouldn't be subject 493 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:10,080 Speaker 6: to extradition back to the Philippines or he was a citizen. 494 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:12,520 Speaker 6: We said to the judge, we have no ability to 495 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:15,560 Speaker 6: bind you know, the United States government to a non 496 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:20,160 Speaker 6: extradition agreement within this that's a state department matter. You know, 497 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:23,000 Speaker 6: that only happened once in my over twenty years of 498 00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 6: being a prosecutor. This one is a trickier one. And 499 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:29,719 Speaker 6: you know, some people jumped on the judge for interfering 500 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:33,120 Speaker 6: in the plea agreement. But unlike the US District Court 501 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:36,720 Speaker 6: judge in Florida who is sitting on the Marrol Lago base, 502 00:29:36,920 --> 00:29:39,320 Speaker 6: you know, offenses in the Trump case, I think this 503 00:29:39,440 --> 00:29:41,920 Speaker 6: judge made the right call. In Delaware. If you have 504 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:45,560 Speaker 6: a disagreement between the prosecutor and the defense council, and 505 00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:49,720 Speaker 6: it's a complex disagreement, then you don't approve the plea agreement. 506 00:29:49,720 --> 00:29:51,320 Speaker 6: And you tell them to go back and talk to 507 00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:51,800 Speaker 6: each other. 508 00:29:52,360 --> 00:29:55,560 Speaker 3: So this was supposed to be a two part deal 509 00:29:55,680 --> 00:30:00,560 Speaker 3: for Biden, a guilty plea on misdemeanor tax offenses and 510 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:04,840 Speaker 3: a diversion agreement that would spare him from prosecution on 511 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:08,800 Speaker 3: a felony gun charge. Biden's attorneys said in court papers 512 00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:11,800 Speaker 3: that were filed on Sunday night that the diversion agreement 513 00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:15,400 Speaker 3: on the felony gun charge is binding and still in place. 514 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:19,240 Speaker 3: And they quoted from the prosecutors at that July hearing 515 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:22,880 Speaker 3: who said that the diversion agreement was a bilateral agreement 516 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:26,640 Speaker 3: between the parties that stands alone from the plea agreement. 517 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:29,440 Speaker 5: Do they have a good argument, You know, they have what. 518 00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:32,520 Speaker 6: I call a colorable argument, because once it defend and 519 00:30:32,680 --> 00:30:35,720 Speaker 6: enters into a plea agreement with the government, whether it's 520 00:30:35,720 --> 00:30:39,040 Speaker 6: a state prosecutor or a federal prosecutor, and they do 521 00:30:39,280 --> 00:30:42,840 Speaker 6: something in regard to the agreement, like, for example, a 522 00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:46,160 Speaker 6: person agrees to enter into alcoholics anonymous as part of 523 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:50,200 Speaker 6: a plea agreement and a doik. Once they do that, 524 00:30:50,440 --> 00:30:54,080 Speaker 6: they enter into alcoholics anonymous, the government's bound to the agreement. 525 00:30:54,120 --> 00:30:57,880 Speaker 6: Because plea agreements run on the same serio as American 526 00:30:57,920 --> 00:31:02,640 Speaker 6: contract law. You've had a performance, and you know one 527 00:31:02,680 --> 00:31:06,080 Speaker 6: side does the performance, the promise is now binding. The 528 00:31:06,080 --> 00:31:09,160 Speaker 6: government is making the argument it's not that clear cut, 529 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:11,840 Speaker 6: but I will say Hunter Biden's attorneys are not shooting 530 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:14,520 Speaker 6: in the dark on that there's case law on their side. 531 00:31:14,920 --> 00:31:18,080 Speaker 3: Weiss is taking the position that although a prosecutor