Supreme Court STUNS Trump with LAST MINUTE REJECTION

Summary

Legal AF by MeidasTouch Network: Detailed Summary of "Supreme Court STUNS Trump with LAST MINUTE REJECTION"

Episode Overview In the December 21, 2024 episode of Legal AF by MeidasTouch Network, host Michael Popak delves into the latest United States Supreme Court decision that upholds a gag order against former President Donald Trump. This episode provides an in-depth analysis of the legal maneuvers surrounding the gag order, the Supreme Court's stance, and the broader implications for freedom of the press and the legal proceedings against Trump.

Background of the Gag Order The episode begins with Michael Popak outlining the context of the gag order imposed on Donald Trump concerning his ongoing criminal case in New York. The gag order restricts Trump from making public statements that could potentially influence witnesses, prosecutors, or the judicial process. Popak emphasizes the significance of this order in maintaining the integrity of the legal proceedings against a high-profile figure like Trump.

Legal Maneuvering and Attempts to Lift the Order Popak details the attempts made by Trump's legal team, specifically through Joe Nearman—a relatively unknown lawyer and podcaster acting on Trump's behalf—to lift the gag order. Nearman filed an original petition arguing that the gag order infringed upon the First Amendment rights, allowing him to interview Trump about aspects of the case that the gag order restricts. Popak criticizes this move as "the height of hypocrisy," noting that Trump himself has previously challenged the First Amendment and freedom of the press, citing the $15 million settlement with ABC and Disney over defamation claims (04:15).

Supreme Court’s Involvement and Final Decision The discussion progresses to the series of legal setbacks faced by Nearman's attempts. After the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York denied the petition, Nearman escalated the matter to the Supreme Court. Popak explains that the Supreme Court, through Justice Sotomayor, initially denied the emergency petition without referral, categorizing it under the "shadow docket." Attempts to shift jurisdiction to Justice Alito and subsequently to Justice Clarence Thomas were made, showcasing Nearman’s strategy of "forum shopping" and "judge shopping" in a futile effort to overturn the gag order (05:43).

Popak narrates Justice Thomas's involvement, describing his handling of the petition as "moving to the beat of his own drummer" and ultimately having the full court deny the request. The final rejection by the Supreme Court solidifies the gag order, preventing Trump from publicly discussing the case details and reinforcing the court's commitment to maintaining fair legal proceedings (07:40).

Analysis and Implications In his analysis, Popak underscores the importance of upholding legal standards against high-profile individuals, regardless of their status. He highlights the role of the judiciary in ensuring that legal processes are not unduly influenced by public figures. Popak also touches upon the potential future developments, such as the possibility of Trump being sentenced if he is convicted, and the legal debates surrounding the sentencing of a sitting or former president (08:55).

Public Sentiment and Future Reporting Popak references a poll conducted by Legal AF, where 30,000 listeners overwhelmingly supported the sentencing of Trump. He speculates that while immediate sentencing may be unlikely, the legal battles are far from over, with appeals and procedural delays expected to extend the case into 2025.

Conclusion Wrapping up the episode, Popak reaffirms the network’s commitment to independent journalism and pro-democracy values, contrasting it with what he perceives as corporate media's acquiescence to powerful figures like Trump. He encourages listeners to stay informed through Legal AF as the legal saga unfolds, promising continued coverage and analysis of the intersection between law and politics (12:03).

Notable Quotes

• "Donald Trump just crushed the First Amendment and freedom of the press… but you got this podcaster who decides on behalf of Donald Trump to file the petition. It ends up with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York." (04:15)
• "This is part of that shadow docket we talked about. She looked at the papers and she was like, denied. Gag order stays in place." (06:00)
• "He keeps shifting his locations in order to try to get a better result. He's forum shopping, judge shopping." (07:00)
• "The gag order was properly put in place so that Donald Trump couldn't bash witnesses, prosecutors, you know, the staff and judges. You know, it's a good rule." (07:40)
• "Our end result is the gag order stays in place. Donald Trump hasn't been sentenced yet." (08:55)

Final Thoughts This episode of Legal AF provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the Supreme Court's latest decision regarding Donald Trump’s legal battles. Through meticulous analysis and clear explanations, Michael Popak effectively communicates the complexities of the case and its implications for the legal system and freedom of expression in the United States.

