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Conservative Lawyer John Eastman Submits to Arrest in Trump’s Georgia 2020 Election Controversy

by Sophia Chen
5 comments
John Eastman

On Tuesday, John Eastman, a conservative attorney known for championing plans to maintain Donald Trump’s presidency, voluntarily submitted himself to authorities. This move was in response to charges related to the Georgia case where he is accused of participating in an unlawful conspiracy to reverse Trump’s loss in the 2020 election.

Eastman was processed at the Fulton County jail, with an arraignment in the extensive racketeering case expected in the upcoming weeks. He, along with Trump and 17 other individuals, was indicted last week. District Attorney Fani Willis alleges that they collectively plotted to undermine Georgia voters’ will in a desperate attempt to prevent Joe Biden from entering the White House. This marks the fourth criminal case against the former Republican president.

On Monday, Trump’s bond was established at $200,000, and he announced his intention to surrender to Fulton County authorities on Thursday. The conditions of his bond include a prohibition on intimidating co-defendants, witnesses, or victims in this case, including via social media platforms, where he has a history of attacking the prosecutors, including Willis.

Eastman expressed his dissatisfaction with the indictment through a statement, arguing that it unfairly targeted attorneys for their zealous representation of clients. He emphasized that all 19 defendants should have the right to challenge election results based on legal advice and past precedent.

Eastman, previously the dean of Chapman University Law School, served as an adviser to Trump leading up to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. He crafted a memo outlining steps Vice President Mike Pence could take to halt the electoral vote count on that day to preserve Trump’s presidency.

Post-election, Eastman and associates worked to establish a group of “alternate” electors falsely asserting Trump’s victory and sought to pressure Pence to delay or reject legitimate electoral votes for Biden, the Democratic candidate.

Scott Hall, a bail bondsman accused of election equipment tampering in Coffee County, Georgia, also voluntarily surrendered to the Fulton County Jail on Tuesday. Other developments in the case include attempts by defendants Jeffrey Clark and David Shafer to transfer the case to federal court, with DA Willis seeking a March 4 trial date. Such legal maneuvers could complicate the trial’s commencement.

Arguments from Clark’s lawyers centered on his position as a high-ranking Justice Department official, and the allegations were directly related to his duties. Similarly, Shafer’s legal team claims his actions were carried out as a Presidential Elector nominee, following orders from the President and federal officers. Additionally, Clark’s attorneys requested a stay on any Fulton County Superior Court proceedings pending determination if the case should be federal.

Other significant details include an expected difference in Trump’s surrender to Georgia authorities from previous indictments this year, along with legal moves by former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to avoid surrender by Friday’s deadline.

Further highlights include Clark’s advocacy of Trump’s unfounded election fraud claims, Shafer’s false declaration of Trump’s victory in Georgia, and the bonds set for several defendants such as Jenna Ellis, Michael Roman, Robert Cheeley, Shawn Still, and Cathy Latham. Their roles varied from efforts to influence state lawmakers, directing Trump’s Election Day operations, organizing fake electors’ meetings, to participating in breaches of election equipment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about John Eastman

Who is John Eastman, and why did he surrender to authorities?

John Eastman is a conservative attorney who played a significant role in planning efforts to keep Donald Trump in power. He voluntarily surrendered to authorities in Georgia in response to charges related to an alleged unlawful conspiracy to reverse Trump’s loss in the 2020 election.

What are the charges against John Eastman and other defendants?

Eastman, along with Trump and 17 others, has been indicted in Georgia in a racketeering case. They are accused of scheming to subvert the will of Georgia voters in an attempt to prevent Joe Biden from becoming President.

Where was John Eastman booked, and when will his arraignment be?

John Eastman was processed at the Fulton County jail, and his arraignment in the racketeering case is expected in the upcoming weeks.

What bond amounts have been set for the defendants?

Trump’s bond was established at $200,000. Other defendants had varying bond amounts, including $75,000 for David Shafer, $100,000 for Jenna Ellis, $50,000 for Michael Roman, $14,000 for Robert Cheeley, and $10,000 for Shawn Still.

How is this case related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack?

John Eastman was an adviser to Trump leading up to the attack on the U.S. Capitol. He wrote a memo outlining steps that could be taken to halt the electoral vote count on January 6, 2021, to keep Trump in office. Additionally, some of the actions described in the indictment, such as the push for “alternate” electors, are part of the broader context leading up to the Capitol attack.

Are there any attempts to transfer the case to federal court?

Yes, two other defendants, former Justice Department lawyer Jeffrey Clark and former Georgia Republican Party chair David Shafer, have filed paperwork aiming to transfer the case to federal court. Legal maneuvering like this could make it difficult to start the trial as planned.

What were some of the actions taken by the defendants to allegedly subvert the election?

The accused individuals, including Eastman, are alleged to have pushed to put in place a slate of “alternate” electors falsely certifying that Trump won, pressured Pence to reject or delay the counting of legitimate electoral votes for Biden, and engaged in other efforts to influence state lawmakers and organize fake electors. Some are also accused of breaches of election equipment.

More about John Eastman

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5 comments

Mike P August 23, 2023 - 12:48 am

Bonds, court dates, charges – all of this is just the beginning i think. will be interesting to see how it all pans out, I’m keeping an eye on the news for sure!

Reply
James R August 23, 2023 - 2:41 am

So much going on with these charges, it’s hard to keep up! What’s going to happen to Trump? And Eastman… can’t believe he got caught up in all this.

Reply
Lisa H August 23, 2023 - 7:41 am

Justice needs to be served, I hope they get to the bottom of this. It’s a total mess, but we need answers. Our democracy is at stake here.

Reply
Karen S August 23, 2023 - 1:57 pm

I can’t evn believe whats happening with our politics anymore. Are we going to see more people indicted, and when’s the trial gonna start??

Reply
Tom J August 23, 2023 - 5:34 pm

never thought i’d see the day where a former president and his allies would be facing this sort of legal trouble, the whole things just boggles my mind.

Reply

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