working 532 00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:20,600 Speaker 3: for him had signed the deal, it was only a 533 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:23,800 Speaker 3: draft and could be revised or even abandoned depending on 534 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:27,960 Speaker 3: the circumstances. I mean, how often do prosecutors reneg on 535 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:28,680 Speaker 3: a plea deal? 536 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:32,920 Speaker 6: Does that happen only if they discover additional misconduct and 537 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:36,200 Speaker 6: additional crimes, or in cases where you have like a 538 00:31:36,320 --> 00:31:39,480 Speaker 6: group of defendants and a conspiracy and one of them's 539 00:31:39,520 --> 00:31:41,920 Speaker 6: cut a deal and they find out that the one 540 00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:45,240 Speaker 6: who's cut a deal is obstructing justice. Things like that. 541 00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:48,200 Speaker 6: It's a very very rare day. And you know, if 542 00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:51,640 Speaker 6: the assistant US attorney that drafted that plea agreement and 543 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:55,280 Speaker 6: signed it signed it as part of the prosecution team, 544 00:31:55,800 --> 00:31:59,840 Speaker 6: that typically will bind the United States Attorney because it's 545 00:31:59,880 --> 00:32:02,520 Speaker 6: one one of mister Weiss's agents who have the authority 546 00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:05,520 Speaker 6: to do that. And again, that's what operates on usual 547 00:32:05,640 --> 00:32:08,760 Speaker 6: contract laws. So to call it a draft opinion when 548 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:12,320 Speaker 6: both sides sign it, that's not accurate. I mean there 549 00:32:12,320 --> 00:32:15,240 Speaker 6: may be a viability to pulling out of the agreement. 550 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:17,960 Speaker 6: And that's why I said there's a colorable argument raised. 551 00:32:18,040 --> 00:32:20,040 Speaker 6: I don't think we have all of the facts, but 552 00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:23,080 Speaker 6: I do think there's enough law on Hunter Biden's side 553 00:32:23,160 --> 00:32:25,280 Speaker 6: to force the agreement into action. 554 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:27,800 Speaker 5: But not on the tax charges. 555 00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:30,840 Speaker 6: Not on the tax charges no, So is it going. 556 00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:33,400 Speaker 3: To be up to this judge in Delaware to decide this? 557 00:32:33,880 --> 00:32:37,120 Speaker 6: Well, Hunter Biden can appeal, as can the government can 558 00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:40,520 Speaker 6: appeal from this district court judge's rolling to the Federal 559 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:44,000 Speaker 6: Court of Appeals above them in the Second Circuit. Having 560 00:32:44,080 --> 00:32:47,080 Speaker 6: said that, that really will delay this case. When you 561 00:32:47,120 --> 00:32:50,800 Speaker 6: appeal what's known as an interlocutory appeal, you could add 562 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:54,080 Speaker 6: six months to a year to the timeline of getting 563 00:32:54,080 --> 00:32:57,320 Speaker 6: this case to trial. So that's a decision that both 564 00:32:57,360 --> 00:32:59,120 Speaker 6: sides need to make. Do they want to go to 565 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:00,200 Speaker 6: trial or not? 566 00:33:00,760 --> 00:33:04,280 Speaker 3: Hunter Biden's counsel has said, but there's not necessarily going 567 00:33:04,320 --> 00:33:07,480 Speaker 3: to be a trial. But would Wiss have done what 568 00:33:07,560 --> 00:33:10,160 Speaker 3: he's done? You know, have the Attorney General make him 569 00:33:10,160 --> 00:33:13,920 Speaker 3: a special counsel, if he didn't intend to go to trial, 570 00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:16,280 Speaker 3: if he was just going to continue with a plea agreement. 