Transcript

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[Michael Popak]

Maga and Donald Trump just can't take denied for an answer. We've got a third ruling by the United States Supreme Court against Donald Trump and a gag order related to his criminal case in New York. This is a follow up to earlier reporting we had. It's not a repeat. It's not a repeat. Hot take. It's brand new. The full United States Supreme Court has now effectively is allowed the G gag order against Donald Trump to stay in place. They could have disturbed it, but they're not going to. I'm going to break it all down for you right here on a hot take on the Midas Touch Network and Legal AF on Michael Popak. So here's what happened. Donald Trump and one of his lackeys file or one of the lackeys for Donald Trump, I should say, who runs a podcast and as a lawyer that no one's ever heard of in New York, filed a original petition to have the gag order lifted under the claim, get this, that he wanted to be able to interview Donald Trump and ask him about certain aspects that he would be gagged under under the gag order, like about Alvin Bragg's office and different things. And he wanted the gag order lift for the First Amendment. This is already the height of hypocrisy because Donald Trump just crushed the First Amendment and freedom of the press, enforcing ABC and Disney to to settle with him for $15 million because they rightly called him the type of sexual abuser that he was. But you got this podcaster who decides on behalf of Donald Trump to file the petition. It ends up with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York. And the Second Circuit says, no, we're not disturbing the gag order. Your grounds are wrong. It's fine. It's not going anywhere. I mean, it ultimately went up to the court of appeals in New York or one of the appellate courts that then it goes second Circuit and then flies over. He files an emergency petition from that 2nd Circuit loss of his to the Supreme Court. But as we've reported before different circuits like the second Circuit, each circuit has a Supreme Court justice that sits over that circuit and makes all decisions on emergency basis. And the circuit court, the circuit, the second Circuit, the justice for that is Justice Sotomayor. She denied it. It, she didn't refer it over. This is part of that shadow docket we talked about. She looked at the papers and she was like, denied. Gag order stays in place. In other words, your emergency applications denied. Well, he didn't like that. So he, he went to another judge, he went to Alito. And I'm like, oh, why Alito? Oh, well, Alito's in the third, and this guy moved to New Jersey and New Jersey is covered by Alito. Guy keeps shifting his locations in order to try to get a better result. He's, he's, he's forum shopping, judge shopping. So it goes up to Alito. And last week we report Alito in a one line order that came out of the United States Supreme Court. Denied, but he didn't like that. So he goes to Thomas. He just keeps filing this thing. By the way, this is not proper procedure. And I'm surprised the Supreme Court even acknowledges it. They should just say, you're not allowed to shop justices, but they're not doing that. So apparently now we've got Clarence Thomas. They probably thought, oh, well, Clarence Thomas would be a good person for this. So they get Clarence Thomas to do it. And here's what, here's what Clarence Thomas writes. Just so we have it all straight here, I want to make sure I've got the, the decision making part here. This then goes to Thomas. Thomas sends it to the full court. You know, son of my. Or is like, this is ridiculous. I'll make this decision on my own. No, we're not lifting the gag order because you want to ask him questions. The gag order was properly put in place so that Donald Trump couldn't bash witnesses, prosecutors, you know, the staff and judges. You know, it's a good rule. Even Alito, who's right wing maga was like denied when it came up to him. But Thomas, because you know, Thomas is out there. He's, he, he, he, he. What is it called? He moves to the beat of his own drummer. I guess that's one way to put it. As, as an, as an insurrectionist. He sends it to the full court. Why not? Let's bother everybody. So we already know that Satomayor and Alito aren't gonna go for it. So let's see if we'll get any of the nine to do it. Denied. So just got the new one. So now I think we can definitively say that this guy has run out of steam. He's run out of gas in this.

