# DOJ/Jack Smith Investigation into Trump and Election Interference, January 6th Insurrection (Re-Indicted August 27, 2024) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [November 23, 2022, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455 "2022-11-23T20:14:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 85
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2023, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1682 "2023-10-19T14:35:57Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > That’s sort of how I’m reading the letter. It sounds like any filings that Lauro submitted are void, and that he must be struck off any filings he had signed on to. > > Two questions for our legal eagles: > 1 - Am I reading that correctly? > 2 - If I am, how many filings will that strike? The real message is that he just has to get his application in by November 2nd. That’s very easy to do and I have no doubt it will be done. If, however, he fails to do that, they will strike him as counsel of records. If another lawyer signed the pleading that is admitted, nothing will happen. This is a fun moment to point and laugh, but of little import. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2023, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1683 "2023-10-19T15:24:16Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I think it does. > > She may be nuts, but she’s not so nuts that she’s not aware that the first one to flip gets the best deal. The first rat gets all the cheese! ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2023, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1684 "2023-10-19T15:28:30Z")
So the wrongfully accused “deranged lunatic” will get unfettered access to the “soon-to-be-disbarred, _actual_” lunatic. That works. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2023, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1685 "2023-10-19T15:45:31Z")
Remember that at this point, Powell is not yet a charged defendant in any Smith case. Smith is pursuing only Trump for the time being. Powell may be able to bargain with Smith for her testimony down the line, but I’ll be surprised if Smith offers the same sort of misdemeanor deal as Powell received from the State of Georgia in exchange for it. I’m not certain, but I believe Smith could use her testimony in the Georgia case as evidence against Trump, rendering the need for Powell’s actual testimony in a federal case moot. It depends on what Judge McAfee does now, I think. If the Trump part of the Georgia case goes ahead before Smith’s federal case and Powell testifies against Trump, that may save Smith some trouble. But I think Smith’s case against Trump will go forward before the Georgia case. Judge Chutkan seems pretty wedded to that March 4th date for commencement of Trump’s trial – especially with the way Trump has been toying with her gag order. Smith might be willing to offer a plea bargain to Powell in exchange for her testimony, but again, I doubt he’ll be as generous as Fani Willis was. It also depends on what Chesebro does in the Georgia case. In light of Powell’s plea, does he plead as well? If yes, then no early trial and no Powell testimony for Smith to hear and assess before his own case goes forward. We’ll see soon enough! ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2023, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1686 "2023-10-19T15:54:56Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > She may be nuts, but she’s not so nuts that she’s not aware that the first one to flip gets the best deal. The sudden decision to act rationally in her own best interests when faced with real consequences is… interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2023, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1687 "2023-10-19T16:11:00Z")
Isn’t it just? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2023, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1688 "2023-10-19T16:11:02Z")
Reports are Chesebro turned down a plea deal. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2023, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1689 "2023-10-19T16:12:30Z")
Was that before or after Powell’s plea? Or is it too soon to know? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2023, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1690 "2023-10-19T16:13:15Z")
Before, if I’m reading the report right. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2023, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1691 "2023-10-19T16:14:05Z")
Something tells me he may change his mind. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2023, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1692 "2023-10-19T16:15:42Z")
He’s on the hook for multiple felonies, so any deal he cuts would have to be explosive. I think he’s going to try to tough it out. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2023, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1693 "2023-10-19T16:16:38Z")
You could be right. As one judge I worked for used to say, “Thank god for the dumb ones! Else we’d all be out of business.” ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2023, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1694 "2023-10-19T16:18:04Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Powell is not yet a charged defendant in any Smith case. Perhaps, if he thinks her testimony would be worth the effort, Jack Smith could inform Powell’s attorneys that he’s contemplating moving her from unindicted co-conspirator to charged defendant, and would they like to discuss cooperation? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2023, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1695 "2023-10-19T16:20:06Z")
That is certainly the question! Which is why I think he’d like to hear how she testifies before he would make such an offer. Honestly, I think he has so much, he doesn’t really need her testimony. She’s such a wingnut, he may well wish to avoid using her at all in his case. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2023, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1696 "2023-10-19T16:22:15Z")
Yes, she’s not exactly the most credible person, is she? I wonder if she’s given any depositions that might provide him with a sense of what if anything she could provide that would be useful. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2023, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1697 "2023-10-19T16:25:57Z")
I am sure there are discussions that are occurring behind the scenes, and those are giving him a pretty good preview of what her testimony might be like. Nevertheless, there’s nothing like being able to watch someone while they’re actually doing the thing you’re contemplating using them for. I’m sure you’re right – he will have scraped up transcripts of any depositions, or maybe even courtroom proceedings, in which she’s previously participated just to get a sense of how she conducts herself. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2023, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1698 "2023-10-19T16:32:39Z")
And these days a lot of depositions are videotaped, so he could have that kind of preview of coming attractions to study. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2023, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1699 "2023-10-19T16:33:19Z")
LOL, I’ll bet he watched all those at least a year ago. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2023, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1700 "2023-10-19T16:43:16Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > what if anything she could provide that would be useful. The looks on Trumps face alone would be worth her testifying. At some point Trumps blood pressure medication is going to reach its limits. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2023, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1701 "2023-10-19T17:03:12Z")
I’d never be able to get past when she shotguns the Diet Dr Pepper. Maybe do a supercut on a continuous loop. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455.md?page=84) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455.md?page=86)