571 00:33:16,840 --> 00:33:20,280 Speaker 6: Ah, that's a good question. You know, that calls for 572 00:33:20,360 --> 00:33:23,400 Speaker 6: a lot of speculation on mine or anyone else's part. 573 00:33:23,720 --> 00:33:27,040 Speaker 6: I think that there's a possibility that he would do that. 574 00:33:27,280 --> 00:33:30,800 Speaker 6: There's a possibility that, you know, he wants to depoliticize 575 00:33:30,840 --> 00:33:33,719 Speaker 6: the case and just run it again as a straight 576 00:33:33,800 --> 00:33:38,520 Speaker 6: up criminal law investigation. But just earlier today or late yesterday, 577 00:33:38,880 --> 00:33:43,120 Speaker 6: get someone like Senator Ted Cruz casting aspersions on Weiss, 578 00:33:43,160 --> 00:33:45,520 Speaker 6: and so there's no way to depoliticize this. 579 00:33:46,200 --> 00:33:49,160 Speaker 3: You hear a Republicans saying over and over that Hunter 580 00:33:49,240 --> 00:33:52,680 Speaker 3: Biden got a sweetheart deal. But after a five year 581 00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:56,240 Speaker 3: investigation where they are and the plea agreement falling apart, 582 00:33:57,000 --> 00:33:59,080 Speaker 3: it doesn't seem like a sweetheart deal. 583 00:33:59,760 --> 00:34:02,800 Speaker 6: No, well, it's not a sweetheart deal. In fact, I'm 584 00:34:02,840 --> 00:34:06,680 Speaker 6: not a tax expert whatsoever, but I do, like you, 585 00:34:06,920 --> 00:34:09,719 Speaker 6: listen to tax law experts, and there seems to be 586 00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:15,800 Speaker 6: a consensus that on the tax charges, oftentimes the federal 587 00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:19,520 Speaker 6: government does not prosecute these charges in criminal court. They 588 00:34:19,640 --> 00:34:22,640 Speaker 6: just reverted to a civil court hearing, and so you know, 589 00:34:22,640 --> 00:34:25,719 Speaker 6: if you look at tax fraud as a crime, it 590 00:34:25,760 --> 00:34:28,200 Speaker 6: may be that he didn't get a sweetheart deal at all, 591 00:34:28,360 --> 00:34:31,480 Speaker 6: because if you were John Q citizen, he wouldn't be 592 00:34:31,480 --> 00:34:33,080 Speaker 6: going to trial in the first place. 593 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:37,600 Speaker 3: The other interesting thing is that last week the Fifth 594 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:42,279 Speaker 3: Circuit rule that drug users shouldn't automatically be banned from 595 00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:46,560 Speaker 3: having guns and overturned a conviction under this same law 596 00:34:46,600 --> 00:34:50,480 Speaker 3: that hunter Biden was being prosecuted under. The Fifth Circuit 597 00:34:50,520 --> 00:34:53,479 Speaker 3: is now the highest court to consider the law since 598 00:34:53,480 --> 00:34:57,160 Speaker 3: the Supreme Court's ruined decision. So that's another thing for 599 00:34:57,239 --> 00:35:00,880 Speaker 3: hunter Biden's attorneys to use if they're an appeal or 600 00:35:00,920 --> 00:35:02,840 Speaker 3: if they appear before another judge. 601 00:35:03,200 --> 00:35:07,440 Speaker 6: Absolutely, that one is fascinating. The US District Court in 602 00:35:07,719 --> 00:35:11,160 Speaker 6: Delaware is not bound by the Fifth Circuits decision, but 603 00:35:11,280 --> 00:35:17,120 Speaker 6: it certainly is strong, strong persuasive authority, and so it's fascinating. 604 00:35:17,160 --> 00:35:19,760 Speaker 6: And you know, I think a US District Court judge 605 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:22,919 Speaker 6: ought to be very reluctant not to follow the Fifth 606 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:23,880 Speaker 6: Circuits rolling. 607 00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:28,239 Speaker 3: This appointment puts the Justice Department in the middle of 608 00:35:28,280 --> 00:35:32,920 Speaker 3: this unprecedented scenario in which three different special councils are 609 00:35:32,960 --> 00:35:37,520 Speaker 3: investigating the president, his son, and the Republican front runner, 610 00:35:37,600 --> 00:35:40,719 Speaker 3: former President Donald Trump. Do you think the appointment of 611 00:35:40,719 --> 00:35:43,919 Speaker 3: these special council is because of the partisanship or because 612 00:35:43,960 --> 00:35:45,680 Speaker 3: special councils are really needed. 