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[Michael Popak]

We'Ve got the new order. We'll put it up on the screen here which is Joe Nearman who's this lawyer podcaster. I Told you about versus Justice Merchan. The application for stay addressed to Justice Thomas and referred to the court. So all nine now is denied. Yes, it is finally the last stop on this whistle stop tour of Joe. You'll never have to hear this guy's name ever again. Don't even bother looking up his podcast. I did for a minute. It wasn't worth it, I assure you. He's not on the Midas Touch network. But I just want it, you know, we want to use this also as a teachable moment for. For things that are happening in the courts and how they happen. A lot of the reports were, you know, Donald Trump's makes the motion to try to get his gag order. It wasn't technically Donald Trump. It was this guy, Joe Nearman, who was doing it on behalf of Donald Trump, effectively claiming First Amendment privilege and second and First Amendment freedom of the press. Gets denied at every stop in the state court system, gets denied at the federal court in New York. He then takes an emergency application. First stop on the train is the justice assigned to that, which in this case is Sotomayor. She denies it. You're not supposed to go any further than that. This guy decides to, you know, he keeps climbing the mountain without oxygen.

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[Michael Popak]

Let me. Let me switch my locations to New Jersey. Try Alito. No. Alito. No. Oh, let me switch again. Try Thomas. Keep writing letters. Thomas is like, let me end this once and for all. He just said, let me send it to all of them. So he doesn't go any, you know, so he doesn't do another one to Roberts, Kavanaugh, Gorsuch and the rest. Denied. You know, it's ridiculous. And what's the end result? Their end result is the gag order stays in place. Donald Trump hasn't been sentenced yet. We'll continue to do reporting about Donald Trump being sentenced. It's sitting with Judge Marshan right now, the guy who's the subject of these orders. I'm sure he's happy that his gag order was reaffirmed. And at the end of the day, this judge is gonna have to make a decision. Judge Merchan, is he going to sentence Donald Trump between now and the inauguration? I did a poll on legal AF, came out overwhelmingly. You know, 30,000 people voted. They said, sentence him. I'm not sure that's going to happen, although I would like it to. I think he's going to postpone the sentencing until sometime in 2025, and Donald Trump can go appeal. All of the issues related to the conviction, that'll take most of 2025, and then we'll address the issue. It'll be a very novel thing we can talk about. On Legal Afghanistan, can a sitting president be sentenced for crimes he committed before he was president and doesn't have any type of immunity while he's president? If, especially if the sentence itself is delayed, the start of the sentence until after he comes out? I think you know my answer to that. He should be sentenced and then he should deal with it when he comes out in 2029. Continue to follow it on the Midas Touch Network and on Legal af. I'm glad you're here with us. If you've been following that story of Disney and ABC News and all the other corporate media, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, those that are owned by Amazon and Facebook and Apple and the rest, all now supporting Donald Trump and bending over to pucker, to kiss Donald Trump's ass and to settle defamation cases and to just rip up the First Amendment because they're a corporate media and they're worried about their government contracts and their licenses and taking on Donald Trump, then you've come to the right place. Legal AF in the Midas Dutch network, pro democracy, freedom of the press, independent journalism. We're not owned by corporate media. We're not, we're not owned by anybody. And so we're glad you're here to get your, your the straight, the straight scoop without blowing smoke or sunshine. I'll continue to do it if you like this kind of reporting. Popoc Live Tuesday nights, new show on YouTube on legal, on the Midas Touch Network. Sorry, Midas Touch Network, 8pm Popoc Live every Tuesday, Legal AF Wednesdays and Saturdays and our new channel on YouTube that we're also building with your help called Legal AF. So until my next reporting, I'm Michael Popak.

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