Forced to pay Trump lawyers for advancing lies in the 2020 election

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At the start of the holiday season, let’s raise a glass, a drumstick, a latke – or all three! – to a magistrate judge in Colorado in the name of N. Reid Neureiter.

Earlier this week, Neureiter ordered two lawyers to pay nearly $ 190,000 to defendants they targeted in a frivolous and irresponsible lawsuit alleging election fraud in November 2020-a completely above-board exercise. which resulted in the clear and undeniable defeat of the country. 45th president.

Here’s the hope that the U.S. district court judge’s action sets a precedent that is spreading widely across the country, as former President Trump and his supporters continue to push the “Big Lie” of widespread fraud. to voters and trying to undermine the legitimacy of the current chief executive. .

It’s one thing to market that stupidity to scold donors, rescue the velveteen ego of the former president or build an audience at Fox News, OAN or other Trumpaganda media outlets. Things are different in a court of law, and should be.

Attorneys Gary D. Fielder and Ernest John Walker filed a lawsuit in Denver in December 2020, allegedly on behalf of 160 million American voters, alleging widespread conspiracy to steal the 2020 election. They were accused, among others. yet, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and the company Dominion Voting Systems, a manufacturer of voting equipment and a favorite target of most tin-foil hats. Lawyers are seeking $ 160 billion in damages, and why not?

The case is – surprise! -was dismissed in April, but Neureiter did not end up in the litigous duo. He drew lawyers for a hearing last summer to consider possible penalties. He asked if this happened to co-counsel-Walker, a former government attorney; Fielder, a once local prosecutor-are they being used by Trump to spread his self-serving propaganda?

Neureiter observed, according to the Washington Post, that Trump’s own attorney general, William Barr, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency were among many election officials who found no evidence regardless of widespread fraud or omission on the voting machine. That, Neureiter told lawyers, should be a “red light” or “even a flashing yellow light” that further investigation is deserved before they can file their fun case.

But Fielder said the two have a “good faith” belief that the election was stolen by Joe Biden and fellow Democrats, based on theories released by various Trump lawyers and allies, including MyPillow Chief Executive and fabulist Mike Lindell.

“These are serious allegations,” Fielder said, “made by serious people.”

(While they’re there, Fielder and his co-counsel can refer to the works of Dr. Seuss, who has some interesting and powerful things to say about Lorax and Sneetches, which will have just as much water and benefit. in their case ..)

Neureiter issued a strong rebuke to his reign on Monday, ordering Fielder and Walker to pay various amounts to Facebook (since being rebranded as Meta), Dominion Voting Systems and others.

“I believe that instead of a legitimate use of the legal system to seek compensation for redressed grievances, this lawsuit was used to manipulate fraudulent members of the public and incite public unrest. , “the judge wrote. “To that extent, this lawsuit is an abuse of the legal system and an interference with the government machinery. For all these reasons, I feel that a significant sanction award is deserved.”

Fielder responded in a statement calling the judge’s decision “unfathomable” and mentioned that Neureiter’s dismissal of the underlying case had been appealed.

“We will not stop fighting for the rights of the people to vote in free and fair presidential elections,” Fielder said. “It’s the cross to die.”

How chivalrous.

For the record, several state and federal judges, including some placed on Trump’s bench, have dismissed more than 50 baseless lawsuits challenging the election and its outcome. (Aside from the fraud involved, there is also the issue of blocking a hefty court system with obviously trivial and time-wasting lawsuits. Some civil litigants wait several years to see inside of a courtroom.)

In August, a federal judge in Michigan allowed Sidney Powell, Lin Wood and other Trump attorneys to file one of the most fraudulent lawsuits. In addition to imposing legal fees, the judge ordered them to take election law classes and urged their bar associations to investigate whether lawyers should be suspended or disbarred.

Earlier in the summer, New York’s highest court temporarily suspended Rudolph W. Giuliani’s law license for his role in selling the former president’s prevarications.

But Giuliani and other Trump acolytes have repeatedly shown that they don’t care about things like truth, integrity, personal dignity and whatever is left of their tarnished reputation.

For that reason, it’s worth toast Neureiter’s decision to slap a price tag on the spread of Trump’s Big Lie. Perhaps the dollars and cents will prove a barrier.

Cheers.

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