613 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:48,080 Speaker 6: I think it's a combination of both. And I can't 614 00:35:48,080 --> 00:35:51,520 Speaker 6: wait percentages on it, but it seems like and you 615 00:35:51,600 --> 00:35:55,160 Speaker 6: can throw in two justices on the Supreme Court right now. 616 00:35:55,360 --> 00:35:59,080 Speaker 6: The media reporting on reality, and what I mean by 617 00:35:59,120 --> 00:36:02,080 Speaker 6: reality is is that you know, for example, Pro Publica 618 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:05,680 Speaker 6: is not making anything up in regard to Justice Clarence 619 00:36:05,719 --> 00:36:09,759 Speaker 6: Thomas and Justice Elito jack Smith isn't making anything up 620 00:36:09,760 --> 00:36:12,600 Speaker 6: in regard to former President Donald Trump. I mean, you 621 00:36:12,640 --> 00:36:16,200 Speaker 6: can interpret the facts that have been presented differently, but 622 00:36:16,239 --> 00:36:19,239 Speaker 6: the facts are real. But it seems to me we're 623 00:36:19,239 --> 00:36:21,680 Speaker 6: living in a sea of corruption. You know, my high 624 00:36:21,719 --> 00:36:24,840 Speaker 6: school freshman daughter actually used those very words to me 625 00:36:24,920 --> 00:36:27,799 Speaker 6: the other day. Maybe the hope is is that the 626 00:36:27,840 --> 00:36:30,200 Speaker 6: appointment of the special counsel, and I think those are 627 00:36:30,239 --> 00:36:33,520 Speaker 6: very accurate words. But maybe the hope is with the 628 00:36:33,560 --> 00:36:37,560 Speaker 6: special counsel, is it at least diffuses that feeling that 629 00:36:37,600 --> 00:36:40,040 Speaker 6: we are, you know, swimming in a sea of corruption 630 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:44,000 Speaker 6: in Washington. D C not accusing President Joe Biden of 631 00:36:44,040 --> 00:36:47,680 Speaker 6: being corrupt because for all we know, he, like many parents, 632 00:36:47,719 --> 00:36:50,040 Speaker 6: just has a blind spot, you know, for one of 633 00:36:50,080 --> 00:36:53,640 Speaker 6: his kids. But there's still something out there that needs 634 00:36:53,640 --> 00:36:56,959 Speaker 6: to be investigated because it doesn't quite pass the smell test. 635 00:36:57,680 --> 00:37:00,920 Speaker 3: Is there a danger in this case where the investigation 636 00:37:00,960 --> 00:37:02,640 Speaker 3: has been going on for five years that with a 637 00:37:02,680 --> 00:37:07,120 Speaker 3: Special Council it will take even longer to resolve? 638 00:37:07,719 --> 00:37:07,879 Speaker 4: Oh? 639 00:37:07,920 --> 00:37:10,879 Speaker 6: There certainly is, I mean there is. And the other 640 00:37:10,960 --> 00:37:14,160 Speaker 6: thing is for the Republicans, like you know, Senator Cruz, 641 00:37:14,239 --> 00:37:17,880 Speaker 6: who are hoping for this big smoking gun and perhaps 642 00:37:17,880 --> 00:37:22,040 Speaker 6: an eventual trial and conviction, the Special Council and the 643 00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:25,000 Speaker 6: American public should keep in mind that some of the 644 00:37:25,040 --> 00:37:28,360 Speaker 6: information that was developed before it got to the Justice 645 00:37:28,400 --> 00:37:32,760 Speaker 6: Department was developed by individuals close to the former President 646 00:37:32,800 --> 00:37:36,640 Speaker 6: Donald Trump, like Rudy Giuliani. And as a former prosecutor, 647 00:37:36,760 --> 00:37:39,319 Speaker 6: I sure wouldn't want to go before a jury and 648 00:37:39,600 --> 00:37:43,359 Speaker 6: have my witnesses cross examined about laptops, you know, and 649 00:37:43,600 --> 00:37:48,640 Speaker 6: information garnered in Ukraine that comes from Rudy Giuliani or 650 00:37:48,719 --> 00:37:51,640 Speaker 6: others in the Trump orbit. I certainly wouldn't want that, 651 00:37:52,280 --> 00:37:55,840 Speaker 6: you know, going back to the January sixth indictments on 652 00:37:55,920 --> 00:38:00,000 Speaker 6: the former president. Every single one of those co conspirats 653 00:38:00,719 --> 00:38:03,959 Speaker 6: is alleged to have committed significant crimes even though they're 654 00:38:03,960 --> 00:38:06,760 Speaker 6: not named, and it would shock me if they weren't 655 00:38:06,840 --> 00:38:07,800 Speaker 6: charged as well. 656 00:38:08,120 --> 00:38:11,320 Speaker 3: Thanks so much, josh That's Professor Joshua Castenberg at the 657 00:38:11,400 --> 00:38:14,440 Speaker 3: University of New Mexico Law School, and that's it for 658 00:38:14,480 --> 00:38:17,120 Speaker 3: this edition of The Bloomberg Law Show. Remember you can 659 00:38:17,160 --> 00:38:20,400 Speaker 3: always get the latest legal news on our Bloomberg Law podcasts. 660 00:38:20,680 --> 00:38:23,680 Speaker 3: You can find them on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and at 661 00:38:23,840 --> 00:38:28,880 Speaker 3: www dot Bloomberg dot com, slash podcast Slash Law, and 662 00:38:28,960 --> 00:38:32,000 Speaker 3: remember to tune into The Bloomberg Law Show every weeknight 663 00:38:32,120 --> 00:38:35,560 Speaker 3: at ten pm Wall Street Time. I'm Jim Grosso and 664 00:38:35,600 --> 00:38:37,080 Speaker 3: you're listening to Bloomberg