Serious Trouble (private feed for elliottmpearl@gmail.com)

Cases Dismissed

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.serioustrouble.showThe criminal cases against James Comey and Letitia James were both dismissed, without prejudice, on the grounds that former insurance attorney Lindsey Halligan was never properly appointed as an interim US Attorney. Trump’s Justice Department has options, and we talk through them. That conversation is for free listeners. For paid subscribers this week, we also address:* A rare favorable ruling for the Trump administration from Judge James Boasberg.* Eric Swalwell’s lawsuit against Bill Pulte* Peter Skandalakis’s tortured-but-ultimately-convincing, argument that the Georgia RICO case is terminal and should be taken off life support.* Megan Thee Stallion’s “big” ($59,000) win in her defamation lawsuit against a live-streamer* Probation for Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, and* A sharply-worded minute order from Judge Amy Berman Jackson trying to ensure that she won’t be the only long-suffering person around these parts.Upgrade your subscription today at serioustrouble.show.

Here Come the Epstein Files

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.serioustrouble.showNow that Congress has voted overwhelmingly to require the release of the Epstein files, we discuss what’s likely to be in those files, what the administration might do to undermine the intent of the law requiring release, and whether we really ought to learn so much about this case. That conversation is for free subscribers. Paying subscribers get much more this week — a look at the rapidly increasing number of problems with the James Comey indictment, an update on the National Guard cases, and an interesting question from the Supreme Court about the meaning of a law restricting the president’s ability to deploy it over a governor’s objection. We look at a really, really intemperate dissent in the Texas redistricting case, an update on Tina Peters, and we look at two defamation cases, one where Trump has again lost to CNN, and one brought by rapper Megan Thee Stallion against a Twitch streamer who, in the eyes of the state of Florida, does not count as a media outlet.Upgrade your subscription now at serioustrouble.show

Sandwiches For All

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.serioustrouble.showSandwich Guy is free! Sean Dunn was acquitted of simple assault by a jury of his peers. Meanwhile, Lindsey Halligan continues to face difficulties in her case against James Comey, and the Justice Department generally is having trouble finding a sufficient number of qualified attorneys. That’s all in this week’s free show.There’s much more this week for paying subscribers, including:* A look at why Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson chose to delay a ruling that would have forced the Trump administration to pay SNAP benefits.* U.S. Senators voted themselves a legal right to sue if the government obtains their phone records, and the House grudgingly went along. The provision might get repealed after an outcry. But if it doesn't, does that violate the 27th Amendment? And even if it does, is there any recourse?* The adventures of Bill Pulte.* Federal pardons for participants in fake elector conspiracies (who really mostly need to worry about state charges anyway).* Another victory for Ann Selzer.Visit serioustrouble.show to upgrade your subscription to get the whole episode.

Snap Decisions

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.serioustrouble.showOn this week's show for everyone: two court decisions direct the Trump administration to continue sending SNAP (food stamp) funds to states and the administration has chosen not to appeal these orders — likely not relishing the politics of withholding SNAP funds — but the legal situation may get more complicated if the shutdown does not end soon. Plus: more motions from James Comey.For paying subscribers: legal wrangling over federal immigration enforcement in Chicago; some AUSAs who were placed on leave for daring to call January 6 a “mob” “riot” in a sentencing memo; a Tennessee man who spent a month in jail on the extremely thin claim that a political meme he posted was a terroristic threat; and the strange scandal of now-former FDA official George Tidmarsh and Aurinia.Upgrade your subscription at serioustrouble.show.

Literal Truth and Theoretical Conflicts

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.serioustrouble.showThis week, both James Comey and Letitia James continue to seek dismissal of the criminal charges brought against them, and one argument they’ve both made will be considered by a judge from another state. We talk about why that's happening, we also discuss a lesson from the Barry Bonds steroids case that could be relevant for Comey, and we look at a complaint James has made about Halligan’s communications about grand jury proceedings to a reporter. That, plus a look at Ninth Circuit action in the national guard cases and a look at a sloppy defamation lawsuit from Paul Ingrassia, constitutes this week’s free show.Beyond the paywall, we talk about an effort from the D.C. bar to impose new burdens on law firms that might, theoretically, enter into settlement deals with the government, an dwhen a state could prosecute an ICE officer for breaking state law (not never, is the short answer), and our discussion of how some judges are now getting in trouble for their misuse of AI in drafting opinions.Upgrade your subscription at serioustrouble.show.